<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>You gotta love minicamp season. One minute you turn on the TV only to see Chad Pennington learning how to box. The next you read a story about some former track star who's getting a tryout because he runs a 4.2. Next you get word that all these former college hoopsters and wrestlers are being courted.You know that awful-yet-it-might-work pickup line that you unleashed on a forgettable girl just to witness her reaction? That's what coaches are doing with their teams right now.The past few weeks have been experiment-rich. The Chiefs are looking at "wide receiver" Titus Ryan, a former track star who caught seven passes at Concordia College-Selma. Two college wrestlers, "guard" Cole Konrad and "linebacker" Tommy Rowlands, are at the Jets rookie minicamp. Also in Long Island is "receiver" Jesse Pellot-Rosa, former guard for Virginia Commonwealth. Pellot-Rosa wasn't a right or left guard in college, mind you. He was a point guard.Searching for the next crossover Pro Bowler, like Antonio Gates, usually goes as far as that pickup line does. But it's minicamp time. Risk is low.Upside is low, too -- remember Brock Lesnar? -- but what the hell. Coaches justify looking at these players under the "What do we have to lose?" clause. So why stop there? Here are five minicamp experiments I'd love to see.1. Let Jon Stewart replace an NFL coach. This is for Pats fans who could use a drink of water because Bill Belichick is so dry. Why not let a miked-up Stewart lord over Pats minicamp to see what wrinkles he could add? After all, coaches are always saying how they want practice to be "loose" and players to "have fun."2. Let UFC invade the NFL for a few days. If coaches are willing to look at decathletes, why not martial artists who train to beat the hell out of each other? Players always say that football is controlled violence. Push the "controlled" envelope a little.3. Host "Grumpy Hobbled Vet Day." Why not let all the NFL alums who complain about their pensions run some of the drills at minicamps? After all, they're limping through life because of injuries accrued before the age of year-round training and endless OTAs. My guess is that if they had the chance to run a drill, they'd immediately blow their whistle and say, "Hit the showers." After all, they know what's in store.4. Scrap official team minicamps for more creative ones. You could have the "Hands Off Camp," featuring John Abraham, Jevon Kearse, and Donovan McNabb. Or the "You Wish You Could Pull This" camp, featuring NFL players with celebrity girlfriends. Or the "We Thought Jeff Tedford Would Help Our NFL Careers" camp with Trent Dilfer, Joey Harrington, Akili Smith, Kyle Boller, and a few others.5. Make "Invincible" a realty show. Let a few Average Joes try out as quarterbacks during minicamp, allow America to vote on the best one, and give the guy an automatic tryout for training camp. He'll spend the next few months prepping with an NFL coach and see if quarterbacks are born or made.I can just see a Ron Powlus comeback.After all, it's minicamp. What have they got to lose?</div>
The reality show idea would be cool, sort of like American Idol but for people who like football > music.
It's actually pretty funny in parts, and does a good job at poking fun at the Jets offseason in particular. Between boxing lessons, and 2 wrestlers, 1 College Basketball Star, and 1 Draft Bust (Due to Injuries) who has been out of the league for 6 years now (Wadsworth) all allowed to try out for the team. They're definately holding true to their 'looking under every rock' philosophy. It worked when we signed some relatively unknown Rugby player who quickly became on of the best Punters in the league in Ben Graham. Who knows, I certainly don't mind 'Low-Risk, High-Reward' signings.I wouldn't mind to see the UFC getting a try in the NFL, and it wouldn't honestly suprise me if the Jets did send Pro Scouts to an UFC event. Why not open tryouts to an NFL team as well (ala Invinceable)? It certainly can't hurt.
Re-tar-ded and a waste of time. What postion would UFC guys play? Not many are heavier than 225...@JHair - ABC was gonna do this show the American Dream or somethin, where regular people got a shot at their dreams. And one of the finalists was a guy whose dream it was to be in the NFL, but then ABC decided to cancel it before it got started. 49ers still gave the guy a workout though, he was 43.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (david81 @ May 22 2007, 03:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Re-tar-ded and a waste of time. What postion would UFC guys play? Not many are heavier than 225...</div>SS
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jon_Vilma @ May 22 2007, 04:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (david81 @ May 22 2007, 03:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Re-tar-ded and a waste of time. What postion would UFC guys play? Not many are heavier than 225...</div>SS</div>Still retarded. TE was easy for Antonio Gates cuz he just out-runs LBs and Ss and catches he ball, he sucks at blockin. UFC guys to be Ss? Re-tar-ded.
