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Robert “Bubby” Gill is the NFL’s oldest rookie at the moment. He may also be its most confident newcomer.
The 29-year-old East Central grad is vying for a spot as a receiver with the Arizona Cardinals. His improbable journey to training camp featured stints with more than 10 teams, including the San Antonio Talons, in six leagues over the last six years.
As if that circuitous route wasn’t enough to make Gill one of the preseason’s most intriguing stories, there’s also this: He played just one year of football for the Hornets and competed in only track at Texas State.
Underdogs with such unimpressive resumes usually call it a career. But this long shot possesses something all teams covet: blazing speed.
“If a quarterback overthrows me, they are literally trying to overthrow me,” Gill said. “But if they actually run the play to get me open, it will connect or it will be short.
“No one is going to overthrow me.”
Those shocked by such bold words should watch a YouTube video Gill posted June 25 showing him reaching a speed of 25 miles per hour on a treadmill. The video, which has 3 million views, resulted in Gill making appearances on the NFL Network and NBC’s Today Show.
“Everyone wanted to see the fastest guy in the NFL,” he said.
Signed by the Cards as a free agent in April, Gill is set to make his NFL debut Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys, his favorite team while growing up in San Antonio.
“Everyone in my family roots for them,” Gill said, “but they are slowly transitioning over to the Cardinals.”
Even though a hamstring injury forced him to miss the preseason opener last week, Gill has a legitimate shot to make the 53-man roster, which already includes one San Antonian, third-year tight end Rob Housler, a Judson alumnus.
Pro Bowler Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Roberts and Michael Floyd are the club’s top three receivers, but the remaining spots are far from decided. The crowded field behind the vets includes fourth-year pro Jarett Dillard, a Sam Houston grad who starred at Rice.
But none of the other wideouts have clocked the 40-yard dash in a stunning 4.19 seconds, something Gill reportedly did while trying out for an Arena Football League 2 team.
“He has an element you can’t teach, which is speed,” Cardinals general manager Steve Keim told the team’s web site. “Coach (Bruce) Arians has an affinity for receivers that can run, so that gives (Gill) a chance and he should be fun to watch in the preseason. When you hear his story, you can’t help but root for him.
“The fact he’s a 29-year-old rookie who has taken the long road to get here says a lot about his passion, desire and commitment.”
And his family, which has a history of beating the odds. Gill said his mother, Marie, became a nurse after immigrating to the United States from Panama at age 11.
“She came here with very little money, couldn’t speak English, had to start from nothing,” Gill said. “Now she owns her own home, her own car. She inspires me and she always made me set big goals. She said, ‘If you are going to take this football seriously, I want to see you playing on Sunday.’
“There are no excuses because what she came from is way bigger than what I’m trying to do.”
A lifelong Spurs fan, Gill grew up loving basketball. He gave football a try as a senior at East Central, playing safety, but he started his college career as a basketball player at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Unable to make the team because of his 5-foot-10, 175-pound size, Gill transferred to Texas State to run track.
While at San Marcos from 2004-2006, Gill was part of the Bobcats’ 400-meter relay team that won the Drake Relays. He was a Southland Conference champ in 2004 before injuries limited his final two seasons.
After his eligibility expired, he returned to Corpus Christi to pursue a degree in business marketing. That’s when he returned to football, a decision that led to stints and tryouts in the Arena leagues, the UFL, CFL and the NFL. Along the way he met, Cardinals scout Josh Scobey, who watched Gill try out for the UFL’s Las Vegas Locomotives in 2009.
“He was amazed I wasn’t in the NFL,” Gill said.
A member of the Arena League’s Kansas City Command from 2011-12, Gill returned to San Antonio to sign with the Talons in the spring after the Command folded. In March, Scobey got him an audition with Arizona, which signed him in April to a three-year pact.
“It was very rewarding to see a goal I set more than five years ago come to fruition,” Gill said. “And I couldn’t dream of a better situation. Coach ‘BA’ is in love with the vertical threat. He’s looking for the guy who can blow the top off the defense, and he’s giving me every opportunity to be that guy.”
Aiding Gill as a mentor is Fitzgerald.
“He’s the most humble superstar,” Gill said. “The first week I was on the team he invited me to his house for dinner. He flew me to Minnesota to train with him. He’s breaking his back to make sure I learn the game the right way.
“This whole thing is like a dream come true.”
Continue reading...
The 29-year-old East Central grad is vying for a spot as a receiver with the Arizona Cardinals. His improbable journey to training camp featured stints with more than 10 teams, including the San Antonio Talons, in six leagues over the last six years.
As if that circuitous route wasn’t enough to make Gill one of the preseason’s most intriguing stories, there’s also this: He played just one year of football for the Hornets and competed in only track at Texas State.
Underdogs with such unimpressive resumes usually call it a career. But this long shot possesses something all teams covet: blazing speed.
“If a quarterback overthrows me, they are literally trying to overthrow me,” Gill said. “But if they actually run the play to get me open, it will connect or it will be short.
“No one is going to overthrow me.”
Those shocked by such bold words should watch a YouTube video Gill posted June 25 showing him reaching a speed of 25 miles per hour on a treadmill. The video, which has 3 million views, resulted in Gill making appearances on the NFL Network and NBC’s Today Show.
“Everyone wanted to see the fastest guy in the NFL,” he said.
Signed by the Cards as a free agent in April, Gill is set to make his NFL debut Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys, his favorite team while growing up in San Antonio.
“Everyone in my family roots for them,” Gill said, “but they are slowly transitioning over to the Cardinals.”
Even though a hamstring injury forced him to miss the preseason opener last week, Gill has a legitimate shot to make the 53-man roster, which already includes one San Antonian, third-year tight end Rob Housler, a Judson alumnus.
Pro Bowler Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Roberts and Michael Floyd are the club’s top three receivers, but the remaining spots are far from decided. The crowded field behind the vets includes fourth-year pro Jarett Dillard, a Sam Houston grad who starred at Rice.
But none of the other wideouts have clocked the 40-yard dash in a stunning 4.19 seconds, something Gill reportedly did while trying out for an Arena Football League 2 team.
“He has an element you can’t teach, which is speed,” Cardinals general manager Steve Keim told the team’s web site. “Coach (Bruce) Arians has an affinity for receivers that can run, so that gives (Gill) a chance and he should be fun to watch in the preseason. When you hear his story, you can’t help but root for him.
“The fact he’s a 29-year-old rookie who has taken the long road to get here says a lot about his passion, desire and commitment.”
And his family, which has a history of beating the odds. Gill said his mother, Marie, became a nurse after immigrating to the United States from Panama at age 11.
“She came here with very little money, couldn’t speak English, had to start from nothing,” Gill said. “Now she owns her own home, her own car. She inspires me and she always made me set big goals. She said, ‘If you are going to take this football seriously, I want to see you playing on Sunday.’
“There are no excuses because what she came from is way bigger than what I’m trying to do.”
A lifelong Spurs fan, Gill grew up loving basketball. He gave football a try as a senior at East Central, playing safety, but he started his college career as a basketball player at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Unable to make the team because of his 5-foot-10, 175-pound size, Gill transferred to Texas State to run track.
While at San Marcos from 2004-2006, Gill was part of the Bobcats’ 400-meter relay team that won the Drake Relays. He was a Southland Conference champ in 2004 before injuries limited his final two seasons.
After his eligibility expired, he returned to Corpus Christi to pursue a degree in business marketing. That’s when he returned to football, a decision that led to stints and tryouts in the Arena leagues, the UFL, CFL and the NFL. Along the way he met, Cardinals scout Josh Scobey, who watched Gill try out for the UFL’s Las Vegas Locomotives in 2009.
“He was amazed I wasn’t in the NFL,” Gill said.
A member of the Arena League’s Kansas City Command from 2011-12, Gill returned to San Antonio to sign with the Talons in the spring after the Command folded. In March, Scobey got him an audition with Arizona, which signed him in April to a three-year pact.
“It was very rewarding to see a goal I set more than five years ago come to fruition,” Gill said. “And I couldn’t dream of a better situation. Coach ‘BA’ is in love with the vertical threat. He’s looking for the guy who can blow the top off the defense, and he’s giving me every opportunity to be that guy.”
Aiding Gill as a mentor is Fitzgerald.
“He’s the most humble superstar,” Gill said. “The first week I was on the team he invited me to his house for dinner. He flew me to Minnesota to train with him. He’s breaking his back to make sure I learn the game the right way.
“This whole thing is like a dream come true.”
Continue reading...