Article - ‘He's getting DRAFTED' -- Crosby waits through NFL supplemental draft

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‘He's getting DRAFTED' -- Crosby waits through NFL supplemental draft

By PETE IACOBELLI, AP Sports Writer


COLUMBIA — One of Roscoe Crosby's advisers, Kevin Parker, is sure about one thing regarding the former two-sport star — he won't have to sign a free-agent contract to fulfill his NFL goals. "He's getting drafted" in Thursday's NFL supplemental draft, Parker said Wednesday. Crosby, from Union High, is a former high selection of the Kansas City Royals who also played football at Clemson. He had hoped to follow the paths of Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders, excelling at baseball during the summer and football each fall. Instead, injuries, indecision and personal issues took their toll on Crosby.

When Kansas City won an arbitrator's ruling this past February — it cost him $750,000 of his $1.75 million contract he signed in 2001 — Crosby began full-time football training with his eyes on the summer's supplemental draft.

Crosby held his final workout Tuesday to complete drill work and show off pass-catching skills that he could not finish July 1 due to heat-induced leg cramps.

Parker, part of a team of friends, trainers and counselors who have worked with Crosby since before the arbitrator's decision, says Crosby has worked hard to get himself into NFL shape. Crosby ran two sub 4.5-second times in the 40-yard dash earlier this month.

He set a Clemson freshman record with 27 catches for 465 yards and four touchdowns in the fall of 2001. He only played in one more game for the Tigers after that, a 30-0 loss to Georgia to start the 2003 season.

His combination of size (6-foot-2, 218 pounds) and speed could make him an attractive gamble for pro teams.

There were 17 NFL teams at Crosby's July 1 workout. A Carolina Panthers representative was the only one on hand to watch Crosby catch passes from former NFL quarterback Shaun King on Tuesday.
But Parker said Crosby has talked with several NFL teams in advance of the supplemental draft.

"It's always a guessing game, but we've done our part," Parker said.

Crosby, 22, was relieved to have the workout portions behind him and is confident he'll get a chance in an NFL training camp.

"I put a lot into these six months," Crosby said. "I would be disappointed if I had to wait another year. ... The only thing I'm looking for is an opportunity to show that I am a hard worker and I can play the game of football."
 
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