Wednesday, July 14, 1999

McGuire’s hope
is special teams

The St. Louis alumnus is
vying for a spot with the
Colts and kick returns
may be the key

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

Kaipo McGuire's job right now is to kick back. In fact, his year in pro football might depend on it.

The Indianapolis Colts strength coach told McGuire that all he wanted him to do after he returned home from the World Bowl in Germany was go to the beach and relax.

"I asked him, 'Are you sure?' " said the 5-foot-10, 174-pound former St. Louis School and BYU wide receiver. McGuire arrived in Hawaii the week after playing for the Barcelona Dragons in their loss to The Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europe's title game in Dusseldorf, Germany on June 27.

"I just played an 11-game season, and I'm having three weeks off before reporting to the Colts' training camp," said McGuire.

"I've been to St. Louis to lift weights, and I've jogged a little, but basically I'm just taking it easy."

Next week, he reports to camp in Terre Haute, Indiana, to compete for a chance to catch Peyton Manning's passes.

If McGuire makes the Colts' roster and plays the entire NFL season, he will have appeared in 27 football games in nine months.

"It takes a huge toll on your body, mentally and physically," said McGuire, who holds a degree in psychology.

---

"I've been to St. Louis
to lift weights, and I've jogged
a little, but basically I'm
just taking it easy."

Kaipo McGuire
WANTS A SHOT IN THE NFL

He said the Colts keep five receivers. McGuire thinks three are already locks, and a fourth - a free agent - will also make the roster.

"Then the fifth - well, hopefully, that will be me," he said. "The bottom line will be if I return well."

McGuire, who has been on the Colts' practice squad the last two seasons, realizes that his key to the NFL is through special teams play.

He said he is somewhat encouraged by the fact that the Colts released their kick returner, Aaron Bailey.

"I think that shows some sort of confidence in me, because I was the next man in line," said McGuire.

McGuire's timing was perfect in NFL Europe. He had his best game of the year in the internationally televised World Bowl.

He had a team-high four catches for 69 yards, including a crowd-rousing 40-yard diving grab at the Galaxy 2 in the second half. It set up a Barcelona touchdown.

McGuire also returned two kicks for 52 yards, with a long of 36.

Having a big game in the World Bowl was especially important to him because he had only one reception for seven yards in the previous four games. Barcelona quarterback Todd Bouman just hadn't been throwing to McGuire.

He hopes that if the Colts have no room for him, other teams will be attracted by his World Bowl stats.

"Teams watch tapes and even if they look at the tapes of the previous four games when I only caught one ball, they can see I was open, and I was doing my job," said McGuire.

"If the quarterback doesn't choose to throw to you, there's nothing you can do."

He started every game during the regular season with the Dragons and had 16 receptions for 222 yards (13.9-yard average) despite a nagging hamstring injury.

McGuire returned 13 kicks for 219 yards (16.8-yard average) and five punts for 48 yards (9.6-yard average).

One of the biggest questions asked about McGuire is, "Can he get off the bump with his undersized body?"

"Getting off the bump means being physical and I haven't had a problem," he said. "I've shown I can get off the bump. I've proven I'm tough. I go up the middle all the time. I block well. Hopefully, they see I can get off the bump."