for display only
Big Blue Interactive The Corner Forum  
Back to the Corner

Archived Thread

Freaks Don’t Work in the NFL

DanMetroMan : 5/3/2016 9:29 am
"You didn’t hear Hafpor Julius Bjornsson’s name get called last week at the NFL Draft. You did see him, kind of, inside a giant gold suit of armor on Game of Thrones. (That’s not a spoiler.) At 6’9& #8243; and 243 pounds, he’s not the prototype defender, but his insane strength, you’d think, might make the NFL come calling.



They haven’t. Even though Bjornsson isn’t just a strongman – he started as a basketball center in his native Iceland – there haven’t been many successful attempts to switch athletes into NFL players. Strongmen, track stars and even rugby players have all given the NFL a shot, but with very little success.

Why can’t super athletes who would excel at the NFL Combine translate that into on-field success? I called a couple scouts, front office people, and strength and conditioning personnel to ask them.

One name kept coming up. “I’d love to see Usain Bolt on the field,” one said. “He’s big enough to take a hit and he’s fast enough that you could get him into space, like you would Percy Harvin. He’s just a lot bigger than Harvin.” In fact, Bolt’s 6’5& #8243;, 207-pound frame is much closer to Julio Jones than the speedy-but-retired Harvin. (The closest comp is Devin Funchess of the Panthers, who at 6’5& #8243;, 220 ran a 4.5 40.)"
Link - ( New Window )
Brock Lesnar is a prime example  
Osi Osi Osi OyOyOy : 5/3/2016 9:31 am : link
went out there and was the most athletic Lineman on the field in Minny, just wasn't experienced enough.
the mountain can not be only 243 pounds  
ron mexico : 5/3/2016 9:32 am : link
343 pounds?
Somehow I akeep thinking the name Renaldo Nehemiah  
Bill L : 5/3/2016 9:32 am : link
when these threads come up. Not sure why because I barely remember him. And maybe that's telling in and of itself.
basketball players  
pjcas18 : 5/3/2016 9:35 am : link
have made the transition like Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham.

they both had a little football experience, but not a lot.
Ever seen an NFL player try boxing?  
Giants2012 : 5/3/2016 9:36 am : link
Besides Vai Sikahema, they're all lost. Jacobs would be hit 5 times before the throws a punch lol

It's your sport or it's usually not.
there's just so much technique to be learned in football  
Greg from LI : 5/3/2016 9:37 am : link
And the game plans at the NFL level are so complex. Unless one of these guys has played at least some football on the high school/college level, they have so much to learn.
Too Tall Jones was 6-0 as a boxer  
Greg from LI : 5/3/2016 9:38 am : link
Didn't fight anyone good, but he didn't lose.
RE: Ever seen an NFL player try boxing?  
pjcas18 : 5/3/2016 9:41 am : link
In comment 12942532 Giants2012 said:
Quote:
Besides Vai Sikahema, they're all lost. Jacobs would be hit 5 times before the throws a punch lol

It's your sport or it's usually not.


Jacobs was an amateur boxer. Maybe a bad example. Sure if he's fighting Wladimir Klitschko you might be right, but Jacobs could probably hold his own in the ring with many boxers.

Plus  
pjcas18 : 5/3/2016 9:42 am : link
you can't forget Finch from Wild cats.

He blocked the kick to win the championship. like JPP vs. Dallas.

RE: RE: Ever seen an NFL player try boxing?  
Giants2012 : 5/3/2016 9:42 am : link
In comment 12942539 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
In comment 12942532 Giants2012 said:


Quote:


Besides Vai Sikahema, they're all lost. Jacobs would be hit 5 times before the throws a punch lol

It's your sport or it's usually not.



Jacobs was an amateur boxer. Maybe a bad example. Sure if he's fighting Wladimir Klitschko you might be right, but Jacobs could probably hold his own in the ring with many boxers.


Highsmith and company were too. They would get destroyed.
the point is that, even for elite athletes, it's hard to just start a  
Greg from LI : 5/3/2016 9:47 am : link
new sport as an adult and compete at the highest levels. There of course have been successful two-sport athletes but almost invariably they played both sports growing up. Bullet Bob Hayes was much more accomplished as a track star in college, but he did play football at Florida A&M. He didn't put on shoulder pads for the first time with the Cowboys.
RE: RE: RE: Ever seen an NFL player try boxing?  
pjcas18 : 5/3/2016 9:48 am : link
In comment 12942542 Giants2012 said:
Quote:
In comment 12942539 pjcas18 said:


Quote:


In comment 12942532 Giants2012 said:


Quote:


Besides Vai Sikahema, they're all lost. Jacobs would be hit 5 times before the throws a punch lol

It's your sport or it's usually not.



Jacobs was an amateur boxer. Maybe a bad example. Sure if he's fighting Wladimir Klitschko you might be right, but Jacobs could probably hold his own in the ring with many boxers.




Highsmith and company were too. They would get destroyed.


Maybe you're right I don't know. I just know it wouldn't be Jacobs first time in a ring. I think he even owns a boxing gym or is a boxing manager or something now.
I think he's a manager  
Greg from LI : 5/3/2016 9:50 am : link
He said he wants to be a promoter someday
RE: Somehow I akeep thinking the name Renaldo Nehemiah  
njm : 5/3/2016 9:50 am : link
In comment 12942526 Bill L said:
Quote:
when these threads come up. Not sure why because I barely remember him. And maybe that's telling in and of itself.


I think of Bob Hayes. But he did have some football experience and I think that's the key.

Wonder how well Odell would do if he was signed by a team in the English Premier League.
This is just common sense though, isn't it?  
jcn56 : 5/3/2016 9:51 am : link
Experience is important no matter what you're comparing - amateur this to professional that, the professional will win 9 out of 10 because they have the expertise.

If that wasn't the case, the NFL draft would be a lot easier, and rookies would be a lot more productive.
a better title would be freaks with no experience in the sport  
chris r : 5/3/2016 9:52 am : link
don't work in the NFL. Plenty of freakish athletes have been successful in the NFL. They just knew how to play football.
RE: the mountain can not be only 243 pounds  
Biteymax22 : 5/3/2016 9:55 am : link
In comment 12942524 ron mexico said:
Quote:
343 pounds?


I think it was supposed to be 423, he just got the order of the digits messed up. The mountain weights over 400 lbs.
recently a lot of former NFL players and guys who just missed the cut  
Giantsfan79 : 5/3/2016 9:58 am : link
have moved into MMA. I don't know about all this boxing talk but many of the current generation of athlete seems to be doing just fine transitioning from football to a get hit in the face sport. but y'all seem to be talking about players from the 60s and 70s and I can't speak about them.
Hayes vs. Nehemiah  
sober297 : 5/3/2016 10:00 am : link
Bob Hayes was a football player that happened to be very fast.
"Skeets" Nehemiah was a very fast athlete, that tried to play football.
I think there is something to be said for football acumen.
RE: a better title would be freaks with no experience in the sport  
Giants2012 : 5/3/2016 10:01 am : link
In comment 12942566 chris r said:
Quote:
don't work in the NFL. Plenty of freakish athletes have been successful in the NFL. They just knew how to play football.


Stop, please just stop. Watch what you wish for
Link - ( New Window )
Of all the major professional sports, football does  
SwirlingEddie : 5/3/2016 10:13 am : link
seem to be the most accessible to the great athlete. There are many examples of talented young men taking up the sport at relatively late ages (mid-late teens) and becoming successful pros.
RE: Brock Lesnar is a prime example  
BIG FRED 1973 : 5/3/2016 10:17 am : link
In comment 12942520 Osi Osi Osi OyOyOy said:
Quote:
went out there and was the most athletic Lineman on the field in Minny, just wasn't experienced enough.
Vikings wanted to sign him to the practice squad but he said he wanted to be on the active roster and turned it down
RE: RE: a better title would be freaks with no experience in the sport  
pjcas18 : 5/3/2016 10:18 am : link
In comment 12942591 Giants2012 said:
Quote:
In comment 12942566 chris r said:


Quote:


don't work in the NFL. Plenty of freakish athletes have been successful in the NFL. They just knew how to play football.



Stop, please just stop. Watch what you wish for Link - ( New Window )


It's funny you posted that link because Bol wasn't even a basketball player. He was a 7' 10" freak first.

He lost his front teeth hitting the basketball rim the first time he ever tried to dunk.

I remember seeing the New Haven Skyhawks play at the Quinnipiac gym, they had Manute Bol and Spudd Webb and Muggsy Bogues on the same team. It was like a circus side show on a basketball court. the height difference between those three looked like when the WWF had the midgets and regular wrestlers mix it up.


JPP was a bit of a freak  
Moondawg : 5/3/2016 10:28 am : link
.
Freaks and evolution of game  
Giants2012 : 5/3/2016 10:28 am : link
Maybe not a freak but the evolution of sport or taking advantage of the obvious.

We've seen in the NFL game how a team might put a DT in the backfield to blow open a hole or a offensive lineman at TE catch a TD pass on the goal line. How come the NHL hasn't caught on?

With these huge goalie pads, how come the NHL can't figure out if they just find a huge body, like a football guard, dress him in pads he'll block out the entire net? Maybe not all of it but 80% without even moving.

Too bad Belichick doesn't coach hockey b/c you know Vince Wilfork would have been his goaltender and lead the league in shutouts lol.





But they come out at night.  
Pete in MD : 5/3/2016 10:32 am : link
.
Nehemiah was an all state hurdler and HS football player for  
gtt350 : 5/3/2016 10:32 am : link
Scotch Plains NJ . And he was a handful playing fior the 49er's
actually world # 1 hurdler , played 3 years for thr niners  
gtt350 : 5/3/2016 10:37 am : link
743 yards 4 td's, but he cleared out alot of zones
which brings up the age old question  
gtt350 : 5/3/2016 10:40 am : link
why not Sumo wrestlers on the goal line
Brock lesnar  
ANGPASS : 5/3/2016 10:44 am : link
is the size of a DT with the athleticism of a corner. But, technique is key. Gerrald Mccoy said it best " Power can get you to the NFL, but technique keeps you in the NFL".
Sumo Wrestlers?  
Nomad Crow on the Madison : 5/3/2016 10:50 am : link
because they cannot skate! And they would break the ice when they fell, which would be often.
What happend to the  
BIG FRED 1973 : 5/3/2016 10:56 am : link
400 lb tight end from Baylor LaQuan McGowan ? Did he get signed by anyone as a free agent ?
Brock at corner...  
BCD : 5/3/2016 11:05 am : link
go back to bed dude!!!!
RE: Freaks and evolution of game  
pjcas18 : 5/3/2016 11:14 am : link
In comment 12942650 Giants2012 said:
Quote:
Maybe not a freak but the evolution of sport or taking advantage of the obvious.

We've seen in the NFL game how a team might put a DT in the backfield to blow open a hole or a offensive lineman at TE catch a TD pass on the goal line. How come the NHL hasn't caught on?

With these huge goalie pads, how come the NHL can't figure out if they just find a huge body, like a football guard, dress him in pads he'll block out the entire net? Maybe not all of it but 80% without even moving.

Too bad Belichick doesn't coach hockey b/c you know Vince Wilfork would have been his goaltender and lead the league in shutouts lol.






Pad size is limited, but the Lightning goalie is 6' 7" 220 pounds. goalies are absolutely trending bigger. Carey price is 6' 3" 220.

But the net is 6 feet wide. Unless you have someone who is 6 feet wide, a Wilfork isn't going to cover the net and I doubt would be mobile enough to move with the shooters.

it would be a disaster, better off with Goldberg from the Might Ducks tied in the net.



I would love to see  
PaulBlakeTSU : 5/3/2016 11:15 am : link
The Mountain bullrush over the center
The Nigerian Nightmare  
VenteSette : 5/3/2016 11:15 am : link
went to Azusa Pacific to throw the shot and discuss. Had a pretty nice NFL career. Topped in the NFL in rushing yards one year.
Oklahoma drill  
PaulBlakeTSU : 5/3/2016 11:21 am : link
The Mountain. Larry Allen. Make it happen Red Lady
since there are virtually no standup goalies anymore  
Greg from LI : 5/3/2016 11:38 am : link
there are virtually no small goaltenders. I can't think of any current goalie who is under 6'. The days of little guys like Vanbiesbrouck and Irbe are over.
RE: Brock lesnar  
B in ALB : 5/3/2016 11:52 am : link
In comment 12942696 ANGPASS said:
Quote:
is the size of a DT with the athleticism of a corner. But, technique is key. Gerrald Mccoy said it best " Power can get you to the NFL, but technique keeps you in the NFL".


Athleticism of a corner? What? The thread has officially shit itself.
hah....don't know how I missed that one  
Greg from LI : 5/3/2016 11:55 am : link
Lots of NFL corners run 4.7 40s!
RE: Somehow I akeep thinking the name Renaldo Nehemiah  
Boy Cord : 5/3/2016 1:03 pm : link
In comment 12942526 Bill L said:
Quote:
when these threads come up. Not sure why because I barely remember him. And maybe that's telling in and of itself.


Nehemiah took a shot under the chin going across the middle. I think he re-evaluated his career decision at that point. He was a HS QB and didn't play football at UMD. Not enough balls to go around in San Fran at the time. He could have developed had he stuck with it. Had track been then what it is today, no way he would have made the career change.
bullet bob hayes  
Hot Rod in Florida : 5/3/2016 3:39 pm : link
Now there was an athletic freak. Olympics to Dallas.
Back to the Corner