footballers with backgrounds in other codes? Please put all football related info in this thread. Thanks. ------------------ Besides NFL kickers which footballers played in other codes at the amateur, semi pro or pro level? During a mixed rules match between Australia (footy) and Ireland (gaelic) the announcers mentioned an Irish player who played for Sydney Swans. Some gaelic footballers play soccer in the offseason but I don't know if they play amateur, semi pro, etc. English rugby player Johnny Wilkinson is a soccer fan and I think his grandfather played on a lower division team.
I don't know what you mean by "other codes". Amos Zeroeue of the Pittsburgh Steelers was a stand-out youth soccer player. He switched to football in his senior year of high school, and was good enough to play football for WVU. When he was drafted into the NFL, he said he might try soccer again if his career did not take off. But that seems unlikely now. He's been in the league for several years, and he looks like he's going to be a big part of the Steeler's offense for years to come. There are lots of NFL players who played two sports in college. Ricky Dudley, tight-end for the TB Bucs played football and basketball at Ohio State. Tony Gonzalez of the Chiefs is a similar story. Its fairly common for college basketball teams to have one player that also plays football. I'm sure quite a few of them end up in the NBA or NFL. John Elway was supposed to be a great baseball player. He used the threat of switching to MLB as leverage to get the Colts to trade him away after they drafted him. He didn't want to play for them.
Codes as in different types of football (Rugby Union is a code, as are American and Aussie Rules) - Tavian Banks, RB for Iowa who played sparingly for Jacksonville Jaguars, was a HS soccer player. - Shane Walton, CB at Notre Dame and likely NFL draftee next month, played soccer at ND and played in the US ODP. - There was a University of Texas football player who talked about playing in the MLS, but can't remember his name for the life of me. I think he was an RB or a DB.
NFL Free Agency Movement http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2003/0312/1522271.html I just found today about Roosevelt Colvin. A pass rush in New England?! Yup! This off season's only going to get better. Colvin, Harrison, and some special teams guy from Cleveland. Now it's time for more O line help and another receiver.
Re: footballers with backgrounds in other codes? Kevin Moran (ex Man Utd, Blackburn and MLS player) played Gaelic for Dublin before switching to soccer. Also James McCartan (Down), Peter Whitnell (Down), Eamon Kavanagh (Tyrone, non-County Player) and Mick Deegan (Dublin) have all played in the Irish League. Their used to be a ban on 'foreign' sports in the GAA, but that was lifted in the early 70's because of the growth in popularity of Soccer and Basketball.
Wow. Looks like Junior Seau's career with the Chargers is coming to a close... http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-chargers-seau&prov=ap&type=lgns
Another Patriot? Likely not, since he wants to stay on the west coast. Rumor has it the Harrison signing frees up possibilities for a Tebucky Jones trade. The Saints are said to be interested in Tebucky. The Saints are trying to trade Kyle Turley. Get where I'm going with this?
Wanted to add that there would have to be some adjustments to that proposal to both team's caps most likely.
One of the local sports talk stations just aired excerpts from Seau's press conference in San Diego, during which he took questions from fans and media. One fan asked, "Are you going to the Raiders?" The whole place erupted in boos. Seau's response: "That was a great Super Bowl, wasn't it?" Of course, the place then erupted in cheers. I hope the Niners take a look at him. Right now, they're only OK at LB (Julian Peterson is the only good one, Winborn's okay and Smith and Ulbrich are just average). And they certainly freed up some cap space when they let Stubby go last week (Dana is now a Raider...).
Hakem Olajawon was cap-tied to Nigeria in soccer. I think he was their U-something keeper until he grew too tall to be a keeper. He switched to soccer. For basketball and goalkeeper, I see alot of similiarity just liked other football games and soccer.
Caucasian cornerback? I don't follow college football so I was wondering if there are any white college cornerbacks that have a future in the NFL. Jason Sehorn has been the only white cornerback in like the last 17 years. That is bizarre/unbelievable/realistic(?)/pigeonholing(?) Any opinions? In the 1980s Jeff Fischer played cornerback for the Bears until mid-1985. Yes, he was a part of the NFLs all-time best defense but was injured mid-season. Bobby Bryant (Vikings) and Roger Wehrli (Cardinals) were excellent 70s cornerbacks. A little off-topic but Bobby Bryant is perhaps the best CB in Madden PS2. I'm also waiting for the next Riggins and Cappaletti. Don't misinterpret this thread. I'm a fan of athletes of all colors. I haven't done a non-soccer thread. I hope I get some interesting replies.
Agreed. But wasn't Chuck Cecil(Cardinals- the guy the NFL ran out of the league for his clean hits that just happened to knock folks ouuuuut) a CB?
Colin Ridgeway, for sure: http://www.gridironaustralia.org.au/gaaust2new.html Wasn't there a more recent Australian in the NFL, or do I need to start slurping down some Geritol?
Cecil was a safety. Kevin Kaesviharn, graduate of the XFL and Arena Football, started a few games at CB for the Bengals this year, but he's rather mediocre and was just an injury replacement (and he played for the Bengals, so does that really count?). As for college guys, Dustin Fox started at CB for the (semi) national champion Ohio State Buckeyes -- he's reasonably talented, but I don't know that he'll make it to the NFL. I could be wrong, but it seems like there's been a slight increase in white CBs in college since Sehorn burst on the scene.
Dean Cain, the actor who played Superman on TV, was a cornerback at Princeton. He was drafted by the Bills, but he might not even last the preseason.
Wasn't there a rugger at Cal who was considered an NFL prospect? Can't remember his name but I'm sure there was an article about him on ESPN the Magazine.
New York Jets Deny Boarding to Laverneus Coles It looks like the Jets are not going to match the Washington Redskin's (outrageous) offer for star receiver Laverneus Coles, so they will lose him to the a team that has already taken 2 free agents from them this off-season (Randy Thomas, John Hall) and signed Chad Morton before the Jets matched his offer sheet. Just another reason to hate DC, really. Word in today's Post is that the Jets are about to sign Curtis Conway from Chicago as a replacement (filling a need for a taller WR to play opposite Chrebet), and will get the 'Skins first round pick in exchange for losing Coles. It's a good pick, # 13, but I don't think they will get anyone as good as Coles in return. There are 2 great WRs in the draft (Charles Rogers and Andre Johnson), both of whom will probably be gone by # 13. They could get Kelley Washington at # 13, but he's more likely a late round pick as he is old (24) and a bit of a project not having played a heck of a lot at Tennessee. He is one of a couple in the 3rd best receiver slot (if LP is to be believed). They do have another pick at # 22, but he might not be on the board then. As a Jet fan, this ticks me off. Stupid name aside, I liked Coles. More importantly, Pennington liked Coles. I'm a little scared of us not being able to play the same offense without him.
I'll be about as objective as a Pats fan get about the Jets. You'll have to trade at least the two first rounders to move up for Rogers. Last report I heard is he'll be gone no later than third, definitely to Detroit or Houston. It wouldn't shock me to see him go #1 either to whoever ends up with it. You probably don't want Kelley Washington. Anything I've ever read about him indicates that while a great talent, he's injury prone and the kind of cocky personality that alienates teammates very quickly. Proceed with caution. I think the Pats will go LB/DL with their first two, but if they take Washington I'll be really pissed.
To make way for Chris Gamble? thats where his brother played at Penn St...and got his ass toasted game after game. I'd imagine BYU has a few white Cornerbacks but I'm not sure how good they are. But for some reason the best white atheletes end up at WR, at least in football.
NFL and other related football talk Place all your NFL player movements and other football talk in this thread. Don't worry, the draft will have a different thread. Thank you.
He actually tore up his knee in training camp, ending his NFL career before he could really give it a shot.