Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

[wwharton]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

Yeah I see what you're saying. But like I said earlier you probably won't see a guy go from the NBA to the NFL because of the loss of money and the increase in injury risk. As for going to the NBA from the NFL, it's probably just general risk to your career. Obviously the biggest reason you see basketball/baseball and football/baseball but not football/basketball is because of the time of year. All I'm saying is that I think LeBron could do it. He was an All-State wide receiver in high school.

That's definitely true, but my point is you're not talking about NBA prospects vs NFL prospects. If someone is a prospect for both out of college then they've honed their skills for both to a high level. High school doesn't count. There are tons of GREAT college basketball players that never even sniffed the NBA. Lebron isn't just a great athlete, he's a great basketball player. There's nothing that would say Gates, Gonzo or Pollard would make an NBA team. They aren't basketball players that went to football. It's just unfair to talk about them like that. Now you can talk about Gates being a good enough athlete to become a great football player, and compare Lebron in that sense. But that's one guy. All the others mentioned (I'll throw in Julius Peppers too) don't really qualify and have worked on being good football players for years.

It's also not simple to make an NFL team. I think it's unfair to say a great athlete will make a great NFL player or any sport for that matter. It's possible but it's not likely for anybody to make a team. The % of people that do is very small actually. Without the name, Lebron is just another guy trying out and his HS stats look the same as a bunch of other guys.

[Cebby]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

What's funny about it?

Gonzalez is a stupid example to use because he didn't go from basketball to the NFL.

It's also not simple to make an NFL team. I think it's unfair to say a great athlete will make a great NFL player or any sport for that matter. It's possible but it's not likely for anybody to make a team. The % of people that do is very small actually. Without the name, Lebron is just another guy trying out and his HS stats look the same as a bunch of other guys.

Exactly

We've all seen dozens of great athletes not be good players. Xavier Carter was the fastest person in his age group yet wasn't even a notable player at LSU.

[Rocky]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

the guy is only 5%BF....he is 260 if he is a pound. I know it is silly to debate but there s no way an NFL club would have a larger WR than TE.

If a guy is better at WR, than he is at TE...he will play WR in the NFL and vice versa size be damned. James is a rare case, because at that size, he still has freakish leaping ability and quickness. If he runs relatively well compared to a WR, I couldn't imagine a team not using his strengths on the perimeter.

He would likely be one of these WR/TE hybrids ala Kellen Winslow, Jr.

[CPT]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

If a guy is better at WR, than he is at TE...he will play WR in the NFL and vice versa size be damned. James is a rare case, because at that size, he still has freakish leaping ability and quickness. If he runs relatively well compared to a WR, I couldn't imagine a team not using his strengths on the perimeter.

He would likely be one of these WR/TE hybrids ala Kellen Winslow, Jr.

I see that but he is still listed as TE....a TE splitting out on occasion is still a TE, not a wideout.

Not to mention the guy would be a better matchup vs a LB as he could be doubled too easily on the edge.

[CPT]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

No, I never played.

Bob Sanders, Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed, Rodney Harrison, John Lynch, Tanard Jackson, Jermaine Phillips, and Eugene Wilson have all spent time on the injury report, out of games, in multiple seasons. Here's the Bears/Lions injury report from last season:

http://www.chicagobears.com/team/injuries.html

In which 5/18 players are safeties. For more general stuff, I'm not going to take the time to do research on it, but there is this clinical study at least on TBI (traumatic brain injury) in NFL players. Only one injury (not a finger sprain), but I didn't see anything for large amounts of data that was more general in the quick search I did.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/553967_3

Study period was 1996-2001. I'm also guessing these are clinical concussions which may only include a fraction of all concussions received (a large number are asymptomatic with the tests they use), but the trend is exactly what I would generally expect.


At what point in time did I claim basketball was as physical as football? I said some aspects would translate well, particularly with route running and handling the football in traffic.

I understand what you are hinting at....Just like I could pull an injury report to support the idea that any position is the most injury prone (not simply concussions )which you did not state earlier.....just "injured."

Did you notice that on the Lions example that you provided that three of the nine listed were defensive lineman?....Like I said, picking any particular week can tweak any attempted point.

I am simply speaking as a guy who deals with these guys every day and has done so for the past 3 years... so ignore that if you wish. Someone who played both sports from age 8 to 23... ignore that too.

I dont know how someone who has never even tasted an apple can argue the differences between apples and oranges.

As far as crossover skills... I do agree that hand-eye coordination is a great asset in all asepcts of life, so sure.....catching a ball could surely crossover. Route running and being able to read the actions of 4 to 7 other defenders in pass coverage while you are running the opposite direction on the other hand.....just dont see that in hoops, but hey - you do.

Bottom line is that no one will ever say definitively that he can or cant do - I will do my best to ignore your posts as well.

[Xs n Os Cheerios]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

Dont you remember that commercial with him in a Browns uniform when he was dreaming?

BEAST

[swill43507]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

LOL,..he has to learn on how to compete in the NBA first and win a championship, before you can think about the NFL.

[wwharton]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

LOL,..he has to learn on how to compete in the NBA first and win a championship, before you can think about the NFL.

stupid cheap shot. He's a HOFer whether he wins a championship or not, and even if he were the 12th man on an NBA bench or a guy bagging groceries, it doesn't change how well he'd do as an NFL player. Really no need to go there in this thread and I really hope it doesn't turn into one of the 10 threads about him in the NBA forum.

[WDOgF0reL1fe]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/880471-lebron-james-dont-doubt-king-james-ability-to-cut-it-in-nfl

Bumpppppppppppp

With an NBA in jeopardy, Lebron is practicing with his old high school football team.
What do you guys think?

[Chrisksaint]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/8...-cut-it-in-nfl

Bumpppppppppppp

With an NBA in jeopardy, Lebron is practicing with his old high school football team.
What do you guys think?

The last line. It's almost too easy to make fun of Lebron sadly.

I still think he could play either at WR or TE.

[Fiasco West]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/8...-cut-it-in-nfl

Bumpppppppppppp

With an NBA in jeopardy, Lebron is practicing with his old high school football team.
What do you guys think?

I think he can make a team...I mean if a guy who wins a reality show can make the Cowboys then Lebron James with his athleticism could make a team.

[Beantown]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

I hope he makes a team and gets absolutely destroyed.

[Rancid Radio]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

I think he can make a team...I mean if a guy who wins a reality show can make the Cowboys then Lebron James with his athleticism could make a team.

Jesse Holley played an entire career of college football..

LeBron's a freak athlete no doubt, but you don't just say "Hey I'm athletic, I played football in high school, maybe I should do that NFL thing.."

I don't think LeBron could cut it on a professional team, no doubt he'd be given a shot for the same reason Brock Lesnar was but in the end you have to remember that virtually all first year players have an entire career of high school/college ball, with the exception of this year an entire off season to learn and understand pro ball, and more importantly than anything imo a 100% focus on Football. LeBron has played basketball for too long, been focused on an NBA title for too long, and had professional football nowhere on his mind for too long to be anything other than a gimmick for whatever team tried him out.

I also think it's funny that he had to put the "Should I?" on that tweet. There isn't anyone in sports who likes being talked about more than LeBron, and with the NBA locked out he has to find some way to keep himself in the center of attention. I don't even dislike LeBron, it'd just be ignorant at this point for anyone to deny that he has a massive ego though.

[BRxSKINSx]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

He could compete and probably dominate in the NFL.....the question is though, for how many quarters....?

[suh90beast]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

not top notch? What he is one of the best if not the best passer in the history of the league, and he makes incredible shots.

Are you ********? Lebron best passer in the history of the league. I want some of what you've been smoking.