Deine Login Box-
 
Kniffel Tagessieg
Heute wurde noch kein Spiel beendet
|
|
|
|
| 56150 Beiträge & 42176 Themen in 26 Foren |
Keine neuen Beiträge, seit Ihrem letzten Besuch am 26.01.2026 - 23:26.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Autor |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christian Scotland-Williamson looks the part.
Standing on the practice field with the rest of the Pittsburgh Steelers http://www.giantsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-pat...meh-jer sey , the rookie tight end blends in seamlessly. The 25-year-old is tall (6-foot-9), big (275 pounds) and athletic.
Then Scotland-Williamson opens his mouth. A polite British accent comes out, the kind that would go unnoticed on a soccer pitch, but on a field crammed with dozens of players practically weaned on America's Game, it raises eyebrows. Lots of eyebrows.
Scotland-Williamson gets it. The former rugby player who was raised in the London suburbs understands he's a bit of a curiosity as a member of the second graduating class of the NFL's International Player Pathway program. At the heart of it all, however, Scotland-Williamson figures the only thing separating him from his teammates is experience. Not passion. Not athleticism. And certainly not drive.
"It's one of those things where when I was younger, if I'd been exposed to American football I probably would have played it at an earlier age," Scotland-Williamson said. "But being a British kid, it's not at your doorstep, so it's quite hard."
So Scotland-Williamson opted for rugby. He turned professional at 20 and spent four seasons with the Worcester Warriors of the English Premiership Authentic Fernando Rodney Jersey , the top rugby division in the United Kingdom. Then cameras caught him making a monster tackle in a game last spring and his phone rang, with folks wondering if he'd like to come to the U.S. and join the IPP.
Started in 2017, the IPP selects a handful of athletes from other countries to come to the U.S. to learn the finer points of pro football. If they make it through a four-month boot camp at IMG Academy in Florida, they can be assigned to an NFL club, where they will spend a season on the practice squad to prove themselves in what amounts to one of the most unusual internships on the planet.
Though Scotland-Williamson's rugby career appeared on the rise, the prospect of heading overseas was simply too tantalizing to pass up.
"It's kind of like that movie 'Inception,' once one plants that seed, that's it," he said. "I'm very much someone who doesn't want to live with any regrets and look back at 50 or 60 years old at a bar with your mates and think, 'Oh no, what if I could have done this but didn't.' So that's why I'm here really."
The initial IPP graduation class last spring included three athletes from the United Kingdom and another from Germany. The current group includes Scotland-Williamson and Australian rugby player Jordan Mailata Tom Glavine Jersey , who impressed the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles so much they used a seventh-round draft pick on him to make sure he didn't end up somewhere else.
Scotland-Williamson is not quite as polished. He understood little about the game outside of what he occasionally saw on TV when he arrived in Florida in January. The highly regimented day started with a 6 a.m. walkthrough and often lasted until a film session at a coach's house that wouldn't wrap up until around 9:30 p.m.
"We learned a hell of a lot in a short amount of time," Scotland-Williamson said.
Just not everything. Though he's studied up on the 100-plus page NFL rule book, he admits he's still a little fuzzy on details in some spots. And while the film work certainly helps, it's quite a bit different when you have your helmet on standing in an offensive huddle listening to a quarterback bark out a play that has very specific instructions. Compared to rugby's more free-flowing style, it's a lot to take in.
The evidence can be found on the practice field. While Scotland-Williamson thinks he's handling his business just fine as a blocker, route running is another matter. The player who never donned so much as a football helmet until rookie minicamp earlier this month practically staples himself to tight ends coach James Daniel, hoping to soak up as much as he can as fast as he can.
Yet Scotland-Williamson understands he can't rush things. That's why he's grateful the opportunity didn't arise until his mid-20s. Spending four years as a professional rugby player taught him how to deal with bumps in the road.
"I have a better perspective," he said. "Especially with this where you're going to get your butt kicked every day for a while until things start clicking. You have to have quite thick skin, so that's helped."
So does a bit of a thick head. When he told his parents he was putting his rugby career on hold to give football a try, his father balked.
"I had to give him a massive sales pitch," Scotland-Williamson said.
That included one very important point: This wasn't a lark or a publicity stunt or fulfilling some bit of wanderlust. This was real.
"I don't think you go into this half-hearted Cheap Sylvester Williams Jersey ," he said. "You want it all. You want to make the 53 (man roster). You want to go to Super Bowls. You want to end up being the first international player to make it big. That's the biggest thing, not only to represent myself, but it means a lot for the international players who were born outside of America who don't think they have a chance."
Some of the reactions to Cleveland Browns star tackle Joe Thomas announcing his retirement on Wednesday, ending an 11-year NFL career marked by his durability and dominance. Thomas is one of just five players to make the Pro Bowl in his first 10 seasons. The other four are Hall of Famers.
â
âHelleva career (at)joethomas73!!! Next stop Canton for you brother!!â Cavaliers star LeBron James ((at)KingJames) on Twitter.
â
âI have watched Joe from afar throughout his career. I have nothing but respect for the way he has carried himself and the amazing things he has accomplished. He has played this game at an extremely high level. Joe is a heck of a football player and an even better man.â â New Browns general manager John Dorsey.
â
âJoe has been a pillar of our organization and one of the greatest to put on a Cleveland Browns uniform. We want to thank him for everything he has done for the Browns and the Northeast Ohio community. We should all strive for the standard Joe has set to always be available, put the team above yourself and always give maximum effort.â â Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam, who said Thomasâ consecutive snaps number of 10,363 will be added to the teamâs ring of honor at FirstEnergy Stadium.
â
âJoe means so much to me both personally and professionally. Joe has been not just a tremendous Cleveland Brown, but one of the best to ever play in the National Football League. I appreciate everything he has done for this organization and not just on the field, his leadership and what he brought to the locker room. As a coach, you couldnât ask for a better captain than Joe Thomas. He earned the respect of teammates and peers around the league for the way he worked.â â Browns coach Hue Jackson.
â
âThe deer population in NE Ohio is now at increased danger given (at)joethomas73âs retirement. An avid outdoorsman, dedicated family man Cheap Malik Jefferson Jersey , & the best Iâve ever seen play OT. Been a privilege to watch.â â Former Browns kicker Phil Dawson, now with the Arizona Cardinals.
â
âCongrats to (at)joethomas73, who taught me how to play Tackle and be a pro. I would not be where I am today without his teachings, wisdom, patience, and friendship. He made it hard to leave Cleveland, and Iâll always remember his off-field qualities far more than his play. Thank you.â â Kansas City Chiefs tackle Mitchell Schwartz, who spent four seasons with Thomas in Cleveland.
â
.
|
| Beitrag vom 29.08.2018 - 03:38 |
|
|
Bilder Galerie-
User:
Hits: 5073
Kommentare: 0
Wertung: 6
Laberecke-
| Bitte einloggen um hier schreiben zu kφnnen. |
|
| |
| © by Lucky |
Event Counter
| Muttertag |
| Countdown abgelaufen! |
|
Usermap
Seitenanfang: