WR Joey Galloway (Official Thread)

[Buckskin86]

Bucs' Galloway puts his playoff injury and tantrum behind him
By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
In print: Friday, June 6, 2008


TAMPA ? Joey Galloway has lousy timing. Even he admits as much.

Take, for example, the left shoulder injury that severely limited the receiver in the Bucs' playoff game last season.

For a player who has been the team's most consistent game-breaker the past several seasons, you barely knew he played against the Giants after his one reception for 9 yards in the 24-14 loss.

Mounting frustration, he said, is what led to a blowup at the end of the game and his decision to leave the field with more than three minutes remaining.

"It would be hard for me to explain," Galloway said Thursday. "I've tried to explain it a couple of times, and I realize it's difficult. A lot of people saw the exchange between me and Coach (Jon Gruden) and sort of made that into something between me and him when it really was something between me and myself. I was really disappointed with the way it ended.

"To have to go into the biggest game of my career and not be able to have it go the way I wanted it to is sort of hard to put into words."

Six months later, Galloway has put the injury and the sideline episode behind him.

He proclaimed himself 100 percent healthy while making his first public comments in some time, indicating that surgery to repair damage to his labrum and rotator cuff was successful. That might be the biggest offseason development at receiver for a team that elected not to upgrade much at a position that lacks quality depth.

After completing the week's final offseason practice, Galloway said he believes he can continue to defy Father Time, who seemingly has forgotten he will be 37 on Nov. 20. An ambitious personal training regimen and a smart diet are perhaps the biggest reasons Galloway has turned in six 1,000-yard seasons.

"I have more than just a little gray in my beard," he quipped. "I don't know that I've avoided (the effects of age). I can't say that I've even paid attention to it. The only time my age comes up is when (the media) brings it up, and then there are certain aches and pains that come along with playing this long in the NFL. ? I get up and work every single day like I always have. As long as I continue to do that, I don't know if I'll face that

Bucs' Galloway puts his playoff injury and tantrum behind him - St. Petersburg Times

 

[Buckskin86]

Better with age
Galloway is still No. 1 in Tampa as he enters 14th season
By Dan Parr ([email protected])
June 5, 2008

Call me crazy, but I was starting to think Joey Galloway might be ready to wind things down.

At 36, Galloway is the oldest No. 1 wide receiver in the league. He has endured 13 seasons of wear and tear and was pulled from Tampa?s playoff loss to the Giants last season by head coach Jon Gruden, who was concerned about a nagging shoulder injury, which required surgery in the offseason.

For the past few seasons, Gruden and Galloway have designed a customized schedule for the team?s star pass catcher, keeping him out of training camp for a certain number of days to make sure he stays fresh and healthy.

If you?re looking for a sign that the end of an NFL career might be near, take your pick.

Galloway, however, said he has yet to even think about retirement.

?My body doesn?t hurt,? he said. ?On a daily basis, when I roll out of bed, I don?t have a chronic issue that makes me think, ?I don?t know how much longer I can do this.?

?I think the older you get, the more attention you pay to your body and the more attention you pay when something may be bothering you. I just don?t have that issue that is making me count to say, ?How much longer can I do it?? As long as I can go out and do my work, prepare the way that I have, then I don?t know what would make me start to look at the end.?

Despite bumps, bruises, scars and shoulder surgery, Galloway is growing stronger, posting career-best type numbers. Some even thought he?d make his first Pro Bowl last season, but to no avail. He has already joined an elite class of receivers. There have been only 24 recorded wide receivers since 1960 to play at age 36.

He?s on the verge of becoming a football enigma, sipping from a fountain of youth to do things that fly in the face of conventional wisdom. For some reason this 5-11, 197-pound receiver who built his career on speed seems to be putting off the eventual breakdown that so many like him have suffered by the time they hit his age.

In the first six seasons of his career, Galloway missed 24 games, but since 2001, he has sat out just eight. He finished with an eye-catching average of 17.8 yards per catch in ?07, which was his highest mark since ?03. He?s fought his way to three consecutive seasons of more than 1,000 yards receiving, something he had never done before.

Tampa Bay - Pro Football Weekly

 

[sparcboxbuck]

In CBUS this weekend?

With EJB planning to be in town this weekend, is there any info on JG making the trip up to provide "guidance" while on campus?

Would be nice to have another alum from FL help a young family member make the "right" decision.

 

[OregonBuckeye]

Brief interview.

NFL Video Galleries

 

[Buckskin86]

The good

5 JOEY GALLOWAY BATHES IN FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH: Remember the movie Cocoon? Galloway, 36, must swim in an alien pool. How else do you explain that he gets better with age? Galloway is coming off three straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Bucs and just as many Pro Bowl snubs. He's coming off shoulder surgery, but the guy takes remarkable care of his body. It helps that he rarely practices. Who needs practice anyway?

The bad

1 NOT CATCHING ON: The Bucs didn't do enough to improve at wide receiver. Outside of Joey Galloway, only two wideouts caught touchdowns ? one each by Ike Hilliard and Maurice Stovall. Michael Clayton has caught one touchdown since his rookie year in 2004. Stovall struggles to get separation. Did you see what happened when Galloway had a bum shoulder against the Giants? The Bucs responded by drafting Appalachian State kick returner Dexter Jackson and adding free agent Antonio Bryant. Anybody want to trade for Ocho Cinco?

Bucs likely face topsy-turvy title defense test - St. Petersburg Times

 

[osugrad21]

Scout$--All-Time Greatest ? No. 37: Joey Galloway

 

[Buckskin86]

Groin Injury Keeps Galloway Sidelined
By: Jim Flynn
July 28, 2008

Bucs wide receiver Joey Galloway missed his third straight day of practice on Monday with a mild groin strain (Cliff Welch)

Tampa Bay practiced in pads for the first time in training camp this year on Monday morning, but WR Joey Galloway was held out of both of Monday's workouts with a mild groin strain. In other news, LB Derrick Brooks' attempt to welcome back QB Jeff Garcia did not go as planned this morning.

Buccaneers wide receiver Joey Galloway was held out of both of Monday's practices with a mild groin strain.

Galloway, 36, has not participated in Tampa Bay's first six training camp practices, including the team's first padded practice of camp on Monday morning, due to the injury.

Galloway has been seen jogging up and down the sidelines of the far practice field at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex during the last two morning sessions, and Bucs head coach Jon Gruden is hopeful that his offensive playmaker will return to action sometime soon.

"All flights are cancelled again today," Gruden said referring to Galloway. "If's been frustrating from the standpoint that we miss him. You're talking about [running back] Cadillac Williams, you're talking about [left tackle] Luke Petitgout, our starting quarterback just got back last night and obviously Galloway - four key guys that we need on this football team. But hopefully he'll be back towards the end of the week."

Groin Injury Keeps Galloway Sidelined | Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Pewter Report

July 28, 2008
Gruden not worried about Galloway
Receiver Joey Galloway is sitting out his third straight day of camp with a strained groin muscle, but should the Bucs be concerned given the fact he missed six games with a groin injury in 2004?

The Bucs say no. Coach Jon Gruden told us this morning the current groin injury was sustained to the muscle opposite the one he injured in 2004. Gruden also said that, by comparison, this injury is much less serious than the previous one that caused Galloway to miss six games.

"This is a mild strain," Gruden said. "With this guy, at this stage of his career, with the experience that he has, he's one of the few guys who does have a good understanding of everything. He takes about 30 reps in the walkthrough in the tent. We're hoping we can get on schedule here toward the end of the week."

Posted by Stephen Holder at 1:10:52 PM on July 28, 2008

Gruden not worried about Galloway

 

[Buckskin86]

Galloway still on the runway
Gruden hopes wide receiver will practice Monday
Sunday, August 3, 2008

Take what you will from Jon Gruden's answer to my question Saturday of whether Joey Galloway is being held out of practice so as not to risk a scare _ a la quarterback Jeff Garcia's strained calf muscle _ or worse.


"Some of these guys, they were hurt last year late in the season and they're still hurt, okay? ... He's not quite ready to go yet," Gruden said. "We don't want any setbacks. So until we're ready to roll, we're going to put him on ice."

I took it to mean that there's a double standard in play here. "Some of these guys" with lingering discomfort are on the practice field. Galloway is not.

Galloway had a shoulder injury last season, which he told the media in June is healed.

The reason he's out now is officially a groin injury. Whatever happened to coming to camp "rested and ready"?

The other day, Gruden sounded like he's frustrated that Galloway is taking so long to start practicing.

"He understands that as a leader, as a playmaker, he's got to be out here and our players are expecting to see him soon," Gruden said.

He said Saturday he expects Galloway to practice for the first time on Monday.

"We're very close to liftoff," Gruden said.

Galloway still on the runway | HeraldTribune.com | Southwest Florida's Information Leader

 

[Buckskin86]

Bucs Notebook: Galloway Remains Limited In Practice
By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune
and IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune
Published: August 5, 2008

Galloway Remains Limited In Practice

Fans hoping to see Tampa Bay's white tiger, aka Joey Galloway, got their usual scant glance Monday. It's beginning to look like that's all they're going to get.

Though Coach Jon Gruden strongly suggested during the weekend Galloway would start working out with the team Monday, it appears as if his return to full-time duty is still a long way off.

"He just cannot let it go right now,'' Gruden said of Galloway, who arrived at camp 11 days ago nursing what was termed a mild groin strain. "And we're not going to make him go.

"What kind of fools would we be to let him pull that thing now? I mean, he's not trying to get out of anything. Some of the players may feel that way, but that's not true. And if they don't like it, they really don't understand.''

Galloway's training camp regimen has differed from other players' for several years now. He usually practices only once a day and sometimes is given the entire day off, even during the regular season.

Galloway's workouts this year have consisted mostly of sprints and some light pass-catching drills. Gruden said the objective is to have the 36-year-old speedster ready for the regular season.

"A lot of receivers around the NFL right now are idle,'' said Gruden, mentioning the Giants' Plaxico Burress, the Cardinals' Anquan Boldin and the Bengals tandem of Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmanzadeh.

"I've got a lot of confidence in Joey, and he's earned [the benefit of the doubt]. When you get 10,000 yards and you can run a 4.30 40 on grass, maybe you can have your own room, too.''

With Galloway out, Maurice Stovall and Antonio Bryant have been splitting the reps at first-team split end. The Bucs have also worked Micheal Spurlock and rookie Dexter Jackson at that spot.

Bucs Notebook: Galloway Remains Limited In Practice

 

[Buckskin86]

August 12, 2008
Don't look for Galloway too soon

Receiver Joey Galloway missed practice again today. But the veteran did do some football-related work, catching passes from an assistant coach while running simple routes, then, doing the same thing with a little bit better quarterback delivering passes: Jeff Garcia.

Garcia still isn't participating in some full-speed drills as he attempts to bounce back from his calf strain. Meanwhile, Galloway, who has a strained groin, probably won't play this preseason. Coach Jon Gruden stopped short of ruling him out of exhibition games when I asked him this morning, but Gruden concedes that Galloway has never played much in the preseason and would not suffer from sitting out this year. That means the first hit Galloway takes could be from, say, Jonathan Vilma of the Saints on opening day.

"He hasn't exactly been the go-to receiver in the preseason around here," Gruden said of Galloway. "We rested him last year and I'm still resting him."

But given Galloway's offseason, you have to wonder if the Bucs at least want to make certain Galloway is up to the task before games start to matter. Galloway underwent offseason shoulder surgery after sustaining a late-season injury in December. And this latest injury, suffered in a personal workout before the start of training camp, is another setback for him.

At this point, there must be at least some concern inside the organization about Galloway's preparation, considering the Bucs break camp later this week and Galloway still hasn't suited up.

"Yes, I'm concerned," Gruden said. "If you're the head coach and you're (top) receiver hasn't practiced yet, yes, you're concerned. But we're also looking at it optimistically because we proved the other night that we have some young guys who are capable of playing and we're thrilled with that."

Galloway actually donned a helmet today and is doing more lateral movement, so perhaps he's closer to returning. But then again, Gruden said long ago that the target date for Galloway's return was Monday, Aug. 4 -- eight days ago.

Posted by Stephen Holder at 1:25:10 PM on August 12, 2008
in | Permalink

Don't look for Galloway too soon

Garcia Gets Galloway Going
By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune
Published: August 13, 2008

LAKE BUENA VISTA - The white tiger isn't running free, but he appears to be on the prowl.

Veteran WR Joey Galloway, dubbed "our white tiger" by Coach Jon Gruden, has been working out with QB Jeff Garcia as he continues to recuperate from a groin injury that has shelved him throughout training camp.

Garcia, recovering from a nagging calf strain, held a private pitch-and-catch session with his favorite target at the far end of Field 1 on Tuesday morning.

"Joey and I also had a good workout on Saturday," said Garcia, who hurt his right calf July 31 and didn't accompany the Bucs to Miami for Saturday's game. "We were able to get out on the field in Tampa and go through the route tree and connect. Joey's a rare breed of player, with his speed, and it's unfortunate he's been out. Yes, you'd like to get some timing down with him, but what's really important is that he's ready to go Week 1."

Galloway, who wore a helmet while catching passes from Garcia on Tuesday, continues to decline comment on his injury. As he walked off the field following the morning session, Galloway was asked if he was feeling better.

He merely nodded, not missing a stride.

Garcia Gets Galloway Going

 

[Buckskin86]

White Tiger (Galloway) Sighting at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Practice
Contributed by Rick Brown - Posted: August 19, 2008

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Joey Galloway practiced for the first time with the team Tuesday.

Galloway, who has missed the start of training camp with a groin strain, finally took the field with the rest of the team. He didn't practice fully but did some work with the team. His status for Saturday's preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars is still up in the air.

Coach Jon Gruden gave referred to Galloway as a white tiger in the early stages of training camp, saying although a very popular animal, it is rare when people go to the zoo that the white tiger is actually seen.

Not anymore.

The Ledger

 

[Buckskin86]

Mind-boggling feats from Bogle
August 21, 2008
No green light yet for Galloway

Coach Jon Gruden did not sound optimistic about Joey Galloway's chances of playing Saturday against the Jaguars. (View audio slide show)

Gruden said Galloway (groin) did not practice today after the receiver participated in portion's of practice on Tuesday and Wednesday. It's not clear whether he has suffered a setback in his recovery. Gruden indicated there was some sort of plan that included Galloway not practicing today.

"That's our plan," Gruden said. "He should be ready to go early next week."

No green light yet for Galloway

 

[Buckskin86]

Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008
Galloway returns to practice
Bucs receiver back on the field after sitting out with groin injury
By ROGER MOONEY - [email protected]

Joey Galloway, the "White Tiger" as coach Jon Gruden called him earlier in camp, made an appearance at practice Monday. What Galloway did was, well, practice.

He ran routes, caught passes, basically did everything Gruden wanted to see from his top receiver but hasn't since the start of camp, because Galloway remained on the sidelines nursing a strained groin.

"He didn't look limited to me," Gruden said.

Galloway suffered the injury before the team reported for training camp July 25. It was a daily ritual: Reporters asked Gruden when Galloway would return to practice, and Gruden would say, "soon."

After a few days, Gruden summed up Galloway like this: "When you see him, it's kind of like the white tiger at Busch Gardens. He doesn't come out every day, but when he does, you're glad you saw it."

Gruden was glad he saw Galloway on Monday.

The season opener is Sept. 7 at New Orleans, and it's always nice to see your go-to receiver catching passes from the starting quarterback.

Now, will Bucs fans see that tandem Thursday night when the Bucs play their preseason finale at Houston?

"He is an option to play," Gruden said. "He looked good (Monday), and we're encouraged to have him back. He ran some good routes, showed some good quickness in and out of his breaks and showed good speed down the field, so we're pleased to have him back."

Galloway returns to practice - Sports - Bradenton.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Bucs' 'White Tiger' ready
Galloway hopes to play in Buccaneers opener Sunday
BY DAVID DORSEY ? FLORIDA TODAY ? September 5, 2008

Joey Galloway, who stands 5-foot-11, elevated himself by standing on a platform next to his locker stall. Galloway also hopes to elevate his play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the 2008 season begins.

Galloway, nicknamed "White Tiger" for his rare appearances during the offseason and training camp, but didn't play in any of the four preseason games because of a groin injury, addressed the media earlier this week.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers open the regular season at
1 p.m. Sunday against the Saints in New Orleans.

"When you go and see the white tiger, there's always posted times when he gets to eat," Galloway said, using the zoo as an analogy. "The zookeeper posts that time and coach (Jon Gruden) is the zookeeper. It's his decision on when I get to eat. I hope I get to eat on Sunday, but we will wait and see. I'm lobbying to be

Bucs' 'White Tiger' ready | floridatoday.com | FLORIDA TODAY

 

[BrianO]

Excited to see the white tiger at full speed. He has done well against the Saints. I hope this continues.

I am also looking forward to his 1 hour radio spot Monday nights at 6PM. He is very well spoken and represents the Buckeyes very well. They usually switch to college football in the last 15 minutes or so.

You can listen to him live or a recorded pod cast at:
620 WDAE The Sports Animal