Bartik’s return gives Grizzlies a boost

Published Friday, May 16, 2008

  • Print story
  • E-mail story
  • Comments
  • Digg Digg
  • del.icio.us del.icio.us
  • Facebook Facebook
  • Add to Mixx! Mixx
  • Reddit Reddit
  • Stumble It!

John Fourcade wants his Grizzlies to have every weapon they can this weekend when they take on the top team in the Intense Football League.

He’s going to have his most important one, anyway.

After two weeks sidelined with a bulging disc in his neck, quarterback Bo Bartik will be back in action for the Grizzlies Saturday when they take on the undefeated Louisiana Swashbucklers.

“Any time you’re getting injured players back who have experience, that helps your football club,” Fourcade said. “Now we’ve got Bo back, a guy with years of experience. We know we’re playing against the best team, or one of the top teams, in the Intense League. You want to come out firing all your guns.”

Bartik hasn’t played since getting pulled at halftime of the Grizzlies’ April 10 loss to the Alaska Wild in Anchorage.

While Bartik said he’d call himself at “90-95 percent,” that’s good enough to step out on the field.

“It’s just a little painful. Not enough for me not to play. I can play through it,” Bartik said. “I’ve had more than enough time to heal, and I’m ready to play.”

Most importantly for Bartik, he can take the field without thinking about his injury every snap — something he found out he couldn’t do in Anchorage, when he completed just 10 of his 27 pass attempts while throwing three interceptions.

“I’ve still been part of the team, going to practice. And I’ve been in the training room every day. I’ve gotten stronger overall, keeping in shape and not taking these bruises,” he said. “I was able to go out there and not think about it.

“I’m excited for this weekend.”

On the season, Bartik has completed 52.5 percent of his passes, building up a 97.89 passer rating while throwing for 943 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Then there’s the most important statistic of them all: Bartik was at the helm of the Grizzlies’ only win, a 22-17 triumph over the Odessa Roughnecks.

While Bartik was hurt, Damion Ward filled in admirably, actually topping Bartik’s quarterback rating with a 99.51 mark of his own while completing 54.4 percent of his passes for six touchdowns and five interceptions.

“If (Bo) can hang in there, we’ve got a good shot (this weekend),” Fourcade said. “Damion will back him up and we’ll go from there.”

The Grizzlies gave Bartik a welcome back present, too — an extra weapon to look for.

The Grizzlies added two wideouts to the roster in Darrell Perkins, a Texas A&M University-Kingsville product, and Sydney Dumas, a two-way player who may see time in the defensive backfield or at receiver.

“We’re going to be really, really good at receiver,” Bartik beamed.

After two weeks where he could only sit back and watch, Bartik can’t wait for Saturday so he can get back out on the field.

“I just hate sitting out and watching,” he said.

Community Discussion

Newsminer.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full user's agreement.

  1. hckywtchr
    5/16/2008, 12:31 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    What happened to teh Perez guy who was the next NFL superstar
    Did he even ever play?

  2. footballman
    5/16/2008, 9:05 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    adrian perez only played a few plays in 1 game on the Texas road trip...he quit last week because he didn't like being disciplined by the coach for taking off down to California without telling anyone. he's a joke

  3. hambone
    5/17/2008, 1:53 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    i hear Bartik wont start, any truth?

  4. footballman
    5/17/2008, 2:16 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    As far as I know Bo will start today

  5. pool4money
    5/17/2008, 10:19 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    bo is a joke, stick with ward

  6. pool4money
    5/17/2008, 10:21 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    bo, a 1 game wonder, not that good

Post a comment

Commenting requires registration.

Username:
Password: (Forgotten your password?)

Comment:

Also inside
Today's news / Photos / Local / Alaska / Sports / Opinion
Features
Sundays / Health / Food / Outdoors / Latitude 65 / Youth / Business
newsminer.com
Archives / About / Feedback / Privacy Policy / User Agreement / Staff / Jobs / Contact / Feeds
Submit
Letters to the Editor / Events / Obituaries