11/05/24
February 03, 2005
'He didn't know how to put his pads on': When Stephen Neal told an agent in 2001 he wanted to become an NFL player, he was a former college wrestler who hadn't played football since high school. On Sunday, he'll be starting on the offensive line for the New England Patriots.
Back when Haselrig won the NCAA HWT class I think if you won division two you moved up to wrestle in the division I tourney...that's why he was a six-time NCAA champ or whatever before he made the Steelers team. Its pretty amazing that both he and Neal were able to play football after that amount of time off and still make the team...the Vikings didn't keep Brock Lesnar around long when he tried the same jump...so it aint like its real easy.
posted by chris2sy at 02:45 PM on February 03, 2005
It seems to me that some attributes associated with wrestling would translate with ease to blocking on a line. Of course I have done neither, which makes it very easy to say.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 04:12 PM on February 03, 2005
It seems to me that some attributes associated with wrestling would translate with ease to blocking on a line. I'm pretty sure that putting a pass rusher in the Cobra Clutch, or suplexing a blitzing cornerback would get a flag on the play. /being silly
posted by grum@work at 04:17 PM on February 03, 2005
I was a damn good wrestler (okay so it was only high school in Massachusetts), but I'd make a shitty O-lineman. Then again, the highest weight-class I wrestled in was 125 lbs. A lot of wrestling on your feet is learning to keep your body well-positioned (hips low, body square) and using your opponent's momentum against him. My co-captain my senior year wrestled 189 and heavyweight, and he was also an amazing football player. I'm not surprised that wrestling skills would come in handy on the football field even at a professional level. And before anyone brings it up, they're not tights. We wear the required uniform.
posted by Samsonov14 at 04:59 PM on February 03, 2005
Do you still wear the shoes? Because that's going to change my mental picture of you (though you always had a singlet on in the pic). Among my set (and a trendy clique it is), wrestling shoes in a non-wrestling setting are the #1 indicator of a meathead. Like a 100%, post-paid guarantee.
posted by yerfatma at 07:52 PM on February 03, 2005
Fatty, As soon as I wake up, I put on every wrestling medal I've ever won. Then I put on my interview suit. And then I head to my job interview, and I dance, dance, dance like there's ass in my pants. I haven't been hired yet.
posted by Samsonov14 at 12:59 AM on February 04, 2005
I don't wear the shoes.
posted by Samsonov14 at 01:01 AM on February 04, 2005
i hope neal get his ass kicked
posted by dhdefrag3x at 03:19 PM on February 04, 2005
Some college football coaches need to answer for missing this gem, that's for sure. After all, San Diego High School isn't exactly the middle of nowhere and plenty of great players have come out of the city so you know coaches have their eyes open.