Gryphon
Merge Ahead
- Messages
- 3,407
- Reaction score
- 31
THE FANHOUSE
Posted Jun 1st 2007 8:16PM
by Michael David Smith
I was always a Reggie Swinton fan. I watched every Detroit Lions game in 2003 and 2004, and the Lions were absolutely terrible, but Swinton always came to play. Whether he was returning punts, running downfield on the kick coverage team or playing wide receiver, Swinton was one of those guys who made up for his lack of natural talent by going hard on every play. Of course, the Lions were run by Matt Millen, who couldn't possibly keep a guy like Swinton on the roster when he could draft guys like Charles Rogers and Mike Williams. So Swinton didn't stick.
Swinton, who retired Wednesday from Arena Football, never stuck anywhere. He spent three years with the Cowboys and one with the Cardinals in addition to his two with the Lions, and he also spent some time with the Jaguars and Texans, without ever getting on the field for them in a regular-season game. His pro football career started with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and ended with the Arkansas Twisters.
When a player has that kind of career, it's easy to overlook his retirement. But the end of Swinton's career shouldn't go unnoticed. Swinton was never the best player on the field, but he was one of the hardest working, and therefore one of the most fun to watch. Football is a little less fun without him.
Posted Jun 1st 2007 8:16PM
by Michael David Smith
I was always a Reggie Swinton fan. I watched every Detroit Lions game in 2003 and 2004, and the Lions were absolutely terrible, but Swinton always came to play. Whether he was returning punts, running downfield on the kick coverage team or playing wide receiver, Swinton was one of those guys who made up for his lack of natural talent by going hard on every play. Of course, the Lions were run by Matt Millen, who couldn't possibly keep a guy like Swinton on the roster when he could draft guys like Charles Rogers and Mike Williams. So Swinton didn't stick.
Swinton, who retired Wednesday from Arena Football, never stuck anywhere. He spent three years with the Cowboys and one with the Cardinals in addition to his two with the Lions, and he also spent some time with the Jaguars and Texans, without ever getting on the field for them in a regular-season game. His pro football career started with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and ended with the Arkansas Twisters.
When a player has that kind of career, it's easy to overlook his retirement. But the end of Swinton's career shouldn't go unnoticed. Swinton was never the best player on the field, but he was one of the hardest working, and therefore one of the most fun to watch. Football is a little less fun without him.
