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Fourth-Place Medal

Sun Aug 17, 2008 4:08 am EDT

Will Usain Bolt run straight into the NFL?

By Nick Friedell

Usain Bolt is 21 years old, stands 6 feet 5 inches tall, weighs 190 pounds and runs the 100-meter dash in 9.69 seconds. Is there any doubt that NFL execs just read that sentence and started salivating? As I watched the Jamaican speedster race down the track yesterday, I couldn't help but wonder how he would fare if he ever decided to play football, and I'm sure general managers around the league were thinking the same thing as they watched him zoom past the competition.

The thought of making a living running with a helmet and shoulder pads may not have even crossed Bolt's mind, but I am quite certain that there will a line full of teams willing to give him a chance if he ever decides that he wants to change career paths. Bolt wouldn't be the first world-class sprinter to try his hand at football. As my colleague Bill Fitzgerald pointed out, Bob Hayes, Willie Gault and Renaldo Nehemiah all made the transition to the NFL after successful sprinting careers. Herschel Walker and Darrell Green were amongst several players that competed in both sports while in college. The 2004 Olympic 100 meter champion Justin Gatlin was even given a tryout last year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ... and he was just over 6 feet tall.

The thing about Bolt is that at 6'5, he posesses a combination of size and speed that would be unlike most other players in the NFL.

Is a football career something he wants to pursue? Is he willing to give up a sprinting career that appears to be at its peak? Only time will tell. If he has any interest in football at all though, you'd have to think that it's a good time to give the sport a chance. The "world's fastest man" has nothing left to prove in his chosen sport. The only reason Bolt would continue to train is if he decides to compete again in London, four years from now. At 21, he still has plenty of time to learn about football if he so desires. It will be interesting to see what his next move will be, but I can promise you that NFL scouts just added a new travel destination to their travel itineraries this fall ... Jamaica. 

Photo via Getty Images

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185 Comments

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  1. vag.atarian
    1. Posted by vag.atarian Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:30 pm EDT

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    First!!!!!!
  2. kel9122000@...
    2. Posted by kel9122000@... Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:49 pm EDT

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    usain bolt is full of himself.
  3. flatlander76
    3. Posted by flatlander76 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:00 pm EDT

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    And thus a good candidate for the NFL
  4. wkendgoofer
    4. Posted by wkendgoofer Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:58 pm EDT

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    ...#2...something tells me you must be related to gay or you must be his #1 fan...guess how i found out...someone ratted on you...not only that..you might want to change your monicker...IT SHOWS...(so i hear) beware...you're not that SLICK!!!!.....you probably thought you'd get away with it HUH!!!...you're on the WRONG line...blog somewhere else BUT not here...name of the game is OLYMPICS...get my drift ????
  5. Social Observer
    5. Posted by Social Observer Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    "A sprinting career that is apparently at it's peak"...."Worlds fastest man has nothing left to prove in his chosen sport". I always enjoy listening to folks around passing the assumptive and tunneled outpourings of their minds on to the rest of the world. With no second thought as to the validity of the presumed statements or ideas. You see in order to make your point, with regards to the NFL you had to first establish a premise for that point the matter of premises: social,political, journalistic or otherwise needs to be much more carefully evaluated.
  6. Social Observer
    6. Posted by Social Observer Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    Poster Number 4 and number 5, what is the highest level of educational institution that attended ? Please do not say College: the use of racial slurs (Nggr,Ngger) indicates either improper education or inadequate education; And by the way improper education includes poor home training.
  7. mad sickhead
    7. Posted by mad sickhead Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:03 pm EDT

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    Social Observer I could not agree with you more.
    Sorry to the writer of this but your assumptions are totally out of line. 1st of all, you cannot say he has nothing left to prove. He has just won Jamaica's first gold medal and I am 100% certain he will be going for more for his country. You cannot say he's at his peak either, he has many more years to mature and obviously if he wants he can improve his world record time. Yesterday he didn't care tho, his main concern was the gold at the time, which tells you where his heart is, his country. 2nd, Jamaican to Jamaican, I kno say Bolt would not even consider going to the NFL cause that sport has never been an interest in our country. Its all about where the heart is and its plain to see it is in his homeland and winning Gold medals for it. Another thing I can tell you he won't do is choose money over love, as that would be the only reason he would make a decision to get into NFL, for the money
  8. its
    8. Posted by its Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:25 pm EDT

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    #9 Well said..in this day and age one would like to think the mindset of a few obviously ignorant individuals would somehow change from allowing themselves to use these racial slurs in trying to communicate with others in todays society. How simple could it be to just recognize the games for what it is, and try to express ones opinion on the topic at hand without the racial additions. Hopefully this behavior will one day be a thing of the past...
  9. toogood
    9. Posted by toogood Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:40 pm EDT

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    Jamaicans are GREAT - Be it in atletics, music, art, crime - you name it. If we decide to do it, its going to get done in style and class. Go there Ja. Lightening Bolt is just one of the Many GREAT Jahmacans.
    There is Bob Marley and his Clan, Merlene Ottey - the Greatest Jamaican olympian ever.
  10. senator
    10. Posted by senator Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    Jah Rasta Clause when we are good we are the best by any test ! Check Marcus, Marley, Merlene and now that Bolt of Lightening ! I'n'I truly proud of the Rock and all these world beaters !! GOD BLESS JAMAICA ALWAYS MON !!!
  11. lisa
    11. Posted by lisa Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:22 pm EDT

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    typical stupid american journalism.why the hell would bolt want to join the nfl. since phelps seems impossible to beat and has 8 olympic gold medals, he should go and race dolphins since they may be his only competition. "the "world's fastest man" has nothing left to prove in his chosen sport". theres the 200m record and the 400 meter record at countless other thinks for him to accomplish in his sport. you cant possibly be not a sports reporter making some stupid statment like that. you know nothing about track and field. the way the american media operates i would think you guys were communist china. your obviously bias journalism and lack of respect for the great thinks done by other country is similar to that communist countries like cuba and china.
  12. ywa2000
    12. Posted by ywa2000 Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:00 pm EDT

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    With all due respect to Phelps who I appreciate his efforts and what he has accomplished was no easy task the 29th Olympiad would forever be marked by Usain Bolt's performance. The reason it has not been given much credence stateside is because it was not accomplished by an American. This guy is humble, playful and jovial. He does not care about records as long as he won for his countgry. Even Michael Johnson who was what Atlanta Olympics was about had to stand up to see that. It was speechless what he performed in an event that is the epitome and flagbearer of the Olympics (running and in the fastest event). Usain the Lightning Bolt should forever be known as El Sicko...It was a sick performance. Go Phelps but you just got upstaged by just a hair by Bolt's performance. Track and field would always be considered greater than swimming at the Olympics no matter what anyone says. But as I said Phelps is a worthy Champion as well.
  13. rodney
    13. Posted by rodney Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:37 pm EDT

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    bolt is history himself, he is the fastest man ever to brace the planet, the 100meter is the most prestigious event ever to test speed. This guy is faster than cars and bikes and any animal as a matter of fact. The world record set my Bolt is the fastest ever and ever since the first olympics held by hittler they have always wonder and conduct studys to find out what is it with black man why they are so fast. Usain "LIGHTNING" BOLT is the greatest sports man alive, the fastest man on the planet that broke a world record at the most watched event in the world.
  14. Dana W
    14. Posted by Dana W Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:34 pm EDT

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    Showman or not, Bolt came to the Olympics to win big for his country! Now that's selfless service (one of the seven Army values, for you civis). He already said he coasted to the end of his 100m b/c he didn't come to Beijing to break his own records, he came to win gold for Jamaica...and to #4 and #5...you're probably 50 years old, 500 lbs, and live in your mother's basement huh? Nice try at getting some attention, now waddle upstairs if you can, your mom's diaper needs changing...
  15. A Yahoo! User
    15. Posted by A Yahoo! User Sun Aug 17, 2008 7:40 am EDT

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    report all idiots
  16. larry
    16. Posted by larry Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:56 pm EDT

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    jamaica man.........bolt needs some competition-what an athlete. looking forward to the 200 race. Jamaica stands tall!
  17. pazz_the_butter
    17. Posted by pazz_the_butter Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:03 pm EDT

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    this is the biggest load of nonsense i have ever read. friedell writes...bolt has nothing left to prove in his chosen sport because he is now the worlds fastest man. oh really now - is that so. did carl lewis hang up his running shoes after just one olympics ? er uhm no. bolt at only 21 and in his first olympics has the potential to do what no man has ever done...run the 100, 200 and 400, and pick up 2 more golds in the 4 by 100 and 4 by 400 in future games if he stays healthy. in other words there is much left to challenge him. why should he quit his sport to become a b list player in the nfl, a sport which by the way is not even played in jamaica and which he likely has zero interest in. don't even go there bolt. there is much left to accomplish in track and field. in fact track and field needs you.
  18. NFL AGENT
    18. Posted by NFL AGENT Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:41 pm EDT

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    He can take the number 4 in the above picture and bring it to the NFL...He is already a Jet!!!
    Congrats.... Go Jamaica!!
  19. dogg
    19. Posted by dogg Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

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    All this non-sense about who has achieved a better record or who is the better athletic - Bolt or Phelps is moot. Given the fact that Phelps could not coast to the finish line in any of his races tells me his success came from his unbelievable training routine and his heart. Bolt's talent is God given. Not even Carl Lewis with all the scientific diets and expert training from the US coaches could make him run like Bolt. I am though disappointed that he did not finish the race. You never know if he will ever have this opportunity again. Things happen, injuries, accidents, NFL, etc. I think he could have finished in th 9.5's making his margin of victory even greater than that of Bob Beamons long jump in '68. I think Bolt might regret that he didn't see just how fast he really is. Incredible!
  20. howdy
    20. Posted by howdy Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:21 pm EDT

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    please dan snider bring the lighting bolt to d.c.
  21. sir_greenspam
    21. Posted by sir_greenspam Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:24 pm EDT

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    No NFL for Bolt. I want to see more of him in track and field ... thank you. There are other runners in the back of the pack who may not have been fast enough to medal but more than fast enough for the NFL that the agents can go after. I want to see more of Bolt running in his sport track and field.
  22. CRAIG C
    22. Posted by CRAIG C Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

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    Well said social observer, as a Black Man I am often told that racism is dead and use Barack Obama as an example, but it is alive and well. The worse part is that people don't have the guts to spew that bigotry to your face they now hide behind their computers. Also, if Bolt can make his money in the NFL then give it a try. Hopefully he can avoid a hit like Renaldo Nehemiah took that instantly made him regret his decision.
  23. mona_l1sa
    23. Posted by mona_l1sa Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:24 pm EDT

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    i agreww with poster 10, 15, 16, 18 and 21........poster #16 I agree with you 100%...phelps did amazing, but for the amercan commentators to call him GREATEST OLYMPIAN EVER is an insult to all other contestant. no doubt he is the greatest olympian SWIMMER, but come on; greatest olympian?
    The only reason Usain Bolt is not being mentioned more is because he's not american.......Everyone who is not in denial or jealous knows what Usain achieved is beyond greatness......there is a reason why nbc's saturday night closing feature showed snap shots of both men's achievements simultaneously ........they can't deny Usain's achievement.
    as for the columnist n his garbage, mi naa go badda comment pon dat, cuz that is clearly american way of trying to associate with greatness; as long as they can get a sentence with America and Usain they wll do it....bout NFL, dem mus si tek wi fi ....:)
    RUN USAIN LIGHTNING BOLT.......GO JAMAICA.........STILL LOVE YA ASAFA
  24. Fay L
    24. Posted by Fay L Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:01 pm EDT

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    Usain Bolt is the greatest athlete ever.Not to take away from what Michael Phelps did, but the race was not given as much coverage as it should have seeing that the American baby Tyson Gay was not in the final.How come we never got any coverage on the medal ceremony? If Gay or the third place finisher had won, we would have seen so much replay i would have been sick. Look how much coverage Phelps got.Put Phelps on a track and lets see how fast he is. Don't get me wrong, i like Phelps and what he has brought to swimming and to his country, but as always Nbc coverage is only interested in an event where an American athlete is competing.I am waiting for the 100m women finals.Jamaica has 3 athletes, America 3, 1 Britain and 1from the Bahamas. Iam waiting to see the coverage that is given to this event.
  25. Dessie
    25. Posted by Dessie Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:17 pm EDT

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    He can run but can he catch a pass? Speed is great and all as far as the NFL but he's nothing if he can't catch. If he CAN catch though, he'd be great for kick and punt returns. He's faster than Devin Hester. If you break down his time, he ran the first 40 yds in 3.49 seconds!!

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