Another Buehler or McBrair? rugby star nfl teams looking at

[cowboyjoe]

Saturday, May 15, 2010
Rugby Star Greg Inglis Drawing NFL Interest
Australian rugby star Greg Inglis is reportedly drawing interest from the National Football League, Peter Badel of The Sunday Mail (Queensland, Australia) reports.

"I've had inquiries from just about every sport, including (the NFL)," Melbourne Storm manager Allan Gainey said. "They've got some scouts out here and a few of the scouts thought Greg would be a sensation in the game.

"It's something that might interest Greg down the track. He'd have time to fly over there this year for a look around and to test himself out, but his preference is to stay at the Storm."

"There are definite opportunities for Greg Inglis in the NFL," OzPunt's Cameron McGillivray said. OzPunt is an Australian Punting and Kicking Academy that helps Australians develop their abilities to earn college scholarships and opportunities in the NFL. For example, New England Patriots punter David King trained at OzPunt.

"We've sent tapes of him to NFL clubs and I know for a fact, if Greg was keen, there would be four clubs who would take him tomorrow," McGillivray added. "If Greg is interested, there is an offer for him to attend a mini-camp, where under NFL rules he would be allowed to trial for three days."

Inglis, 23, was the Golden Boot Award winner in 2009, which is presented annually to the best rugby league player in the world. The 6-5, 238-pound Inglis has reportedly drawn interest from the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills.

Inglis has primarily played the "centre" position, but has been used as a "fullback" or "winger" during his rugby career. Given the skill-sets of those particular positions, and Inglis' combination of size and athleticism, he could be looked at as a tight end/H-back on offense, or as an outside linebacker on the defensive side of the football.

[youtube]I35WiS6pef0&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

[youtube]I35WiS6pef0[/youtube]

 

[cowboyjoe]

look at this one;

[youtube]RShhXW0tfIs&feature=related[/youtube]

just look at the speed and size, maybe a fullback? and kicker?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RShhXW0tfIs&feature=related

 

[cowboyjoe]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdVKpEeydLY&feature=related


[youtube]FdVKpEeydLY&feature=related[/youtube]

 

[gimmesix]

Not sure I understand the Buehler and McBriar reference since this guy is obviously not being looked at as a kicker.

 

[speedkilz88]

If he's a star in Rugby it wouldn't make much sense to tryout in the nfl where he would have to start at the bottom with nothing guaranteed. Unless the money in that sport is really bad or something.

 

[WarC]

Rugby is one sport I have a great deal of respect for.

Regardless of anything else, you know this kid would run hard after a few weeks of training camp in pads. Maybe not at a premium NFL level, but he'd compete. He is fast and runs without hesitation. Imagine him fielding punts and kickoffs. Awesome.

 

[tomson75]

There are several Ruggers that would be successful in the NFL IMO, but the ones that have drawn interest here generally have no intentions of leaving their game.

I don't blame them. Truth be told, while I'm a bigger Cowboys fan than I am of any team of any other sport, I think Rugby is the better sport (football or rugby) at this point.

 

[Hoofbite]

Rugby is nuts.

 

[koolaid]

I have no idea what is going on in these videos, but that guy definitely has some wheels.

 

[Eldorado]

Buehler or McBriar? Say what?

 

[Phrozen Phil]

Rugby is nuts.

Having played it in High School and after, I concur. It's a great game and a lot of pros are incredibly athletic. It's also quite hard on the body. I broke my nose and almost all of my fingers playing that game. I was a Scrum Half and also played Hooker (don't laugh) in the Scrum. No padding and all of the contact. Having said that, Rugby players are held in high regard in Australia and New Zealand and might not make the transition all that easily or willingly.

 

[Dundalis]

Greg Inglis is quite possibly the best rugby league player in the world, and is still only 22. Just a freak athlete (probably not by NFL standards, but he'd still be up there) in the sport.

He's 6'5 and his running technique is one of the smoothest and most fluid I've seen, pure economy of movement. He's also probably the best in the business at fending off tackles, breaks them at will, and is actually a very good playmaker for a centre, the postion he plays for the Melbourne Storm, Australia's premier rugby league team (or at least were before the salary cap breaches they have been penalised for recently).

If he went to the NFL right now, IMO with development in two years time he would make a great NFL tight end. In fact he also has skills that could translate to a large slower WR, but that position would be too difficult to teach someone who has never played the game. He's also great in the air catching the ball, very good leap.

This is a far more comprehensive video of the guys skills. Even though it's a different sport, any NFL fan can appreciate it I think.

[youtube]qJeodGCjPbc[/youtube]

 

[AussieFan]

Yup at his age I cant see any reason why the NFl would appeal to him. He has many goals and records to set in Rugby at only 22. Of course the money would be better. Possibly. Top Rugby league players make around 1 million a year. The team salary cap is under 4 million the last time i looked.

 

[Dundalis]

If an NFL team had a genuine interest in developing him as a project and offered him a contract, I think he would take it. The NRL isn't in the most sound position at the moment, with the recent salary cap breaches by the Inglis' club the Storm as well as a lot of issues surrounding the governing body and future growth of the sport in Australia, many Rugby league players are speaking openly about leaving the sport for a different code such as Rugby Union or Australian Rules football. Inglis is probably on 500 to 600 thousand Australian atm, possibly more money "on the side" which is the reason for the salary cap breaches.

He could probably get that, or more in the NFL to start with, with potential for a whole lot more. He definately has all the physical tools to succeed in the NFL.

 

[cowboyjoe]

Buehler or McBriar? Say what?

reason why i put buehler or mcbrair is this

buehler is on our kickoffs, and coverage teams too, big and physical just like this guy is;

next mcbrair is from rugby too in Australia too best i remember

so maybe this kid has a chance at FG or TE, why would i consider a TE, this

First, we all know how much potential bennett has, but thetime for him is now, not next year with bennnett. Then you add in secondly, witten is like in his 8th year, probably only about 4 more good years if that for witten. Now, dont misunderstand me, I love Witten to death, he is my favorite cowboy on this team at the age of 28 now, so if it takes this guy 2 years to get ready for the NFL and the cowboys have looked at a former basketball player in harris this year, why not this kid if he is any good?

 

[BAZ]

Hey remember when Jonah Lomu was being looked at by the cowboys? or when Ronan O'Gara was offed 3 mil to kick for the Dolphins? These things are all hype & rumor. Also the transition from one sport to the other would hardly be over night and not worth the end result. The balls being shaped the same don't make them the sports similar enough to skip over to. Also, apart from money why would he want to?

 

[Dundalis]

Of all teams, the Cowboys are probably the least in need of a tight end. Even a project really. Bennett will be fine. For another team, Inglis would be a pretty good investment.

The only position for him would be Tight End in the NFL IMO. Other positions are either too difficult to teach, or don't make proper use of his athletic ability and skills. Using him as a kicker or as just a special teams player, he might as well stay in rugby.

 

[Dundalis]

Hey remember when Jonah Lomu was being looked at by the cowboys? or when Ronan O'Gara was offed 3 mil to kick for the Dolphins? These things are all hype & rumor. Also the transition from one sport to the other would hardly be over night and not worth the end result. The balls being shaped the same don't make them the sports similar enough to skip over to. Also, apart from money why would he want to?

Greg Inglis is quite possibly the most gifted athlete to play Rugby. Ever. Either Rugby codes. More gifted than Lomu, who was mainly brute strength and good straight line speed, with not much else. In most cases I would agree, but Inglis is so good in so many areas combined with his athletic ability, that many of his skills would be transferable to the tight end position in particular in the NFL, and he would even bring things that no current NFL tight end has. All he would need to learn is the structures and the ins and outs of the position, which would take a good two years, perhaps a bit longer. The skill areas he already has. He could be a great receiving tight end with very good potential for YAC.

I certainly don't think he will go to the NFL, because I think most teams would be hesitant, for the reasons you mention. He probably won't get an offer concrete enough for him to leave. But there is probably no other player from Rugby that would have more of a chance of making it in the NFL than Inglis, at a position that isn't either a kicker or punter.

 

[casmith07]

I'm pretty sure McBriar was an Australian-Rules Football player, not a Rugby player.

 

[CCBoy]

Having played it in High School and after, I concur. It's a great game and a lot of pros are incredibly athletic. It's also quite hard on the body. I broke my nose and almost all of my fingers playing that game. I was a Scrum Half and also played Hooker (don't laugh) in the Scrum. No padding and all of the contact. Having said that, Rugby players are held in high regard in Australia and New Zealand and might not make the transition all that easily or willingly.

Once played on a Red Devil, Fort Polk, La. Rugby team. We played a weekend tournament at Little Rock, Ar. We played five games that weekend and we all returned sorer than any two aday periods playing football...for sure. We didn't quite make it to the Championships. Thank goodness...my respect to you and any players of the sport, rugby. For sure.