Any good "make the roster" stories?

[digamma]

So, I admit I'm caught up in seeing the previews for Invincible, the Disney movie of the Vince Papale story--the guy who went to an Eagles open try-out and ended up making the roster.

It seems like every year there are stories like Papale (maybe not to the extent of going to an open try-out), but an undrafted player a team takes a flyer on who ends up doing some good things in the pre-season and making the roster. Some, like maybe a Mike Anderson, become bona fide stars.

Any good "make the roster" stories going on in your team's camp this year?

[TroyF]

So, I admit I'm caught up in seeing the previews for Invincible, the Disney movie of the Vince Papale story--the guy who went to an Eagles open try-out and ended up making the roster.

It seems like every year there are stories like Papale (maybe not to the extent of going to an open try-out), but an undrafted player a team takes a flyer on who ends up doing some good things in the pre-season and making the roster. Some, like maybe a Mike Anderson, become bona fide stars.

Any good "make the roster" stories going on in your team's camp this year?

Two notables at Broncos camp:

Mike Bell. Undrafted FA and he's now #1 on the depth chart. Didn't have a good opening preseason game, but he looks like he'll get carries and make the team.

David Kirkus. I know Detroit fans remember this guy. He's been great in camp and I'd be stunned if he doesn't make the opening day roster.

I've been real lucky as a Bronco fan. Over the years, we've plucked a lot of really solid players from thin air. Shannon Sharpe will be in the hall, he was a 6th or 7th round pick. Karl Mecklenberg was a 12th round pick. Tyrone Braxton was the second to last player taken one year and started on two Super Bowl teams. Rod Smith was undrafted. And the offensive line is almost entirely composed of late round draft choices, save George Foster who may not win the starting job this year. Then of course the RB's. T.D and Anderson are at the top of the list there.

[Honolulu_Blue]

David Kirkus. I know Detroit fans remember this guy. He's been great in camp and I'd be stunned if he doesn't make the opening day roster.

Good luck with Kircus. I'd like to see him do well and he looked pretty good in the pre-season game. The big knock on him in the pro level is that he fades away during games. Since I think that's probably more of a mental thing than a physical thing, it's possible that he can over come this and be productive.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Lions have their own story in camp this year: Shaun Bodiford.

He is an UDFA out of Portland State (Division I-AA) school. He's wideout who has also shown some flashes as a return man.

He was kicked out of his by his mother at age 13. At the time, three of his four brothers were in jail, his grandmother died, and Bodiford was dealing drugs just to survive. His mother basically quit on him saying she couldn't handle kids anymore and kicked him out. He left his house with two trashbags full of belongings.

He lived with friends for a while and then got noticed by a highschool football coach. The coach took him and he sort of went from there. Bodiford missed out on a scholarship because of a bad SAT score. He then went to a junior college and finally to Portland State.

He got a lot of looks as both a wideout and return man in the first pre-season game. He's currently getting more reps at WR than either Charles Rogers or Mike Williams.

It's a good story, but despite the buzz around him, I think he's still pretty much a long shot to make the team.

[condors]

Hank Bassit(sp) wide reciever for the Eagles. Went undrafted then signed with another team the Eagles traded for him. With TO gone and Pinkston still hurting he has stepped into the starting spot and the coaches really seem to like him. I think he has a chance to remain the starter the whole season (although i am not a Pinkston fan and think he should be a #3 reciever anyway).

[Ksyrup]

That Invincible movie looks like a carbon copy of Rudy. I'm sure it's a good movie and all, but what I've seen of the movie from commercials suggests I've already seen the college version. Especially when they showed a quick scene between Wahlberg and the black equipment manager/locker room guy. Haven't I seen that somewhere before...?

[st.cronin]

Hank Bassit(sp) wide reciever for the Eagles. Went undrafted then signed with another team the Eagles traded for him. With TO gone and Pinkston still hurting he has stepped into the starting spot and the coaches really seem to like him. I think he has a chance to remain the starter the whole season (although i am not a Pinkston fan and think he should be a #3 reciever anyway).

Baskett

He's going to be a good player. I don't know why he wasn't drafted.

[TroyF]

Good luck with Kircus. I'd like to see him do well and he looked pretty good in the pre-season game. The big knock on him in the pro level is that he fades away during games. Since I think that's probably more of a mental thing than a physical thing, it's possible that he can over come this and be productive.


Yeah, I know he's had impressive camps before and faded badly. I don't know what to expect of him, but I do think he'll make the 53 man roster as camp breaks.

[spleen1015]

This story is a couple of years old, but Gary Brackett, the starting MLB for the Colts last year was an undrafted FA in 2003 out of Rutgers. He missed the 2003 season because he donated an organ to a family member, I believe. He was a backup in 2004 because he hadn't recovered fully from his donation. He had a break out year last year.

[Butter]

Bengals have Rashad Jeanty, a LB who played for the Edmonton Eskimos the last 2 seasons after dropping out of school to help his family out financially when they couldn't even afford rent.

Also, DeDe Dorsey, a UDFA from NAIA school Lindenwood... one of those feel good unheralded player stories. He was the most impressive back for the Bengals in their first preseason game.

[stevew]

That Bergeron guy on the falcons who was in AFL for the last 2 years....I hope he makes their team.

[mckerney]

Hank Bassit(sp) wide reciever for the Eagles. Went undrafted then signed with another team the Eagles traded for him. With TO gone and Pinkston still hurting he has stepped into the starting spot and the coaches really seem to like him. I think he has a chance to remain the starter the whole season (although i am not a Pinkston fan and think he should be a #3 reciever anyway).

It was the Vikings who traded him for Billy McMullen. From the looks of things Baskett likely would have been useful if kept with Koren Robinson likely missing the season.

[cthomer5000]

This story is a couple of years old, but Gary Brackett, the starting MLB for the Colts last year was an undrafted FA in 2003 out of Rutgers. He missed the 2003 season because he donated an organ to a family member, I believe. He was a backup in 2004 because he hadn't recovered fully from his donation. He had a break out year last year. He is now the teams defensive captain too, FWIW. RU, baby.

[sovereignstar]

Baskett

He's going to be a good player. I don't know why he wasn't drafted.

Probably had to do something with him dropping balls left and right at the Senior Bowl.

Edit: Brain fart - said the combine.

[Senator]

Ben Brown - FB for the Packers. UDFA out of tiny Tabor College of the NAIA.

[digamma]

Ben Brown - FB for the Packers. UDFA out of tiny Tabor College of the NAIA.

Nice!

[Logan]

He is now the teams defensive captain too, FWIW. RU, baby.

And not only was he an undrafted FA who is now a captain at the NFL level, but he was a WALK ON at Rutgers.