Brocks NFL tryout

[Joe Kerr]

http://www.prowrestlingscoops.com/index.php?id=headlines/89060217

The Minneapolis Pioneer Press has a very detailed story on Brock Lesnar;'s NFL tryout with the Minnesota Vikings yesterday. Brock ran a 4.75 40-yard dash, which is quick for a defensive lineman. The article notes he did not do as well with the agility and football drills. He was called a “project with a capital P'' by Scott Studwell, the Vikings' director of college scouting. Studwell added, "He's got physical tools, but he has a long way to go.'' But, even though he is 26, which is late for a guy to come into the NFL, the prevailing feeling is that someone will sign him to a contract." The article is at twincities.com.

ESPN SportsCenter did a brief story last night on Brock Lesnar's NFL tryout. During the segment that aired at 10 pm PT/1 am ET, they posted his name about three times. Each time, they spelled it "Brock Lesner." I happened to catch the segment again during the show that aired immediately the next hour, and someone who's a wrestling fan must have pointed it out because they fixed it then.

[Kane Knight]

No football skills? Shock!

[Nowhere Man]

Well, football players who have no wrestling skills have been stinking up our screens for years now; I say it's about damn time we returned the favor!

[Funky Fly]

Well, football players who have no wrestling skills have been stinking up our screens for years now; I say it's about damn time we returned the favor!
BAZING!

[PureHatred]

Tantalizing talent

Lesnar shows Vikings some raw ability, but will they give him a shot?

BOB SANSEVERE

Pioneer Press Columnist


Brock Lesnar is an imposing young man. He has a body you often see chiseled from marble, not flesh and bone. His arms are thicker than most people's thighs, his back so wide you could hang a Picasso from it. He is 6 feet 3, 286 pounds of thick, rippled muscle. Just standing there in a shirt and pants, he looks like a football player after all the pads have been put on.

The thing is, Lesnar doesn't just want to look like a football player. He wants to become one.

Lesnar had a tryout Friday with the Vikings to see if it's possible.

"He is a project with a capital P,'' said Scott Studwell, the Vikings' director of college scouting. "He's got physical tools, but he has a long way to go.''

That's not news to Lesnar.

"I know I'm raw. I know I need work,'' he said. "I'm a project. I'm looking for someone to mold me.''

He would like it to be the Vikings. He says he is ready shuck his image as a professional wrestler and play in the National Football League.

"This isn't a publicity stunt. This is the real deal,'' Lesnar said. "It's something I want to do. I don't want to wake up when I'm 50 years old and say I should have tried.''

So he's trying now by trying out. The Vikings were the first of about a half-dozen teams interested in working him out.

Lesnar's tryout with the Vikings drew more than two dozen people, including coaches, scouts, players and even secretaries who were curious about a guy who wants to go from making what he described as "a couple million dollars a year'' as champion of World Wrestling Entertainment to making the NFL minimum of $260,000.

"I think a road is involved here, but it's not as long as some people think,'' said Ed Hitchcock, Lesnar's St. Paul-based agent.

Actually, the road might be longer than Hitchcock and Lesnar would like to think. Lesnar is 26 years old and hasn't played football since high school. He toyed with the idea of playing for the Gophers as a senior, but that never happened. Instead, he concentrated on wrestling and won the NCAA heavyweight title.

"I wish I would have gone out for football,'' he said.

Lesnar ran 40 yards during Friday's tryout and his 4.75-second time was faster than most of the Vikings' defensive linemen can do. The defensive line, by the way, is where Lesnar would like to play.

"I like to attack the ball,'' he said.

The ability to get into that attack mode is what has the Vikings wondering. Lesnar struggled some with agility drills during his tryout, and even had trouble getting into a proper defensive stance.

"Is his first step up to par? No. Is his footwork up to par? No. Is his hand speed up to par? No. He's just raw, just as raw as they come from a football-playing perspective,'' Studwell said. "He's not raw from an athletic standpoint.''

That's why Lesnar is tantalizing — why the Vikings or some other NFL team might be willing to give him a chance.

"He is talented. He is a good athlete. He has a history of achievement. And you know he has a work ethic,'' Studwell said. "Is it a shot in the dark? Yeah. How long would it take him to come up to speed? How long would it take us to find out if he can play?''

Vikings coach Mike Tice, who has the final say, told Lesnar he doesn't have a roster spot for him. He also told him that could change. Once the Vikings conclude their developmental camp next week, Tice might cut a few players.

"If I have a roster spot, then we'll figure out where we need help and where we need to try a guy, including a Brock Lesnar,'' Tice said. "I told him he needs to get his groin healthy.''

Lesnar suffered a pulled groin and bruised pelvis, broken jaw and busted left hand in a motorcycle accident in April. He's still healing.

When he spoke to Lesnar, Tice encouraged him to work out for other NFL teams.

"Each time he could get better,'' Tice said. "I also told him to hire a former NFL player who played on the defensive line. He doesn't need to go to a gym.''

Lesnar has been working out the past seven weeks at an athletic training facility in Tempe, Ariz.

"What he needs is football,'' Tice said. "If two weeks from now he's healthier and has gone through workouts, we'll talk about the possibility of taking him to camp.''

Here's a prediction: Tice will find a spot for Lesnar.

When told of that prediction, Tice laughed. He likes developing players, something he often did when he was the Vikings' offensive line coach.

"I like the kid,'' Tice said. "Anybody, including us, has to have patience, because he's raw. If you have patience, which we've shown here, I see a little bit of glimmer there. If you see opportunity and have a roster spot, why not roll the dice?''

****************************************

That's the actual article from the paper. Not as rosey as presented by the recap as Lesnar had problems with the most basic of football skills. BUt he's a great athlete so someone might gamble. Every time this has come up i say the same thing; Lesnar would take years to become an effective NFL football player and it would probably require him to do something like play in NFL Europe or spend a season or two on a practice squad. He's said in the past he's not willing ot do that, so we'll see.....I like Lesnar as a wrestler but realistically this is the longest of longshots that he'll every be anytihng more than a relatively famous benchwarmer if he makes an NFL roster at all.

[Sephiroth]

He will be back in the WWE next year.

[Wondermouse]

I don't think so. I think if he signs somewhere, he'll definitely stick around for a bit.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Who cares? Football is fake anyway!

:shifty:

[Kane Knight]

I don't think so. I think if he signs somewhere, he'll definitely stick around for a bit.
IF.

And I agree. IF he gets that far, he will.

I don't see it happening though.

[c4g2]

Won't Lesnar be rather old for an NFL guy when he learns the ropes of NFL? He's 26, right when most atlethes hit their prime. Then he'll be another Hogan on the football field. :wtf:

[Wondermouse]

IF.

And I agree. IF he gets that far, he will.

I don't see it happening though.

I think it will happen. If nothing else, he'll be a force on Special Teams, where it's more or less run fast and at the ball carrier.

Teams with room will sign a hell of an athlete.

[PNoy]

Somebody will definetely give him a shot on the practice squad. He has too much ability to let go of...

[Corkscrewed]

I could see him making a team. He'll probably never be a star, but if it's what he wants to do, I know he'll work hard to try to accomplish his goals. Selfish whiner or not, he DOES have an admirable work ethic.

If he fails and crawls back to the WWE, THEN I'll laugh. For now, I'll just wait and see. I've gotten over his ditching wrestling.

[Kane Knight]

Selfish whiner or not, he DOES have an admirable work ethic.
And a Helluva lot of talent.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of him despite his attitude. I'd prolly be a bigger fan if not for that. I still have trouble seeing him making it in the NFL, especially with the attitude he's taken in approaching this.

[parkmania]

Brock Lesnar = Brian Bozworth

Too much sizzle, not enough steak.

[Wondermouse]

That's a very accurate comparison. Brock Lesnar hasn't played football in 8 years and Brian Bosworth was the top defensive player in college.

Exactly alike.

[Bull]

4.75, 40 for someone who is what 6'4 almost 290 that is damn good. If he develops his skills he could be one hell of a linebacker. Some teams could even take a chance at putting him in at fullback and he could just power his way to yardage.

[RGWhat316]

I'll bet if he does make it to the field, at least once he will lose his temper and attempt to give someone an F-5.