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By FRANK PASTOR, Times Staff WriterThe Storm's Mike Sutton has played well since his return from an off-season calf injury.
He was just what Storm coach Tim Marcum wanted, a 6-foot-4, 275-pound lineman who can protect the quarterback on offense and rush the passer on defense.
He came gift-wrapped, as 26 players were taken before Tampa Bay selected Mike Sutton in the dispersal draft that allocated players from the now-defunct Indiana, Detroit and Carolina franchises in October.
But affixed to the shiny package was a tag: "Do not open until March 20."
The offseason calf injury that dropped Sutton's stock in the draft kept him out of the first six games of the season. Since his return, he has vowed revenge against the teams that passed on him.
Next up: Austin, the Storm's opponent today.
"When (Tampa Bay) took the chance on me, I was happy I was coming and just told myself I was going to come back faster than normal and I was going to come back and show them I could play," Sutton said. "Teams that passed me up like Austin and Georgia and all those type of teams, I expect to show them just because I have that injury doesn't mean I can't play anymore."
Sutton, 29, was upfront about the injury, causing most teams to look elsewhere. But when Storm assistant and former Firebirds offensive coordinator Mark Stoute used his connections to learn that the injury involved the sever of a muscle and not the tendon, Tampa Bay decided to take a chance.
"He's a big body, and when he decides to take off and rush the passer he's a force," Marcum said. "My only question was what would he be off that injury? Would he be able to get well and be a factor, and he is so far. He's really been a pleasant surprise."
When he awoke from surgery on Oct. 3, doctors told Sutton his Achilles' was completely severed and he might not play again.
"I was like, "Whatever,' " Sutton said. " "You don't know me, what type of person I am.' "
After eight weeks in a cast and six in a walking boot, he began rehabilitation. He worked out 51/2 hours a day five days a week in Indianapolis. When he could resume running, he doubled his sessions, working afternoons with former Firebirds lineman Chris Snyder to get his body back into football shape.
Sutton returned to practice 41/2 months after the operation, four or five weeks ahead of schedule.
He didn't worry about his time away from the team, because the Storm had signed three of his former Indiana teammates during the offseason. Lineman Ricky Hall had been signed as a free agent, and fullbacks/linebackers Jarrod Penright (10th) and Jeff Cogell (44th) were selected in the dispersal draft.
"I just got lucky," Sutton said. "I came to a place where I had teammates that I had before, so I wasn't coming in cold. I'm pretty sure those guys said, "Sutton, he's a good player, he's going to get after them,' so it was good that they were here before me."
Sutton made his Storm debut March 20 at Philadelphia with two assisted tackles and a blocked field goal in a 69-63 loss. He was inactive for a 59-28 loss March 26 at Los Angeles but returned to earn defensive player of the game in a 48-38 victory April 2 over Southern Division-leading Georgia.
Sutton made a solo tackle, broke up a pass and returned an interception 32 yards to the Georgia 8. Last week, he was credited with a tackle, quarterback hurry and forced fumble in a 54-42 victory over Orlando.
When he watches videotape, Sutton can see he lacks the explosion he had before the injury. His Achilles' will not fully recover until about a year after the operation. In the meantime, he continues to rehab twice a week to keep his quadriceps and calves strong.
But he's further along than expected. "I'm just now starting to do moves I did last year," Sutton said. "But it's going to come back to me, hopefully, around playoff time. I'll start getting off the ball like I used to."