Is it possible to make it to the NFL if your Irish?

nfl mad

Hello everyone.

So is it possible? I fear that no will be the answer. Im a young lad and i love the NFL, i would someday love to play in it but i cant seem to see that happening given i live in ireland, as it seems very much the case that you need to play college ball in the US and if you dont, your screwed.
I play soccer and rugby, and even though im pretty good at rugby, i dont like it to be honest. Everyone tell's me i will be a star in the future, even my coach stopped my mum in the street not long ago and started going on about how 'great i am' bla bla bla, the man is even going to get some guy out from the irfu or something to have a look, a development coach or something. In fairness, he's right. i easily run in a minimum of 10/12 trys per match, largely down to my speed but i only play it to keep everyone happy. There's no way i want to be playing in a few year's, not a hope. Im going to play pure ****e when/if this guy comes out. Anyway, to get back on point, is their any hope of the NFL dream? Maybe im just an idiot with ridiculous notions. Also i know there's a big difference between rugby and the NFL.

Thanks all.:)

tallaghtoutlaws

nfl mad wrote: »

Hello everyone.

So is it possible? I fear that no will be the answer. Im a young lad and i love the NFL, i would someday love to play in it but i cant seem to see that happening given i live in ireland, as it seems very much the case that you need to play college ball in the US and if you dont, your screwed.
I play soccer and rugby, and even though im pretty good at rugby, i dont like it to be honest. Everyone tell's me i will be star in the future, even my coach stopped my mum in the street not long ago and started going on about how 'great i am' bla bla bla, the man is even going to get some guy out from the irfu or something to have a look, a development coach or something. In fairness, he's right. i easily run in a minimum of 10/12 trys per match, largely down to my speed but i only play it to keep everyone happy. There's no way i want to be playing in a few year's, not a hope. Im going to play pure ****e when/if this guy comes out. Anyway, to get back on point, is their any hope of the NFL dream? Maybe im just an idiot with ridiculous notions. Also i know there's a big difference between rugby and the NFL.

Thanks all.:)

A good start to trying the sport is joining an IAFL team here in Ireland.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=70888669&postcount=169

But realistically unless you start at a high school level in the US your chances are pretty slim. Another route would be to pay about 30-60k to go to a D1 college and try walk on but even then you are at a disadvantage.

There are a few ex IAFL guys playing in lower division college football DII or DIII and some more trying to make it happen. They most likely wont make the NFL but the experience they will gain from stepping from the IAFL into NCAA football would be huge.

As I said give the sport a try to start and see if you actually like playing it or are any good at it. If you are as good the athlete you say you are you wont have any problems fitting in if you listen to the coaches.

Syferus

nfl mad wrote: »

Hello everyone.

So is it possible? I fear that no will be the answer. Im a young lad and i love the NFL, i would someday love to play in it but i cant seem to see that happening given i live in ireland, as it seems very much the case that you need to play college ball in the US and if you dont, your screwed.
I play soccer and rugby, and even though im pretty good at rugby, i dont like it to be honest. Everyone tell's me i will be a star in the future, even my coach stopped my mum in the street not long ago and started going on about how 'great i am' bla bla bla, the man is even going to get some guy out from the irfu or something to have a look, a development coach or something. In fairness, he's right. i easily run in a minimum of 10/12 trys per match, largely down to my speed but i only play it to keep everyone happy. There's no way i want to be playing in a few year's, not a hope. Im going to play pure ****e when/if this guy comes out. Anyway, to get back on point, is their any hope of the NFL dream? Maybe im just an idiot with ridiculous notions. Also i know there's a big difference between rugby and the NFL.

Thanks all.:)

Are you sure you're not playing World Rugby Challenge on the PS3? :pac:

Simple answer is you'd need to attended an american college, preferably a junior one and make enough of an impression on their football team for a Division I college to want to bring you to their program. Even then you'd have to be exceedingly good to make the team, let alone get an NFL team interested. You could just try to be a walk-on for a major college, but that would involve even more money on tuition, and you'd need to meet their significantly higher academic standards as well.

There's no other way unless you plan on being a punter or kicker.

nfl mad

Syferus wrote: »

Are you sure you're not playing World Rugby Challenge on the PS3? :pac:

Simple answer is you'd need to attended an american college, preferably a junior one and make enough of an impression on their football team for a Division I college to want to bring you to their program. Even then you'd have to be exceedingly good to make the team, let alone get an NFL team interested. You could just try to be a walk-on for a major college, but that would involve even more money on tuition, and you'd need to meet their significantly higher academic standards as well.

There's no other way unless you plan on being a punter or kicker.

Ha! Ha! No, it's the real deal.:pac:

nfl mad

Yeah, i was afraid of those answers. Whats a punter/kicker btw lads?
Thanks for the replie's btw, il check out that website too.

Dohnny Jepp

nfl mad wrote: »

Whats a punter/kicker btw lads?

Stick to rugby :P

Peyton Manning

Oh good Jesus

Benny Cake

Seeing how you've mastered imaginary rugby, the jump to imaginary NFL should be easy... go for it!!

Frisbee

nfl mad wrote: »

Yeah, i was afraid of those answers. Whats a punter/kicker btw lads?

So not only are you some sort of hybrid of Brian Habana and T-1000. You are also absolutely mad about Football and have aspirations of playing in the NFL but have no idea what a punter/kicker is.

Skeptical Frisbee is skeptical.

killwill

Wasn't there talks of Ronan O'Gara heading over to try out a couple of years ago?
I believe he even mentioned it in his autobiography.

tallaghtoutlaws

killwill wrote: »

Wasn't there talks of Ronan O'Gara heading over to try out a couple of years ago?
I believe he even mentioned it in his autobiography.

Try 8 years ago And yup there was an informal conversation between the Miami Dolphins Agents and O'Gara to bring him in and try out as a kicker.

Syferus

tallaghtoutlaws wrote: »

Try 8 years ago And yup there was an informal conversation between the Miami Dolphins Agents and O'Gara to bring him in and try out as a kicker.

And the irony of economics meant being a place-kicker or a punter on minimum NFL wages for those positions means he'd make magnitudes more than he does being a star out-half here.

If a rugby out-half, particularly a Ronan O'Gara type that's excellent at kicking for position and place-kicking wanted a sunset career they could do alot worse than trying their hand at the NFL, the age profile for kickers (and indeed the places they're looking for kickers in, like Australia and Aussie Rules football) makes it a viable option.

tallaghtoutlaws

Syferus wrote: »

And the irony of economics meant being a place-kicker or a punter on minimum NFL wages for those positions means he'd make magnitudes more than he does being a star out-half here.

He wasn't prepared to give up on his contract here to only try out for the Dolphins. The fact it was an informal offer to try out means no money would have even been on the table and at the time O'Gara would have been mad to give up his already paid job which he was good at to try out for a sport he might not have been good at.

Syferus

tallaghtoutlaws wrote: »

He wasn't prepared to give up on his contract here to only try out for the Dolphins. The fact it was an informal offer to try out means no money would have even been on the table and at the time O'Gara would have been mad to give up his already paid job which he was good at to try out for a sport he might not have been good at.

Well, of course. The fact is that the sort of money even high profile out-halves can be offered by NFL teams would make any of them think about it, particularly if they're nearing - or in - their thirties. I wouldn't be surprised to see some of the better club out-halves getting try-outs in the future.

bruschi

nfl mad wrote: »

i love the NFL,

nfl mad wrote: »

Whats a punter/kicker btw lads?

brilliant! best of luck with that by the way! hope you get your NFL dream!

as regards the other points on herre, surprised that no rugby place kicker has gone to America to make it. There are 3 aussies punting, McBriar at Dallas (although he didnt come through the AFL route, although he had played it underage, but went through college at Hawaii. how bad??!!!), Sav Rocca at Redskins (through Philly and a long and good career with Aussie Rules side Collingwood), and Ben Graham (through Jets, Saints and recently Cardinals who let him go not so long ago after playing AFL career with Geelong). it'd be a great addition to a carrer playing another sport to be able to 'retire' with a few kicks a week and getting paid a crapload.

seeing some of the place kickers in college, and I'd always wonder how I'd even go with it! some of them look pure useless, and their stats are terrible. granted, the pressure on the kick, lads running at you, crowd, quick snaps etc, but still, kickers missing chip shots in front of the goal is criminal!

jester1980

D_Red_Army wrote: »

Seeing how you've mastered imaginary rugby, the jump to imaginary NFL should be easy... go for it!!

Thats hilarous HA HA HA

Fr Tod Umptious

An Irish kicker played in the 70s and 80s, cannot remember his name but I'll try and find it.

Also there was a news story on RTE a few yaers back about a guy from Althone getting a scholarship to play linebacker at some Div III school in suburban Boston.

As for rugby kickers not making the NFL I think a lot may have to do with the kicking technique.

A rugby kicker has the ball placed on the tee, then takes an age to do his side steps, wiggle his feet, bend his knees, fix his hair etc and then he kicks.

An NFL kicker gets the snap placed for him then has a couple of seconds to get the kick off with 300+ lb giants baring down on him, big difference.

Found Him http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/NFLtrialists.html
O'Donoghue, Neil - Born in Ireland, he attended Auburn College and was their kicker. He was a 5th round pick by the Buffalo Bills in 1977. He played 5 games for the Bills, and then joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who he played for in 1978 and 1979 completing 24 of 43 field goals and 55 of 64 PATs. He played for the St Louis Cardinals between 1980 and 1985 completing 86 of 141 field goals and 181 of 188 PATs. His best season was 1984 when he scored 117 points.Holds several kicking records for the Cardinals, Tampa Bay and Buffalo.http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/players.nsf/ID/05890097 and
http://www.bucpower.com/neil-odonoghue.html.

Dodge

Didn't the O'Gara thing to turn out to be a ploy by his agent when he was negotiatinga deal. A journalist called the Dolphins and they said somthign like "what? Who? Never heard of him"

bruschi

Dodge wrote: »

Didn't the O'Gara thing to turn out to be a ploy by his agent when he was negotiatinga deal. A journalist called the Dolphins and they said somthign like "what? Who? Never heard of him"

I had thought the very same as well to be honest, that there was no truth to the rumours.

edit, quick google has heaps of articles with offers of $12 million contracts for him (WTF?).

and then one quick articles that puts all the rest to bed.

http://irishecho.com/?p=55827

“While amused, the Dolphins denied reports they offered Irish rugby star Ronan O’Gara $12 million to be a punter. British television and the Irish Times reported Dolphins owner H. Wayne Huizenga met with O’Gara in Ireland and expressed interest in signing him. Dolphins’ vice-president Rick Spielman said he has never heard of O’Gara.”

was it mentioned in his autobigraphy about it maybe?

Dodge

Just googled it myself. Apparently his autobiography states that it was a bargaining move.

He met the owner. Was contacted by a journalist and didn't deny it. Snowballed from there.

Won't bother with links as they're just forums and stuff

Syferus

Dodge wrote: »

Just googled it myself. Apparently his autobiography states that it was a bargaining move.

He met the owner. Was contacted by a journalist and didn't deny it. Snowballed from there.

Won't bother with links as they're just forums and stuff

Yeah, but I'm surprised more teams don't make more than informal meetings or offers. They need to be trying out these players in the off-season (both sports' overlap between May-August, at least in northern hemisphere rugby). Maybe they are and players try to keep it very quiet so as not to upset their current paymasters, but I'd expect one to have made it to the big time if that was the case.

Even with the difference in kicking technique all out-halves have to be good at punting and drop-kicks, which are very much like field goals in terms of pressure, rugby out-halves, given the two games common heritage as well, seem like the ideal breeding ground for kickers with the basic skills to be an all-round kicker/punter as well as having the ability to run fakes very effectively.

Dodge

I think its probably more to do with being relative stars in their home countries 9in the sport they've played all their life) while being relative nobodies in the NFL too.

An insane amount of ex-Aussie Rules guy as punters in the NFL now though

sReq | uTeK

good troll btw.

Syferus

Dodge wrote: »

I think its probably more to do with being relative stars in their home countries 9in the sport they've played all their life) while being relative nobodies in the NFL too.

An insane amount of ex-Aussie Rules guy as punters in the NFL now though

I'd agree that that works for bigger stars like O'Gara or Sexton, who also have a bunch of money tied to lucrative commercial endorsements, but what about the Ian Keatleys or the Ian Humphries of the world, players who have good club careers but are never going to make much besides their relatively small contracts? Those are the players the NFL needs to be targeting and even NCAA Division I schools would be very, very smart to offer young out-halves scholarships to improve their kicking situation.

vinny chase

Haven't heard of the linebacker from Athlone; but it's possible you were referring to a guy named Glenn Baker who went over years ago to play low-ish level college football. He was an offensive lineman I believe. He was actually from Cork but his family had moved to Athlone shortly before he left for America.

Haven't heard about anything in the years since being honest. A friend of mine played rugby with him once or twice; and wasn't exactly complimentary of him. Said he had freakish size, but fitness was absolutely abysmal and he seemed a bit soft, in that he didn't seem to like the physicality. I don't know how you could be an o-lineman in those circumstances!

tallaghtoutlaws

vinny chase wrote: »

Haven't heard of the linebacker from Athlone; but it's possible you were referring to a guy named Glenn Baker who went over years ago to play low-ish level college football. He was an offensive lineman I believe. He was actually from Cork but his family had moved to Athlone shortly before he left for America.

Haven't heard about anything in the years since being honest. A friend of mine played rugby with him once or twice; and wasn't exactly complimentary of him. Said he had freakish size, but fitness was absolutely abysmal and he seemed a bit soft, in that he didn't seem to like the physicality. I don't know how you could be an o-lineman in those circumstances!

Glenn was a Defensive Lineman and finished out high school in the US and then went on to Mount Ida College a DIII college. As for his size when I first met him he was just a big fat guy, but now the guy is a solid athlete and totally different to what he was before he left Ireland. Still a big dude but fit as a fiddle and 90% muscle now. They whipped him into shape in the high school.

tallaghtoutlaws

Syferus wrote: »

I'd agree that that works for bigger stars like O'Gara or Sexton, who also have a bunch of money tied to lucrative commercial endorsements, but what about the Ian Keatleys or the Ian Humphries of the world, players who have good club careers but are never going to make much besides their relatively small contracts? Those are the players the NFL needs to be targeting and even NCAA Division I schools would be very, very smart to offer young out-halves scholarships to improve their kicking situation.

Why would they when they have an already large playing pool who can already kick and as someone said have been doing for years.

As for kicking the ball it is completely different so there would be a high chance a lot of development would be needed. The amount of Rugby guys I have come across in my time trying to kick an American football that just couldn't adjust to the size of the US ball even though they were flawless with a rugby ball.

Most recent guy was a guy who is plays high level rugby here and he just couldn't get his head around the ball being snapped to him and the run up needed to kick it. My best kickers are a GAA player and Soccer player.

Its mad that people automatically assume Rugby kicker because of the similar shape of the balls would be the better choice. Their ball is squarer in shape and a lot bigger.

As for the Aussies they fit perfectly into punting because their own ball is similar in shape and the AFL has them kicking the ball the same way you would expect a punter to do it. They do it for the most part of every game they play in so they hon their skills.

vinny chase

tallaghtoutlaws wrote: »

Glenn was a Defensive Lineman and finished out high school in the US and then went on to Mount Ida College a DIII college. As for his size when I first met him he was just a big fat guy, but now the guy is a solid athlete and totally different to what he was before he left Ireland. Still a big dude but fit as a fiddle and 90% muscle now. They whipped him into shape in the high school.

I didn't doubt they would make huge strides in terms of fitness; but hearing guys say he didn't like the physical side of it isn't something any amount of time in a gym is going to cure him of.

Also; 90% sure he was an O-Lineman; think he played a spot of d-line too but pretty sure he was primarily O-Line.

tallaghtoutlaws

bruschi wrote: »

seeing some of the place kickers in college, and I'd always wonder how I'd even go with it! some of them look pure useless, and their stats are terrible. granted, the pressure on the kick, lads running at you, crowd, quick snaps etc, but still, kickers missing chip shots in front of the goal is criminal!

I asked a friend of mine who was a Special team coordinator in a college why is college kicking so bad and he said it was all down to the lack of consistency in blocking and the long snap back and the holder holding the football. He said when you take the pressure off the kick in practice those kicker nail almost all of them but when the pressure is added the mistakes happen and the kicker then takes the brunt of it.

College football doesn't have the solid consistency the NFL does when it comes to the guys blocking, the long snapper and the holder and the kicker.

Now there is some guys in college who are bad kicker on top of all that but if you look at some of the kickers in the NFL right now some of them had pretty average college careers. But as there is only 32 teams in the NFL and few hundred top colleges in the NCAA not to mention the other colleges outside the top divisions the NFL will never be short for top kickers.

For example Billy Cundiff sits in the top 4 of the stats for kicker right now in the NFL. In his last season with Drake University a FCS(D1aa) school, He only had a 67% completion rating. But if you look at his kicks in the Pros he is one of the best out there. It shows the NFL are quite capable of finding good enough kickers from the NCAA system.

tallaghtoutlaws

vinny chase wrote: »

I didn't doubt they would make huge strides in terms of fitness; but hearing guys say he didn't like the physical side of it isn't something any amount of time in a gym is going to cure him of.

Also; 90% sure he was an O-Lineman; think he played a spot of d-line too but pretty sure he was primarily O-Line.

Yup my bad I meant to say Offensive lineman. He played as a tackle and a guard. I used to play with Glenn here and still chat to him the odd time on FB.

As for the physical side that is bs Glenn snapped out of that very quickly when he went to the US and did well on all fronts including the physical side.

nfl mad

Frisbee wrote: »

So not only are you some sort of hybrid of Brian Habana and T-1000. You are also absolutely mad about Football and have aspirations of playing in the NFL but have no idea what a punter/kicker is.

Skeptical Frisbee is skeptical.

The lads i play soccer with adore the game and yet half of them dont know how to take a throw in properly.:pac::P:o also i misread the post. sorry.:o

nfl mad

tallaghtoutlaws wrote: »

A good start to trying the sport is joining an IAFL team here in Ireland.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=70888669&postcount=169

But realistically unless you start at a high school level in the US your chances are pretty slim. Another route would be to pay about 30-60k to go to a D1 college and try walk on but even then you are at a disadvantage.

There are a few ex IAFL guys playing in lower division college football DII or DIII and some more trying to make it happen. They most likely wont make the NFL but the experience they will gain from stepping from the IAFL into NCAA football would be huge.

As I said give the sport a try to start and see if you actually like playing it or are any good at it. If you are as good the athlete you say you are you wont have any problems fitting in if you listen to the coaches.

Thanks for the link tallaght, i might give a go shur, but the NFL thing look's bleak:(. I dont understand why people seem to think i signed up on board's to start a thread, only to tell lies, nor do i care. That must be the way it works on here or something.

bruschi

tallaghtoutlaws wrote: »

As for the Aussies they fit perfectly into punting because their own ball is similar in shape and the AFL has them kicking the ball the same way you would expect a punter to do it. They do it for the most part of every game they play in so they hon their skills.

just on that, would disagree in part. Aussie Rules ball is more different to an American football than a rugby ball, and the kicking technique is hugely different. the punt has a much longer and higher follow through, and the spin on the ball is massivley different. AFL is about accuracy and length, whereas NFL is more about height first, then length and accuracy.

Ben Graham was on an AFL game there last year at half time doing a sideline interview thing, and he had a ball with him. when he tried to kick it, he was all over the place. holding it arseways, kicking it wrong, and he ended up shanking it so badly! and he even said he couldnt get used to it after not kicking one for years.

the reason they are suited is just the mechanics of actually kicking a ball from the hand. in much the same way a gaelic player would be able to adapt easily enough to aussie rules, they have the basics right. which is why I would think a rugby player should be able to adapt too. but as you say, gaelic and soccer players can too, because they have the mechanics right of striking a ball from the ground.

and dodge, 2 aussie rules punters is hardly an insane amount! :pac: there doesnt seem to be much more interest in getting players over though which is surprising. some big kickers have retired in AFL in the last couple of years.

Reganio 2

David James the goalkeeper I am pretty sure was over with the Miami Dolphins on an unofficial trial at some stage a number of years ago as well. Don't know if he was any use (I doubt it, its David James) but pretty sure their were pics/ a video of him trying it out.

tallaghtoutlaws

bruschi wrote: »

just on that, would disagree in part. Aussie Rules ball is more different to an American football than a rugby ball, and the kicking technique is hugely different. the punt has a much longer and higher follow through, and the spin on the ball is massivley different. AFL is about accuracy and length, whereas NFL is more about height first, then length and accuracy.

Ben Graham was on an AFL game there last year at half time doing a sideline interview thing, and he had a ball with him. when he tried to kick it, he was all over the place. holding it arseways, kicking it wrong, and he ended up shanking it so badly! and he even said he couldnt get used to it after not kicking one for years.

the reason they are suited is just the mechanics of actually kicking a ball from the hand. in much the same way a gaelic player would be able to adapt easily enough to aussie rules, they have the basics right. which is why I would think a rugby player should be able to adapt too. but as you say, gaelic and soccer players can too, because they have the mechanics right of striking a ball from the ground.

and dodge, 2 aussie rules punters is hardly an insane amount! :pac: there doesnt seem to be much more interest in getting players over though which is surprising. some big kickers have retired in AFL in the last couple of years.

My opinion of it is based on experience and what I have seen from it. When I worked in North Carolina I worked with Brits and Aussies and South Africans and New Zealanders and we played touch football once with the Americans and 2 of the Aussies played Aussie Rules back home and they had fairly sharp punts without adjusting their mechanics as the way they kick as in the movement was similar as a punter. After I fixed how they hold the ball and foot placement and slightly adjusted their stance and kicking motion they were nailing them.

I tried the same with a brit who kicked in Rugby and another paddy who played Soccer and Gaa and both of them were a lot more work as their kicking motion out of their hands were not as sharp but they had the basics down.

From experience coaching the sport I find soccer or Gaa players are better place kickers than Rugby players. And being out in UCD I get a lot of all 3 on the team.

bruschi

Reganio 2 wrote: »

David James the goalkeeper I am pretty sure was over with the Miami Dolphins on an unofficial trial at some stage a number of years ago as well. Don't know if he was any use (I doubt it, its David James) but pretty sure their were pics/ a video of him trying it out.

I remember seeing that. I think it was just a sky sports/ sports company promo thing. Olindo Mare was kicking penalties on James. no trial or anything, just a promo thing, like Beckham did with Reggie Bush a couple of years ago.

Syferus

tallaghtoutlaws wrote: »

Why would they when they have an already large playing pool who can already kick and as someone said have been doing for years.

As for kicking the ball it is completely different so there would be a high chance a lot of development would be needed. The amount of Rugby guys I have come across in my time trying to kick an American football that just couldn't adjust to the size of the US ball even though they were flawless with a rugby ball.

Most recent guy was a guy who is plays high level rugby here and he just couldn't get his head around the ball being snapped to him and the run up needed to kick it. My best kickers are a GAA player and Soccer player.

Its mad that people automatically assume Rugby kicker because of the similar shape of the balls would be the better choice. Their ball is squarer in shape and a lot bigger.

As for the Aussies they fit perfectly into punting because their own ball is similar in shape and the AFL has them kicking the ball the same way you would expect a punter to do it. They do it for the most part of every game they play in so they hon their skills.

Anyone with half a brain knows the balls are different - the point remains that rugby out-halves do 95% of what a combined kicker-punter does in the NFL in one way or another, and under far more constant pressure. A good out-half should be able to adapt to the nuances of American football as easily as any Australian Rules players (who never have to deal with the pressure of an entire team bearing down on them when they're making big kicks, whereas that's commonplace for out-halves) and certainly more than soccer players, which both have been piloted by NFL and NCAA teams as well. When a player's used to a certain ball and they have to use a similar but significantly different ball then of course it'll have more of an effect at first as the brain will be wired to what they're used to, but in the long run the conversion should be relatively easy.

This page makes for some interesting reading on conversions from one code to another, though: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_players_who_have_converted_from_one_football_code_to_another

tallaghtoutlaws

Syferus wrote: »

Anyone with half a brain knows the balls are different - the point remains that rugby out-halves do 95% of what a combined kicker-punter does in the NFL in one way or another, and under far more constant pressure and at least equal importance.

Oh really? What is your experience with both sports and actually what is your experience with both balls? I deal with guys who have played all sports and have plenty experience in the field and its not as easy of a transition as you are making out. But hey I don't have a brain right? :rolleyes:

A good out-halve should be able to adapt to the nuances of American football as easily as any Australian Rules players (who never have to deal with the pressure of an entire team bearing down on them when they're making big kicks, whereas that's commonplace for out-halves) and certainly more than soccer players, which both have been piloted by NFL and NCAA teams as well.

Again where is your experience with guys making transition from one sport to the other that you can say that anyone with half a brain would know this and that you clearly know 100% that this is all fact?


But see you clearly can't read now can you. I said why would the NFL go to the bother of looking for Rugby players when they have an already large player pool to choose from of guys who already know what they are doing.

The fact of the matter remains that any Rugby player who tries out for a NFL team will require adjustment to their mechanics and wont fit in right away. NFL teams know this and for most if they can find guys who already have that skilll set from college why would they bother with trying to convert a Rugby player.

This page makes for some interesting reading on conversions from one code to another, though: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_players_who_have_converted_from_one_football_code_to_another

As for most of the guys on the rugby to American football list most of them went to a US college where they played American Football. The only kicker among them was Terry Price and he never got his game for the Bills in the 71.

jack presley

There was a story a few years back on RTE about some Irish lad heading over to the States to play college football. They did the usual 'action shots' of him on a pitch on his own showing his moves (he was an OL I think?) and they finished off the piece by saying that "he was tipped to make it in the NFL". Afterwards I checked out the college he was going to and it turns out it was a D3 school (and not a very good one at that). It made me laugh anyway.

tallaghtoutlaws

jack presley wrote: »

There was a story a few years back on RTE about some Irish lad heading over to the States to play college football. They did the usual 'action shots' of him on a pitch on his own showing his moves (he was an OL I think?) and they finished off the piece by saying that "he was tipped to make it in the NFL". Afterwards I checked out the college he was going to and it turns out it was a D3 school (and not a very good one at that). It made me laugh anyway.

That was Glenn Baker as discussed earlier in thread and that was the Irish media being over zealous with their reporting.

Reganio 2

bruschi wrote: »

I remember seeing that. I think it was just a sky sports/ sports company promo thing. Olindo Mare was kicking penalties on James. no trial or anything, just a promo thing, like Beckham did with Reggie Bush a couple of years ago.

Ah maybe that was it. I could have sworn he went over twice though for a try out. I reckon you have it right though.

tallaghtoutlaws

Reganio 2 wrote: »

Ah maybe that was it. I could have sworn he went over twice though for a try out. I reckon you have it right though.

He attended a Dolphins training camp by invitation. Something to do with studying their training methods and conditioning methods. While there he tried kicking as a publicity thing.

jack presley

tallaghtoutlaws wrote: »

He attended a Dolphins training camp by invitation. Something to do with studying their training methods and conditioning methods. While there he tried kicking as a publicity thing.

Was that when him and Martin Johnson were out filming something? I have a vague recollection of the two of them tossing passes to each other.

tallaghtoutlaws

jack presley wrote: »

Was that when him and Martin Johnson were out filming something? I have a vague recollection of the two of them tossing passes to each other.

That was for another show featuring the Seahawks and 49ers as far as I can remember. Beyond the NFL it was called I think and Sky did it.

Syferus

Jesus Tallaght, you seem to assume no one but you has any experience playing or being involved with any sport! :pac:

tallaghtoutlaws

Syferus wrote: »

Jesus Tallaght, you seem to assume no one but you has any experience playing or being involved with any sport! :pac:

No thats not it at all but when you insult my intelligence we then have a problem. I put questions to you and the fact you avoid them shows me you have never tried comparing the abilities in real life other than sprout off what you read. I mean if you play rugby thats fair enough but you cannot comment on how easy it is for a rugby player to adapt to American Football especially as a kicker without actually experiencing it for yourself or without some evidence of a Rugby player actually doing it first hand or watching a vid of them doing it.

I gave you accounts of what I have experienced first hand and all you could do is avoid what I said and say I dont have a brain because your opinion apparently is fact. I said it was all opinion based on experience for me.

Also you completely mis read what I said about why would the NFL want guys they would have to turn into kickers when they already have a large pool of guys who have done it all their lives.

The unfortunate thing syferus no matter what I write it seems you are always looking for ways to contradict it. Even if I am right. At least with other guys on here when they go toe to toe with me we can debate and agree to disagree to some point if we don't reach a similar stance. I have agreed with a lot of what you wrote in the past but for the last year you have consistently tried picking off some of my posts and you know what its getting old especially when you try debate something I never said. Its funny for a guy who came onto to the forum with as you said at the time a bit of knowledge you seem to have become the expert.:rolleyes:

curry-muff

Habana would have made a decent NFL player.

craggles

curry-muff wrote: »

Habana would have made a decent NFL player.

Based on

Sanity_Saviour

craggles wrote: »

Based on

being quick as fúck

jack presley

Sanity_Saviour wrote: »

being quick as fúck

Having speed doesn't necessarily mean you'll be a great American footballer. I presume you'd have him down as a WR? It's all well and good outrunning a DB but if you can't get off the line of scrimmage or you can't run a route, you're not worth much.

D3PO

Sanity_Saviour wrote: »

craggles wrote: »

Based on

being quick as fúck

That British sprinter that tried out for the NFL failed miserably can't remember his name. Speed isn't even close to the most important attribute

Christ look at the giants te Jake Ballard he runs a 5 second 40