Could we see LeBron in a football helmet some day?
ESPN.com has an article discussing whether LeBron James could play football in the NFL some day. We've all seen the commercials where LeBron said he was going to suit up for the Browns, but the idea isn't that farfetched. LeBron was an all-state receiver in high school and he certainly posses an NFL body. He may be too slow for receiver but he's certainly big enough for tight end. The most obvious comparison is Antonio Gates, a Pro Bowl tight end who played basketball at Kent St. He didn't play football in college but a team liked his size and took a chance on him, and he developed in to one of the best tight ends in the game.
In the article, the author talks to Bill Parcells, Mark Murphy (a former Green Bay Packer who was defensive coordinator at SVSM), Akron football coach J.D. Brookhart, and other NFL coaches and scouts. They all agreed that teams would be lining up to sign LeBron just because of his potential. Some said it might take a couple years for him to learn the receiving skills necessary to play in the NFL, but once he learned those he'd be dominating.
He played football in high school until his senior year, when he didn't want to risk an injury that would jeoparize his basketball career. He tried quitting before his junior year but he missed playing so much that he joined the team again after the first game. He was being recruited by Ohio State and Notre Dame until it became evident that he was going to the NBA, and he still holds many SVSM receiving records.
They also have a video with clips from LeBron's high school football career here.
0 recs | 7 comments
Let’s have ’Bron bring us a few rings before he bruises his bones on the gridiron
Turkmenbashi - May 26, 2009
I think he's playing the right sport for him, obviously.
but you gotta think he would have game in anything he played with his size, vision and eye- hand coordination. It would just be a matter of practice. Look how much better his jump shot has progressed since he was a rookie.
Juannieboy - May 26, 2009
i think he’d be a great edge rusher.
DontCallMeJoey - May 26, 2009
He could easily play WR, TE, LB, DE…. and the list goes on. But his best position of all is point forward on the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Simmsinns - May 26, 2009
In an episode of Fringe next season, they should slyly mention how LeBron is playing for the Browns (like in a newspaper article or quickly as they pass a TV screen). Those who watch the show should get it.
Chris Pokorny - May 26, 2009
Enlighten those of us that don’t
Turkmenbashi - May 27, 2009
Spoiler Alert
Long story short, it was revealed in the finale that whenever we have deja vu, we swear something has happened to us before in the past. That’s because it has — in an alternate, parallel-running timeline. In the finale, the main character was able to swap over to the alternate timeline near the end, with the reveal that the Twin Towers were still standing. There was also a newspaper that mentioned things different from our would (forgot exactly what they were). One funny thing was that Obama was the president in both timelines.
So, maybe in that alternate world, LeBron chose football over basketball.
Chris Pokorny - May 27, 2009
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