Galloway gets look at business side of football
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Joey Galloway might not have to wait until the Super Bowl in order to win a championship this season.
In addition to playing wide receiver for the Bucs, Galloway co-owns the Columbus (Ohio) Destroyers of the Arena Football League.
The Destroyers will play the San Jose SaberCats at 3 p.m. July 29 in ArenaBowl XXI in New Orleans.
The Bucs report for training camp Thursday at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., near Orlando.
“It’s my last week before we report for Orlando,” Galloway said Thursday afternoon during a conference call with the media. “This has been a happy time for the Arena League also, especially for the Columbus Destroyers.”
The Destroyers enter the Arena Football League’s title game with a 7-9 record, but they have gone 3-0 in the postseason.
Being involved in the AFL as a co-owner has given him a better appreciation for the business side of the NFL, Galloway said.
“It gives me a chance to see it from somebody else’s eyes, worrying about ticket sales and promotions and marketing,” Galloway said. “It’s been fun, and it has been an interesting lesson along the way.”
Galloway also has given pregame motivational speeches to the Destroyers before each playoff game this season.
“That has been fun for me,” he said. “And I think when I have the chance to talk to the guys, we can communicate well, because I also play the game. They understand that I know what they’re going through.”
Preparing for his 13th NFL season has been interesting, he said, given that his AFL team could win the title.
“This is the first time in my career where when I go to camp, I’m at the same time keeping my eye on guys who aren’t with my team.”
But Galloway has his own share of worries with the Bucs. He and the team will have to adjust to new quarterback Jeff Garcia, who has been named the starter over Chris Simms and Bruce Gradkowski entering camp.
“For me to comment on Jeff and the way he has picked up the offense would be difficult to do,” Galloway said. “But from my humble opinion, he’s done a really good job of picking everything up. Our offense is the most difficult offense I have ever been a part of. That makes it, for a quarterback, even tougher. But from what I’ve seen, I think he has a pretty good grasp of it. I know for sure we’ll find out next week.”