Orlando coach Jay Gruden said he always believed in Joe Hamilton. Now the former Bucs quarterback has a chance to reward Gruden's faith in him.
Hamilton signed a one-year contract with the Arena Football League's Predators on Wednesday. He will enter training camp in January as the team's No.1 quarterback.
"I've been a big Joe fan since he was at Georgia Tech," Gruden said. "He was a great, exciting player in college. I always thought he could play in the NFL, but with his size I thought he might slip through and come to the Arena league eventually."
Hamilton, 5 feet 10, 190 pounds, was the Bucs' No.3 quarterback in 2000 and 2001. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee playing for Frankfurt of NFL Europe in 2002 and spent the next NFL season on the Bucs' injured reserve list.
Hamilton worked out for the Predators. Gruden said trainers declared the knee "as strong as ever."
"I don't think it's going to be a problem," Gruden said. "I had the same injury somewhat. I blew out my knee (in 1998 at Louisville). The biggest thing you have to come back from is the mental block of being a little tentative stepping into the throws."
Hamilton, 26, did not return calls seeking comment.
Former Buffalo Destroyers backup Chris Sanders is the only other quarterback under contract. The Predators are considering bringing back Connell Maynor as the No.3 quarterback.
Gruden, whose two-year comeback was interrupted by a season-ending ankle injury last season, ruled out a return to the field. The former Storm quarterback and younger brother of Bucs coach Jon Gruden expects to be in a walking boot for another 2-3 weeks.
"I think I can pretty much hang up my cleats," said Gruden, who also is a Bucs offensive assistant. "I did what I wanted to do. I had a lot of fun playing, and I was a pretty good player.
