THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 1, 1996 TAG: 9605010569
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
Aaron Sparrow has finally gotten the call. An international call, it turns out.
The Norfolk State quarterback, passed over by the National Football League, will sign this week with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.
``I'm ready,'' Sparrow said. ``I just can't wait to put on another uniform.''
Sparrow reportedly played well at the NFL scouting combine, but he wasn't drafted or offered a free-agent contract. He said he was disappointed by the NFL's snub, but is ready to move on.
``I felt like I was the best quarterback at the combine,'' he said. ``But that's life, it's something I had to accept.''
A radar gun showed that Sparrow had the strongest arm at the combine. But scouts felt that at 6-foot-1, he's a little short to be an NFL quarterback. They also had doubts about the quality of competition he faced at Division II Norfolk State.
``It goes without saying that Aaron would have loved to had an opportunity to play in the NFL,'' said Ben Wilson, Sparrow's agent. ``Quite frankly, an opportunity to compete for real playing time in the CFL is better for his future than to be a fourth or fifth quarterback in an NFL camp with no chance of making the roster.''
Sparrow will be one of at least five quarterbacks on hand when Calgary opens training camp June 1. Last year's starter, Doug Flutie, has signed with Toronto. But Jeff Garcia, who filled in for the injured Flutie last year, returns. So does former Virginia quarterback Shawn Moore, a backup last season.
Other quarterbacks expected to be in camp are former Virginia Tech star Maurice DeShazo and free agent Kelvin Simmons, who played with the Birmingham Stallions last year. Most CFL teams dress two quarterbacks, and keep a third on the roster.
Sparrow had no choice but to sign with Calgary because the team owned his CFL rights. Terms of the contract, which Sparrow expects to sign today or Thursday, were not disclosed. If cut by Calgary, he can sign with another CFL team.
``Aaron is going to the best place for him,'' Norfolk State coach Darnell Moore said. ``What makes a rookie quarterback better is to get experience. He'll be able to compete for a position. He'll be able to get some playing time.
``It's ironic that Aaron, not having attended U.Va, will be competing for a job with a former U.Va quarterback.''
Sparrow was one of the nation's most heavily recruited quarterbacks while at Portsmouth's Wilson High in 1991. He was expected to sign with Virginia but narrowly missed qualifying academically. The Cavaliers wanted Sparrow to attend prep school, but instead he enrolled at Norfolk State, where he broke virtually every passing record.
``Aaron will follow the route that many other fine quarterbacks have followed, most prominently Warren Moon,'' Wilson said. ``I have every confidence Aaron will do well in Calgary, and I think there are some great things Aaron will yet do, first in Canada, then in the NFL.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Aaron Sparrow
by CNB