Eric Swann

[Dan H]

I didn't have much knowledge of football during his tenure here - is there anywhere to see film highlights of his play? I came up blank on YouTube.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Go find any National Geographic video which shows a large animal pounding another into mush and you got a good idea of what Swann was about

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Some of those Strongman competitions where guys throw cars over walls and stuff would be good, too.

 

[CardNots]

When you do find a clip, he'll be the one with two to three people who are moving backwards. I'm not sure he faced anything less than a double team. Only his knees stopped him.

 

[oaken1]

Swanny was one of only three players ever drafted in the first round of the draft to have never attended the combine....he was ineligible to be invited because he never played college ball.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Swann was a beast.

He was the most chiseled defensive lineman I've ever seen, and he weighed in around 320at some points in his career. He was 6'5 and if I remember correctly, ran a 4.7 or so at his workouts.

Swann was so dominate. The only thing that stopped him was injuries. I remember watching him split a double team against the Cowboys where he pushed two offensive lineman away with each arm.

Easily the best Cardinals defensive lineman during the Arizona era, and it's not even close.

 

[juza76]

in you tube i saw just a video of him talking about a hyunday car..wow

 

[Hollywood]

When you do find a clip, he'll be the one with two to three people who are moving backwards. I'm not sure he faced anything less than a double team. Only his knees stopped him.

And that was because they would dive at his knees because they knew it was the only chance of slowing him down.

 

[Cheesebeef]

My favorite play Swann ever had was against...maybe the Rams or Redskins back in...hell, I don't even remember what season it was. Actually, I think it was 1993. But we punted and had them pinned down on the one yard line. He came out on the field, made the sign for a safety to the crowd and then on the very first play, he destroyed the offensive line and hammered whoever had the ball for a safety. Ended up winning the game something like 36 or 38-10.

shame about his knees. he would have been an all-timer.

 

[GuernseyCard]

What I remember clearly is the host of Cards fans who turned on him when his knee problems kept him on the sideline.

 

[oaken1]

Swann is probably my all time favorite Cardinal...huge dude...seemed like his knuckles drug the ground his arms were so long,lol....... and always smiling....having come up the hard way,...through the semi pro ranks,...he seemed to really appreciate the opportunity to play in the NFL.

 

[Capital Card]

When I lived in DC, I heard an interview with one of the Redskin's lineman who claimed they tried to punch him in the groin every play.

 

[Russ Smith]

Swann was a natural, just so big and strong. Everyone doubled him, he had a rep for being dirty but then when everyone is going at your knees you're going to respond by pushing their heads into the ground.

The knees ended his career. To my knowledge he was the first athlete, maybe even the first human being to have microfracture done twice on the same knee, and only a few months apart because the first procedure was botched by rushing him back on the field.

My girlfriends sister used to live fairly close to him. They didn't know it until the family was moving out and had an estate sale. Her husband went in and saw a big picture of Swann in uniform and asked why she had that and she said that's my husband.

One of my favorite players and yes he got beaten up by fans who thought he was dogging it when he played much of his career in pain.

He tried to come back in 08 was going to play for the Rattlers to get in shape for the NFl but it never happened.

 

[Russ Smith]

Side note he has 2 sons that played college football. Tevin finished up at Arizona don't think he got drafted. Jaxon is still at ASU, think he's a junior not sure. Both were 6 footers so shorter than Eric, but 300 pounders. From what I gather Jaxon is better than Tevin was but probably not an NFL prospect.

 

[dylanbw]

the original Beast Mode

...dude was un-blockable....and yes, there were many fans that turned on him when his knees went....quite sad and embarrassing....and Russ is right about the microfracture surgery - no one had even heard of it until Eric Swann had it.....Bay State Titans was his semi pro squad I think.....how's that for a memory?

 

[Krangodnzr]

Side note he has 2 sons that played college football. Tevin finished up at Arizona don't think he got drafted. Jaxon is still at ASU, think he's a junior not sure. Both were 6 footers so shorter than Eric, but 300 pounders. From what I gather Jaxon is better than Tevin was but probably not an NFL prospect.

They are both estranged from their father, hence why they have another man's name (I'm pretty certain Hood isn't their mother's maiden name, I think it was their step father's name). I know some of the details on him and I won't share them publicly since it's he said, she said type of stuff.

Let's just say I knew the family years ago and I haven't heard too many nice things about Eric Swann as a human being.

 

[Russ Smith]

They are both estranged from their father, hence why they have another man's name (I'm pretty certain Hood isn't their mother's maiden name, I think it was their step father's name). I know some of the details on him and I won't share them publicly since it's he said, she said type of stuff.

Let's just say I knew the family years ago and I haven't heard too many nice things about Eric Swann as a human being.

Yeah I don't know the marriage stuff I know they divorced and she's remarried but that's it.

When Swann was wtih theCards he set up a foundation to help underprivileged kids because at one point in his life, briefly, he was homeless(about 10 days).

I'm sure he wasn't perfect nobody is, he had a difficult upbringing.

Great player, and I felt like he got treated very poorly. I distinctly remember the Cards having to publicly admit that Swann had in fact already had microfracture surgery once before Steadman did the 2nd procedure. Steadman had publicly stated he had done "essentially the same procedure he had a few montsh ago". the Cards doctor did it first, they pushed him off crutches too fast and the surgery didn't work, and the Cards had never admitted it wsa microfracture they said it was just knee surgery. After Steadmans' comment the Cards were confronted with that and then publicly admitted what had happened. By then it was too late, too many people already had their minds made up that Swann was dogging it when he was actually trying to play on a bad knee.

 

[NJCardFan]

That defensive line had the ability to be one of the all time greats. Swann, Rice, Wadsworth but injury shortened Wadsworth and Swann's careers and Rice's attitude had him move on.

 

[Russ Smith]

That defensive line had the ability to be one of the all time greats. Swann, Rice, Wadsworth but injury shortened Wadsworth and Swann's careers and Rice's attitude had him move on.

Don't forget Mark Smith who looked brilliant at times before his knee gave out.

 

[az240zz]

Its a sad story for the Cards. That front line could have been one of the best if injuries hadn't ruined it.

 

[Metcalf Rules]

Bay State Titans!