A fresh start for Marc Colombo
By Glen Farley, Enterprise staff writer
Wait 'til next year.
As a diehard Boston Red Sox fan, how many times in his life — present season included — has Bridgewater's Marc Colombo heard those words uttered?
“They've upset me,” the Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle said. “I know they've been injured. I don't know if they've packed it in or not.
“I was getting the scores in training camp and when they lost five in a row to the Yankees, I wanted to puke. We've got a few Yankees fans on this team, so it's tough.”
Wait 'til next year.
While recovering from a knee injury so severe it ended a promising rookie season with the Chicago Bears and sidelined him for nearly two calendar years, how many more times did Colombo hear those words uttered?
“I never thought that,” Colombo answered when asked if he ever believed his football-playing days were over, “but I wasn't sure how long it would take.”
Wait 'til next year.
The words no longer apply to Colombo's career.
“It's definitely been worth it,” Colombo said of the dramatic comeback he's staged. “I'm playing football, the game that I love. I've gotten a second chance.”
And Colombo, the 6-foot-8, 320-pound product of Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School and Boston College who the Bears selected in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft is making the most of his second chance.
When the Cowboys open the season at Jacksonville this Sunday, the 27-year-old Colombo will be starting at right tackle for them.
Next year is here.
“I feel the best I ever have,” Colombo said via cell phone from Dallas, where the Cowboys began preparing for the Jaguars in earnest on Monday. “I'm lighter and I'm getting around better. I'm quicker and moving faster.
“We've got a great strength coach (Joe Juraszek) who's been a very influential guy in this. He's helped me out a lot.”
Colombo's career forever changed in a Monday night game at St. Louis on Nov. 18, 2002, when, in his fifth start at left tackle for the Bears, he suffered a dislocated left patella and femoral nerve damage.
After spending all of 2003 rehabilitating his knee, Colombo finally returned to active duty at Tennessee on Nov. 14, 2004, forcing overtime in a bizarre game the Bears won on a safety, 19-17, by blocking a 52-yard field-goal attempt Craig Hentrich on the final play of the fourth quarter.
Following two starts at the end of 2004, Colombo appeared in a reserve role in Chicago's 9-7 season-opening loss at Washington last season, but he was released two days later when Bears head coach Lovie Smith brought in veteran John St. Clair, a player he'd coached in St. Louis.
Colombo's career began anew in Dallas when the Cowboys signed him last Nov. 1 and, in effect, told him to wait 'til this year.
“I know he's a smart guy and he's got good size and he's a tough guy,” Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells said at that time. “Until I find out more about Colombo, he is not part of the equation. I told him this: I don't want you to look at this like I need you in a week-and-a-half. I want you to look down the road.”
When the Cowboys hit the road for Alltel Stadium this weekend, they will do so with Colombo poised to start alongside guard Marco Rivera on the right side of the Dallas line.
No longer considered a project in Dallas, Colombo earned the position through a preseason battle with veteran free-agent acquisition Jason Fabini (his backup) and incumbent Rob Petitti (waived on Saturday, claimed by New Orleans on Sunday), but he was convinced his day was coming months ago, after he'd played out the 2005 campaign on special teams and as a tight end in goal-line situations for the Cowboys.
“Seeing the things I could do, I went into the offseason feeling I could compete. I was stronger and faster and felt I could play football again,” said Colombo. “By March, I felt I had a real shot. I got to training camp and kept fighting.”
While it certainly appeared as though training camp was a summer-long battle for the Cowboys, what with the soap opera named Terrell Owens now making his football home in Dallas, Colombo insists that simply was not the case.
“It's not as much (of a distraction) as you might think,” said Colombo. “I know how it's portrayed outside Dallas, but he's a good guy who goes out and works. It really isn't as big a deal inside the locker room as it is to you guys (in the media) and people outside the locker room.”
Wait 'til next year?
That is no longer the case for Colombo — and that, in itself, is a big deal.
“It's good to get going toward the regular season,” said Colombo. “When you're near the end of training camp, you're anxious to get into a regular-season schedule. It's good to get started on Jacksonville.
“I think we've got a good shot of doing something down here. This is by far the most talented team I've ever been on. Our offense is good. Our defense is good. I think it's going to be interesting.”
Wait 'til next year.
As a diehard Boston Red Sox fan, how many times in his life — present season included — has Bridgewater's Marc Colombo heard those words uttered?
“They've upset me,” the Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle said. “I know they've been injured. I don't know if they've packed it in or not.
“I was getting the scores in training camp and when they lost five in a row to the Yankees, I wanted to puke. We've got a few Yankees fans on this team, so it's tough.”
Wait 'til next year.
While recovering from a knee injury so severe it ended a promising rookie season with the Chicago Bears and sidelined him for nearly two calendar years, how many more times did Colombo hear those words uttered?
“I never thought that,” Colombo answered when asked if he ever believed his football-playing days were over, “but I wasn't sure how long it would take.”
Wait 'til next year.
The words no longer apply to Colombo's career.
“It's definitely been worth it,” Colombo said of the dramatic comeback he's staged. “I'm playing football, the game that I love. I've gotten a second chance.”
And Colombo, the 6-foot-8, 320-pound product of Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School and Boston College who the Bears selected in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft is making the most of his second chance.
When the Cowboys open the season at Jacksonville this Sunday, the 27-year-old Colombo will be starting at right tackle for them.
Next year is here.
“I feel the best I ever have,” Colombo said via cell phone from Dallas, where the Cowboys began preparing for the Jaguars in earnest on Monday. “I'm lighter and I'm getting around better. I'm quicker and moving faster.
“We've got a great strength coach (Joe Juraszek) who's been a very influential guy in this. He's helped me out a lot.”
Colombo's career forever changed in a Monday night game at St. Louis on Nov. 18, 2002, when, in his fifth start at left tackle for the Bears, he suffered a dislocated left patella and femoral nerve damage.
After spending all of 2003 rehabilitating his knee, Colombo finally returned to active duty at Tennessee on Nov. 14, 2004, forcing overtime in a bizarre game the Bears won on a safety, 19-17, by blocking a 52-yard field-goal attempt Craig Hentrich on the final play of the fourth quarter.
Following two starts at the end of 2004, Colombo appeared in a reserve role in Chicago's 9-7 season-opening loss at Washington last season, but he was released two days later when Bears head coach Lovie Smith brought in veteran John St. Clair, a player he'd coached in St. Louis.
Colombo's career began anew in Dallas when the Cowboys signed him last Nov. 1 and, in effect, told him to wait 'til this year.
“I know he's a smart guy and he's got good size and he's a tough guy,” Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells said at that time. “Until I find out more about Colombo, he is not part of the equation. I told him this: I don't want you to look at this like I need you in a week-and-a-half. I want you to look down the road.”
When the Cowboys hit the road for Alltel Stadium this weekend, they will do so with Colombo poised to start alongside guard Marco Rivera on the right side of the Dallas line.
No longer considered a project in Dallas, Colombo earned the position through a preseason battle with veteran free-agent acquisition Jason Fabini (his backup) and incumbent Rob Petitti (waived on Saturday, claimed by New Orleans on Sunday), but he was convinced his day was coming months ago, after he'd played out the 2005 campaign on special teams and as a tight end in goal-line situations for the Cowboys.
“Seeing the things I could do, I went into the offseason feeling I could compete. I was stronger and faster and felt I could play football again,” said Colombo. “By March, I felt I had a real shot. I got to training camp and kept fighting.”
While it certainly appeared as though training camp was a summer-long battle for the Cowboys, what with the soap opera named Terrell Owens now making his football home in Dallas, Colombo insists that simply was not the case.
“It's not as much (of a distraction) as you might think,” said Colombo. “I know how it's portrayed outside Dallas, but he's a good guy who goes out and works. It really isn't as big a deal inside the locker room as it is to you guys (in the media) and people outside the locker room.”
Wait 'til next year?
That is no longer the case for Colombo — and that, in itself, is a big deal.
“It's good to get going toward the regular season,” said Colombo. “When you're near the end of training camp, you're anxious to get into a regular-season schedule. It's good to get started on Jacksonville.
“I think we've got a good shot of doing something down here. This is by far the most talented team I've ever been on. Our offense is good. Our defense is good. I think it's going to be interesting.”
posted by The Gryphon at 7:49 PM
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