Ridgewaycynic2013 Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 A few searches through the forums yielded no results, so I’ll start a new topic. Who has played at a professional level, or tried out at that level? Semi pro counts as well. In the spirit of total disclosure, I never played higher than pick up street or playground football, and usually was among the last to be picked. ? Moderators, my apologies if this was better posted in ‘Off the Wall’. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJS Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 I'm a professional football watcher. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H2o Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 Played through high school. Could have played Division II football, but not on scholarship. I chose another route and didn't go to college altogether. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keepthefaith Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 If you're counting semi-pro, why not include D-I college ball? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 1 minute ago, MJS said: I'm a professional football watcher. Who’s paying you? I’ve been doing out for FREE all this time! How do I sign up? I never played past HS, played rugby in college with a guy who was briefly on the Redskins as a DB. He couldn’t hang in the league, and he was an absolute FREAK! These guys are CRAZY athletes! 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo716 Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 (edited) Played and coached my whole life Played semi pro for a season years ago after college Edited October 2, 2019 by Buffalo716 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badassgixxer05 Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 I dreamed of going pro since i could walk. Found out pretty early in life I wasn't so athletically gifted. Now I work in IT. Still love me some football though. ? 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJS Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 3 minutes ago, Augie said: Who’s paying you? I’ve been doing out for FREE all this time! How do I sign up? I never played past HS, played rugby in college with a guy who was briefly on the Redskins as a DB. He couldn’t hang in the league, and he was an absolute FREAK! These guys are CRAZY athletes! I do it pro bono. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x-BillzeBubba Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 played in Canadian university level and got invited to a pre-camp tryout for the Ottawa RoughRiders, along with 200 other guys...I was nowhere near fast enough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 Just now, MJS said: I do it pro bono. That is the sign of a good soul! That’s what I tell my wife, anyway....? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldTimeAFLGuy Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 7 minutes ago, Augie said: Who’s paying you? I’ve been doing out for FREE all this time! How do I sign up? I never played past HS, played rugby in college with a guy who was briefly on the Redskins as a DB. He couldn’t hang in the league, and he was an absolute FREAK! These guys are CRAZY athletes! ......my 4.5 forty wasn't good enough.....said 4 hrs and 30 minutes was a bit slow..... 3 17 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJS Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 I always kind of think of what I could have done football wise. I'm 6'3" and can run a 4.4 in the 40 and I have always been among the most athletic people that I know. I set the high jump record at my middle school and high school. Played WR. I played in high school but we moved around so much growing up that I never really had a chance to do anything. I felt like I was pretty good. I played ball with people who played on college teams and could always play to their level. BUT, I have always been injury prone, so I think I would have been one of those guys that has skills but is always injured. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 I bet we have more who think they could be a GM than a player! 3 6 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanC883 Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 (edited) great topic! and for those who say "played in college," let us know where. Anywhere is impressive! I played in middle school, had # 82 for Don Beebe. Then did cross country and track in HS. Sometimes wish I continued football. Edited October 2, 2019 by RyanC883 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Beard Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 I have a high motor and a lunch pail 10 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy10 Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 I have a blue collar and a gym rat. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunnerBill Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 Played and coached semi-pro soccer. Never played football. Thrown one about on the beach with pals but that is about it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket94 Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 7 minutes ago, OldTimeAFLGuy said: ......my 4.5 forty wasn't good enough.....said 4 hrs and 30 minutes was a bit slow..... Throw back player! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whatdrought Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 I played 8th grade ball and that was it. I loved it but we moved and it never worked for me to play later. That one year did do a lot for me to go from a watcher of the game to actually knowing how it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alphadawg7 Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 I played HS and some college until I hurt my knee and then left college early to pursue some business opportunities. Was never going to have a real shot at going pro, I wasn’t fast enough before I hurt my knee let alone after lol. I did later also play in a flag football league with former NFL guys like Chris McCalister and also some lesser ex players and former college guys too. Damn Chris was so fast still. Imagine some middle aged average joes who were never very fast even in their prime trying to cover Chris and his friends lol, it wasn’t pretty hahaha. Let’s just say we changed leagues to the Venice co-Ed two hand touch league instead where we became champs lmao. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsBlue Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 (edited) I was a "nose-guard"(nose tackle) for training camp/ up until a week before the season(made the team/made it through cuts) for the semi pro Glens Falls Green Jackets here in upstate ny. I was doing well and at one point blew up double teams in 11 on 11 and "sacked the qb((tapped him out))" 5 times in a practice. Thats how I made the team hehe ? During the last practice I pulled my groin and my hamstring trying to beat a double team again (my job every down) and between the bruising on my head from the impacts and my groin and hammy i called it quits( I was about 23 years old). I'm 6'1" and and was about 13% body fat at 280 lbs benching 300 lbs squating 350 and deadlifting 500 lbs for 3 reps raw( I was a power lifter/body builder who was called by the coachs assistant as a player knew me from the gym((prior nfl practice squad player/college coach)).......... Edited October 2, 2019 by BillsBlue 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 Does TechmoBowl count? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warrior9 Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 (edited) .. played college ball Edited October 3, 2019 by warrior9 5 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beach Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 i played 1 year of semi pro. i was a punter so most will say that doesnt count. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stank_Nasty Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 one of my members/workout partners here at my gym started 40 games for Kent st and got calls to be an UDFA but never pursued it. actually blocked for Edelman when he was qb…. he always offers me such good insight on the game. we've had some awesome convos about the "inside". haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasons1992 Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 11 minutes ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said: Does TecmoBowl count? ONLY if you used teams other than the Raiders and could win regularly. That Bo Jackson character was IMPOSSIBLE to tackle..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
row_33 Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 where we heading, towards Flutie during his last days in town, when he was losing it, and at a presser told the media because they didn't play pro football so they had no right to say anything about him at all???? good times... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John from Riverside Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 My son plays Semi Pro......I coached and played in college. That is the closest I got. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 30 minutes ago, RyanC883 said: great topic! and for those who say "played in college," let us know where. Anywhere is impressive! I played in middle school, had # 82 for Don Beebe. Then did cross country and track in HS. Sometimes wish I continued football. Oh, I don’t know..... My son could have played D-1, but after tearing his ACL/MCL, the stinger (that’s wicked, btw!), and breaking an arm (soccer), he decided to grow up and work towards starting his adult life. He enjoyed being the Big Man about school and town, but he made the right choice! He still has aches and pains. I cannot IMAGINE what the guys who play 4 more years in college then a decade in the pros go thru! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldTimeAFLGuy Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 33 minutes ago, Rocket94 said: Throw back player! that would be "throw up"........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John from Riverside Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 1 minute ago, Augie said: Oh, I don’t know..... My son could have played D-1, but after tearing his ACL/MCL, the stinger (that’s wicked, btw!), and breaking an arm (soccer), he decided to grow up and work towards starting his adult life. He enjoyed being the Big Man about school and town, but he made the right choice! He still has aches and pains. I cannot IMAGINE what the guys who play 4 more years in college then a decade in the pros go thru! I think your son did make the right choice. My son tore his ACL his senior year and had a offer from San Diego State. He was crushed but rehabbed it and tried to walk on at Oregon....and was not successful...now he plays semi pro ball for a Oregon team and they have won 2 championships in a row he is a team captain and plays LB for them This is all great....and I am very proud of him and love that he loves the game....but now I have a beatuiful young grandaughter from him and I really want him to move on and close this chapter of his life. He is a hard worker and is good at everything he does but he is also very stubborn. I tell him now you have ppl counting on you and time to move on 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaBillsFanSince1973 Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 madden doesn't count, does it? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Beard Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 (edited) My son was an all-league linebacker in our suburban high school league. He went to a D3 school with the intention of playing. He blew out his knee his freshman year, and he also realized that he couldn’t play football and take hard classes at the same time. Some kids can but he is not one of those kids. He quit football and got serious about school. Everyone in the family thinks that blowing out his knee could have been a blessing in disguise. He also said that the psychological and physical effects of his knee injury are still with him a decade later. He doesn’t understand how so many athletes bounce back from it the way they do. Edited October 2, 2019 by Gray Beard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMF2006 Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 1 hour ago, MJS said: I'm a professional football watcher. You get paid? I have been getting sucked into buying tickets all these years Let me know your secret Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJS Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 1 minute ago, JMF2006 said: You get paid? I have been getting sucked into buying tickets all these years Let me know your secret Pro bono. I've already covered this. I'm the giving sort. It's for the children. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stosh64 Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 (edited) Lets see how many uncle Rico's we have here. Edited October 2, 2019 by stosh64 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwai San Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 I played all thru HS. Went to a school that didn't have football.....boo! Officiated HS football for 15 years - worked many games will Bill Schuster (NFL UMP #129) before he moved on and also officiated 5 years of DIII and DII. Worked many Semi Pro games. Was eye opening to see the differences between the "haves" and the " have nots". Saw some real good talent in the Semi Pro's, just total total nut jobs so they weren't going to the big stage. Close as I got.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnnycage46 Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 1 hour ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said: Does TechmoBowl count? Of course. Literally played this today and I consider myself a professional. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4_kidd_4 Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 8th grade parochial basketball was the pinnacle of my sports career. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.Biscuit97 Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 Played through college. If I had my mindset now, I think I could played some level after college (of course, everyone says that). I think some people don’t realize is how much of a grind football is. There are few things better than a football game. One of the greatest feelings you can have. But college football kinda sucked. Your life is consumed by football. There was no free time and I wasn’t even playing at Alabama (they don’t go to class there though haha). But it now I pay to go to a gym and just watch the games. I have a few regrets but one of the biggest is I wish I cared about my own football career as much as I did about the Bills haha. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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