Could Olympic gold-medal sprinter Bolt charge into the NFL?

[bambam]

Re: Could Olympic gold-medal sprinter Bolt charge into the NFL?

I don't know about anyone else but I think these discussions diminish the sport. If a baseball player does well at running and catching a ball do people automatically size up his potential as a WR or in some other position on the NFL turf ? Probably not - baseball is seen a ' real sport'. I find it especially funny coming from the ESPN commentators who can only see track and field through the lens of other sports - i.e. they don't really see T&F as a sport in and of itself. So the phenomenon of Bolt is discussed in terms of his potential in the NFL. Just this week I saw a headline about Bolt's potential as an MMA fighter. There is little discussion in these circles about Bolt's potential within the sport itself - even if it borders on the ridiculous - like how he could do in the high jump or as a middle distance runner - or can be compete and win all 3 big sprints in one Olympic games. I don't see people talking about Tiger Wood's potential as tennis player or how Roger Federer would fare in the NBA. Track just doesn't get much love.

But people have talked about Steffi Graf as a 400 metre runner and Serena Williams as a trackster. And Woods' father used to say he could have been a 400 metre runner, although it never got much farther than that.

[Dutra]

Re: Could Olympic gold-medal sprinter Bolt charge into the NFL?

Is there any inclination for an athlete from Jamaica to have the hand eye coordination built up through years of sport which would be required by a player in the NFL? American kids grow up playing baseball, football, basketball, etc which all require....if you're going to be any good at it....to have a pretty decent hand eye coordination.

If he could sprint down the field and catch the ball with his feet he may make it.

[TrackDaddy]

Re: Could Olympic gold-medal sprinter Bolt charge into the NFL?

There are people in this forum who weren't born when yards were used (in the US) and those posters from other countries may be even less familiar with it.

I attended a meet this year where the guy next to me starting talking about the 220y and 440y dashes, confusing a few of the people listening in.

[Avante]

Re: Re:

The fastest guy out there was a guy named Greg Flenory. He was 9.7 guy and was someone of note locally.

I'm not doubting this Flenory fella was fast. But if he was a "9.7 guy" I'm sure he would have been known more than just locally.

I assumed a 9.7 was obviously yards. Here's Greg ...

paste..

A look at “Where they are going for 4 Year Colleges” had some interesting names who were either prep seniors or community college students would later move into the coaching ranks statewide.
--Greg Flenory - currently Athletic Director at new El Diamante HS in Visalia was moving on from Sequoias JC to Cal State Hayward as a sprinter. (Listed as 9.7 for 100y)

[TrackDaddy]

Re: Could Olympic gold-medal sprinter Bolt charge into the NFL?

Avante is a sprint historian of sorts.

I'm pretty sure Flenory's time was for 100 yards and not meters.

[TrainerPhil]

Re:

The fastest guy out there was a guy named Greg Flenory. He was 9.7 guy and was someone of note locally.

I'm not doubting this Flenory fella was fast. But if he was a "9.7 guy" I'm sure he would have been known more than just locally.

[Trackrunner]

Re: Could Olympic gold-medal sprinter Bolt charge into the NFL?

I don't know about anyone else but I think these discussions diminish the sport. If a baseball player does well at running and catching a ball do people automatically size up his potential as a WR or in some other position on the NFL turf ? Probably not - baseball is seen a ' real sport'. I find it especially funny coming from the ESPN commentators who can only see track and field through the lens of other sports - i.e. they don't really see T&F as a sport in and of itself. So the phenomenon of Bolt is discussed in terms of his potential in the NFL. Just this week I saw a headline about Bolt's potential as an MMA fighter. There is little discussion in these circles about Bolt's potential within the sport itself - even if it borders on the ridiculous - like how he could do in the high jump or as a middle distance runner - or can be compete and win all 3 big sprints in one Olympic games. I don't see people talking about Tiger Wood's potential as tennis player or how Roger Federer would fare in the NBA. Track just doesn't get much love.

[Avante]

Re: Could Olympic gold-medal sprinter Bolt charge into the NFL?

I guessing that Bolt has never played American style football on any level?

Or any type of contact sport at all for that matter?

And he's going to play WR in the NFL?

IMO he'd get killed, and/or is unlikely to possess the skill set.

But he'd get killed in training camp or preseason so we'd probably never see him in a real game.

Remember just because you're big, tall, and fast doesnt mean you possess the skills/courage to play WR in the NFL (remember JJ Stokes?).

BTW...you're probably already aware that Alvin Harper wasn't particularly fast.

There have been tons of tracksters make it at the NFL level. Yes none as raw as Bolt would be since most were footballer/sprinters and he's not. There are just as many Randy Moss's as there have been JJ Stokes. I think Bolt could play "if" all he did was strecth the defense. That's if he learned to catch that over the shoulder catch. I think he's tough enought to take a hit. Just not tough enough to be going over the middle or anything else that draws a crowd.

Alvin Harper had "good" speed. Yep no..zoooommmm!

[Pego]

Re: Could Olympic gold-medal sprinter Bolt charge into the NFL?

I guessing that Bolt has never played American style football on any level?

Or any type of contact sport at all for that matter?

And he's going to play WR in the NFL?

IMO he'd get killed, and/or is unlikely to possess the skill set.

But he'd get killed in training camp or preseason so we'd probably never see him in a real game.

Remember just because you're big, tall, and fast doesnt mean you possess the skills/courage to play WR in the NFL (remember JJ Stokes?).

BTW...you're probably already aware that Alvin Harper wasn't particularly fast.

Right on every account. The list of tall, great sprinters that could not take a hit is long. Many had their career destroyed by football. I shudder every time I think of Reggie Torrian getting hit and limp off the field.

[tandfman]

Re: Could Olympic gold-medal sprinter Bolt charge into the NFL?

Another thing Bolt has probably never done is catch an American football. It's not so easy, if you've never done it, especially when the ball is thown at the speed that pro quarterbacks throw it. But I suppose it would be easier and more pleasant for him to learn to do that than to learn to get hit and tackled by an NFL guy.

[TrackDaddy]

Re: Could Olympic gold-medal sprinter Bolt charge into the NFL?

I guessing that Bolt has never played American style football on any level?

Or any type of contact sport at all for that matter?

And he's going to play WR in the NFL?

IMO he'd get killed, and/or is unlikely to possess the skill set.

But he'd get killed in training camp or preseason so we'd probably never see him in a real game.

Remember just because you're big, tall, and fast doesnt mean you possess the skills/courage to play WR in the NFL (remember JJ Stokes?).

BTW...you're probably already aware that Alvin Harper wasn't particularly fast.

[Avante]

Re: Could Olympic gold-medal sprinter Bolt charge into the NFL?

Alvin Harper made a living doing one thing, a fly pattern. Warren Wells the old Raider was a down the side line receiver. If Bolt could learn to catch that over the shoulder ball...hmm? Can NFL teams afford a guy that limited however? I doubt it.

[az2004]

Re: Could Olympic gold-medal sprinter Bolt charge into the NFL?

if it's any olumpic distance, bolt breezes...

40 meters, bolt still wins, but closer...

do 60 meters....

now if bolt trys to play nfl, do press coverage and he's done...

if he goes over the middle, he's done..

have him in motion and go long every time, other wise, it's a disaster waiting to happen

[guru]

Re:

Story now in the front page headlines section here sez the Bolt-Johnson race ain't gonna happen.

Not so fast.

Bolt's people trying to make it happen. Only hangup is the distance.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... nson-race/

[Pelpa]

About 5 years ago When Bolt had stepped away from the sport beacuse of injury, he was diagnosed with a career threatening back condition which would haunt him for life (accroding to the German specialist). He was informed that his even his training regime would have to be adjusted to adjust to this reality. I doubt the rigors of the NFL first day training alone would allow that back to last.