RODNEY MICHAEL TO JOIN NFL ELITE
Posted 04-30-03
For the past ten years, former Warrior Rodney Michael has experienced quite a
change in jersey colors from black, green, and white (high school), to red,
blue, and white (college), and now, blue and white, signing a free agent
contract with the Indianapolis Colts.
The free agent National Football League
(NFL) signing, the first in almost 17 years for a Tehachapi Warrior, marked
another notch in the talent level of Michael and the class of 1998 (1997
football season). As a two-way starter on the offense and defensive line,
Michael was a force at his tenure in Tehachapi, earning 1st team South Sequoia
League honors his junior and senior years, and guiding the Warriors to two
consecutive playoff berths. His senior year in 1997-98, he was also an All-CIF
and All-Area pick on offense.
Many followers in the Michael camp, both
from Fresno State and Tehachapi, were optimistic that a team would pick up the
talented player somewhere in the later rounds of the NFL draft or in free
agency. After 48 games played at Fresno State, including 27 starts at either
center or guard, it was easy to say that Rodney definitely had the credentials.
As a Bulldog, Michael was an Outland
Trophy candidate in 2002, along with being rated the 21st best center in the
nation. He was also a 2002 pre-season consensus ALL-Western Athletic Conference
pick, finishing the season as a second-team ALL-WAC selection. As a junior,
Michael was instrumental in helping the 7th best offensive line in the nation
rack up 4,000 yards passing for David Carr, while also contributing to two 1,000
yard receivers and a 1,000 yard rusher.
Michael will be joined in Colts camp
with fellow Fresno State Bulldog three-year starter Jason Stewart, who was an
inspirational defensive leader for the ‘Dogs in the 2002 season. The
opportunity for both Stewart and Michael to continue their football career
together at training camp should give them a slight advantage over their
competition with the Colts in the next few months. With so many talented
former-college athletes vying for recognition, a familiar face from the college
days should be a welcome site for both young men in the awe-confines of NFL
stardom.
Even though Michael has been selected by
the Colts, it is still unsure whether or not he will make the final 53-man
roster, but he has taken a step that few only dream about. An NFL team can bring
as many as 88 players with them to training camp. At pre-designated times during
the summer, a team must whittle the 88 players away until they reach the 53 man
limit by the start of the season. For player like Rodney Michael, every
pre-season game, every practice, counts enormously.
By signing to a minimum deal up front
with the Colts, there is the ugly financial side to the NFL…meaning that a
team that invests contract money in a draft pick, or a seasoned veteran, would
lose more money in the short-run if they invested in Michael for the upcoming
year (i.e. having to cut that veteran or draft pick, whom they have invested
more franchise capital therein, to retain Michael).
The flip-side to the coin though,
Michael can prove he’s worthy addition to the team by playing good fundamental
football in practice and Indy’s pre-season games. If he gets enough notoriety
and attention, it might give him just the edge he needs to land on the final
53…which would be a dream come true for the former Warrior and Bulldog star.
In Tehachapi’s storied football
history, it is believed that Michael is the first player to be signed by an NFL
football team since Duane Pettitt, who played for the San Diego Chargers in
1987. Pettitt made the final cuts to play three games for San Diego, but did not
record any statistics. Pettitt was a standout defensive end for San Diego State,
voted as the most improved player for the Aztecs in 1986. During high school, he
was an All-CIF selection as a defensive lineman for the Warriors in 1981,
helping guide Tehachapi to a 13-1 record.
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