Hooper Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 From ESPN.com. Some of his quotes are classic. It's like he can't break free from his pro wrestling persona. Unfortunately for him, no nfl coach is going to give him a job because he can talk tough. Monday, June 28, 2004 By Wayne Drehs ESPN.com MINNEAPOLIS -- The cute and curvy blonde 20-something had no idea what she was getting herself into. In her barely-there halter-top and her glossy red lipstick, she slithered into the giant's arms, set her chin on his chest, looked up into his eyes and delivered the message she had been sent to ask. "My friend Shawn thinks you're kinda cute," she said. Not Shawna. Not Shana. Shawn. The 6-foot-3, 290-pound Goliath, the guy who benches 475 pounds, squats 695 pounds, steamed. "Yeah?" the former pro wrestler said, his voice growing louder, his eyes getting bigger. "Well you tell that ..." To print what Brock Lesnar said might make even John Rocker blush. But after his curse-laden outburst, he turned to a nearby reporter and explained, "I don't like gays. Write that down in your little notebook. I don't like gays." Offended? Too bad. He doesn't care what you think. What your mom thinks. Or what that guy at the end of the bar thinks, his sexual orientation not withstanding. Lesnar is a self-described "blue-collar redneck" who owns a 47-acre ranch and spends his free time jumping up and down on beds -- sometimes breaking them -- with his 2-year-old daughter, Mya. If he could choose only three television channels to watch, it'd be a 24-hour hunting and fishing network, The Weather Channel and The Penthouse Channel. "I'd be a happy man," he said. Instead, he's his own man. A man who loves contact. Aggression. And people telling him he can't do something. It's the reason he can walk away from a lucrative pro wrestling contract and not think twice. It's the reason he can stand in front of the world, tell everyone he's going to play in the NFL and not hear the critics that tell him he's nuts. While Steve McMichael (a former Chicago Bear), Bill Goldberg (the one-time Atlanta Falcon) and even Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (who played at the University of Miami) used successful football careers to catapult them onto the professional wrestling stage, Lesnar is trying to do just the opposite. Lesnar, the former NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion and the World Wrestling Entertainment's youngest champion ever, walked away from a seven-year, $45-million contract in March. In part because he was fed up with his wrestling persona, "The Next Big Thing." In part because he was sick of the travel. But mostly because of his lifelong dream to play professional football. Though an April motorcycle accident slowed his progress, Lesnar has spent the majority of the past three months training in Arizona, hoping to latch on with a team during summer camp, then spend a year or two on the practice squad on his way to becoming an NFL star. Think this is like Michael Jordan trying to hit a minor league curveball? Or Terrell Owens trying to prove that he's got the moves to play hoops in the United States Basketball League? "I'm not stupid (please). I know the NFL is a difficult world to crack," he says. "But I'll play defensive line to left out. I'm fighting every f------ play. I can fight for real. "If it was legal and I wouldn't get in trouble, I'd pick a fight on every street. If I wouldn't lose any money or nothing, I would fight. I'd fight every day." Nobody questions his tenacity. His strength. His pure athletic ability. A few weeks after his wrestling career came to an end with a Wrestlemania loss to Goldberg, Lesnar ran the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds, a blistering time for a man his size. He has a 10-foot standing broad jump. A 35-inch vertical leap, not to mention the bench and squat numbers. It's the tools of an NFL running back power packed into a gladiator's frame. "He's a pitbull," said Luke Richesson, Lesnar's trainer at the International Performance Institute in Phoenix. "The guy is going to turn every single practice into a damn dog fight. They say take it easy? That ain't going to be happening. When you think long term, I would never bet against him." Not everybody is sold. Lesnar last played football in 1995, as a high school lineman, running back and linebacker in South Dakota's small-school division, and received a handful of Division II scholarship offers. Eight years later, his football knowledge is raw. He's worked with former All-Pro Seth Joyner and Ty Parten, a former defensive lineman with the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals, to learn everything from the proper way to get into a three-point stance to how a defensive lineman drops back into pass coverage. "He probably knows less than a high school player because he hasn't played in so long," Parten said. "But he wants to learn more." Still, not many NFL teams have the time to teach him. Working in Lesnar's favor is the expansion of NFL practice squads from five to eight this season. Both the Indianapolis Colts and the Minnesota Vikings worked out Lesnar this month, though neither team has signed him. "He's a project. Big time," Vikings player personnel director Scott Studwell said. "As much as you'd like to take a shot on a guy like him because of his athletic history, do you do it at the expense of cutting another player? Probably not. At the expense of taking reps away from a promising young player? Probably not. With Brock, it's like you're starting from scratch." But Lesnar didn't turn his back on wrestling to fail at football. It was a redo. Five years ago, when he left the University of Minnesota as the NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion, the same two options were put in front of him: Football or wrestling. Gopher alumn Tony Dungy, then the head coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, wanted him to try out for the NFL. At the same time, Vince McMahon, who owns what has since become known as WWE, saw Lesnar as the future of pro wrestling. He offered him guaranteed money. And career stability. "As a starving college kid, what are you going to do?" Lesnar said. "Money on the table, a sure thing, versus a wild card. Are you kidding me? It was a no-brainer." Lesnar became the quickest champion in WWE history, and soon had all the fame and fortune any kid from Webster, S.D., could ever want. But the unexpected birth of his daughter to a girlfriend he's no longer dating, combined with the 280-plus days a year on the road -- often in a different city every night -- wore on him. He looked at the older wrestlers, guys like Ric Flair and the Undertaker, and saw how much they missed their families. He didn't like the direction of his wrestling persona, and he couldn't get any straight answers out of McMahon. So after a South African tour in which he spent 50 hours on a plane to wrestle four different nights, he blew up and quit. "I think Vince thought I'd change my mind and come back," Lesnar said. "But it wasn't going to happen. "I was at the top of my game in wrestling, I was a three-time champion, I had pretty good coin in my pocket. What was stopping me? A set of nuts. You either nut up or you don't. So I did." Now comes the challenge of making it pay off. Studwell puts the odds of Lesnar making an NFL team and having a successful pro career at "less than 50 percent." Complicating matters was an April motorcycle accident in which Lesnar broke his jaw, fractured his left hand, severely pulled his groin and suffered tissue damage in his lower abdomen. His testicles were swollen and bruised for weeks. "Any other sorry sucker who went through that," Lesnar said, "his carcass would still be laying there. He'd be six feet under pushing daisies up. I'm still here." After the accident, Lesnar's hard-nosed, gotta-play-hurt mentality kept his body from healing. On two separate occasions, NFL workouts had to be postponed because of complications following the accident. "My mentality was to push through, but nothing could have been worse," Lesnar said. "Now, the main goal is just to get healthy. To get my body back to 100 percent so I can sign with a team, get into camp and show what I can do." One of the biggest concerns is Lesnar's age. At 26, he's a good five years older than most NFL rookies. If it takes Lesnar two years on the practice squad and spending the offseason playing in NFL Europe to learn the game -- a conservative estimate by most scouts -- he won't be ready to contribute until he's 28. “As much as you'd like to take a shot on a guy like him because of his athletic history, do you do it at the expense of cutting another player? Probably not. At the expense of taking reps away from a promising young player? Probably not. With Brock, it's like you're starting from scratch. ” — Scott Studwell, Vikings player personnel director "At that point, you have to ask yourself if he's past his prime," Studwell said. "Because you've lost some critical years in a football career." But the transition has been done before. Stephen Neal, who beat Lesnar for the 1999 NCAA heavyweight title as a senior at Cal-State Bakersfield, is a reserve offensive lineman with the New England Patriots. Without any college football experience, he was signed as a non-drafted free agent at the age of 24. If not for a shoulder injury suffered during the preseason, he would have started last year. "The one thing that blows coaches away is every single time he does a drill, he'll get better," Neal said. "If Brock goes in there with the approach that he knows nothing and can soak everything up like a sponge, it's just a matter of time." Heads turn when Lesnar walks into a trendy downtown Minneapolis restaurant, his tight blue T-shirt and baggy khakis clinging to him with his every stride. But the question is nothing new. Neither are the looks. He says they've been there since high school. Yet Lesnar insists he's never used steroids. He points to the fact that he started working out when he was 6 years old, enduring three hernias as a child after trying to replicate his older brother's workouts, as the reason his body developed as it has. He says he was tested for steroids by his college coach, J Robinson, by the NCAA at the national championships and by the WWE. Not once, he says, did he test positive. Because of the stigma that comes along with professional wrestlers, Lesnar said he plans to submit himself for drug testing as part of the NFL's pre-employment screening process. "All that talk is jealousy. I don't need anything to get me up at the gym other than Metallica and AC/DC," Lesnar said. "When it comes down to it, bring your little piss cup and I will fill it for you." The next month is critical for Lesnar's dream. NFL camps open in July, meaning he has less than a month to impress a team, sign a free-agent contract and get ready for camp. Once there, the biggest challenge begins -- learning the playbook. He'll be stereotyped as the physical freak that talks lots of trash but isn't quite sure how to get into his three-point stance. He'll have gone from one of the biggest stars in professional wrestling, the center of the spotlight, to a nobody. Once the guy everybody knows, he'll become the guy that wears a piece of masking tape across his helmet to identify who he is. The odds are against him. His road is long. But just like that night in the club, when he not-so-politely told the 20-something girl he wasn't interested in her male friend, he doesn't care. He's doing this his way. "This is not some half-assed shot to see what I can do and try to make the NFL," Lesnar said. "For me, this is balls out, 100 percent. "And I plan on knocking the snot out of somebody." Wayne Drehs is a staff writer for ESPN.com and can be reached at wayne.drehs@espn3.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntotoro Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 Is he even gonna' get a chance to flop? :laugh: Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hooper Posted June 28, 2004 Author Share Posted June 28, 2004 He's obviously gay and trying to hide it with hateful remarks. I mean, it's obvious that Brock loves c0ck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The X-Factor Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 4.7 forty for a guy who is 290 LBs. Not bad at all. Even if he does flop, it won't matter much because he will probably sign a minimum deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destino Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 "bring your little piss cup and I will fill it for you" :laugh: haha! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BD Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 He's not that old. Considering that you can stick him on a practice squad easy, I'd take a whirl on him. Just think about it - last year, would you rather have had Lional Dalton or Brock Lesnar? BD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllWorldSkinFan Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 I'd sign him minimum, stick him on the practice squad the first year, then send him to Europe. If he blows up there, he can then be a star. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Washington Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 lesnar sounds like an unsportsmanlike conduct waiting to happen. i would like to see someone bring him into camp to see how he reacts after getting his ass kicked by experience linemen for a few weeks. while lesnar is grappling with lineman instead of trying to get by them, the play will be over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckeyeG Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 He sure seems like he has heart and desire.....but I think he is lacking true football smarts,I'll pass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. S Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 I just see the next Daryl Gardener or Kyle Turley out of him, though w/o the talent those 2 posess. They say hes a project, its not worth taking him for that short a time. Even for the often said 'minimum deal'. He's just like signing a UDFA, he just has a wrestling gig behind him. Id have personally taken that huge contract instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntotoro Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 Originally posted by buckeyeG He sure seems like he has heart and desire.....but I think he is lacking true football smarts,I'll pass. Or any other smarts, for that matter... Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. D Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 anyone who passes on this guy is stupid. He is worth his weight in gold for marketing purposes alone. and can you imagine how intense practices would be.. I am thinking small market teams like Ariz etc. should be interested most especially since they cannot find a way to fill a stadium...ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gridironmike Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 Why doesn't he head for the CFL (immediate) or the AFL or NFLEL (spring)? He could get game experience immediately. Then the NFL scouts would have some tape on him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sisko Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 What was stopping me? A set of nuts. You either nut up or you don't. So I did.... His testicles were swollen and bruised for weeks. " I think his foray into the NFL is going to have the same result as his last motorcycle ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Diesel Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 Guy sounds like a freakin idiot, and a PR nightmare for any team stupid enough to sign him. I'm sure those gay bashing comments are just the tip of the iceberg. That's all we need. Yeah, Brock sounds like a Gibb's type player. Everybody in another thread is talking about how Ware is gone b/c he got a drunk in public ticket....but you think THIS guy is a gibbs player? Right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codeorama Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 Originally posted by Hooper He's obviously gay and trying to hide it with hateful remarks. I mean, it's obvious that Brock loves c0ck. :laugh: :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Williams Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 Originally posted by Hooper 6-foot-3, 290 benches 475 pounds, squats 695 pounds, 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds 10-foot standing broad jump. A 35-inch vertical leap, [/email] sorry but getting rid of a 6th string lineman for a guy who could POTENTIALLY be a great is a fair trade. I'd trade MOST of last years lineman for him.....they stunk it up anyways......I'd say give'm a shot because he's got the tools. He couldn't be worse than the others. :doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXREDSKINS44 Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 "If it was legal and I wouldn't get in trouble, I'd pick a fight on every street. If I wouldn't lose any money or nothing, I would fight. I'd fight every day." Man this dude as issues!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swissarmy47 Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 290, strong as an ox and runs a 4.7? I'll take him. There's no way you can tell me that this guy would be any worse than the studly physical specimens we had last year - Martin Chase or Larry Moore. Give the guy a year of coaching on blocking, tackling, shedding blocks and general football knowledge and play reading and I think he'll have a shot at least to be some sort of a backup or maybe a specialist. What position??? This is the question. You'd probably have to get him in pads and teach him the fundamentals in training camp and then sort of see what he takes to better. He could be a solid OG or C possibly... Maybe a little undersized at DT but could work there... Interior Line (O or D) would let him use his college wrestling skills of leverage and body control... But I'd say if you were looking for returns sooner rather than later you think about making him a pass rushing specialist. He's bigger and stronger than most NFL DE's, and certainly faster than most of them too... Plus if you put him in at third and long you don't need to worry about him in the run game, which requires yet another set of skills and better read and reconginition. Pass rushing is about raw skills - speed, strength, leverage - things he has the skills and abilities for. Teach the guy two or three different moves and I think he could be real productive here. It would probably take another year or two to turn him into an every down DE though - as pass rushing allows him to be aggressive whereas unless you are in third and long you need to read and react - skills that take instincts and time to learn, as well as the ability to shed blocks and make tackles in tight spots and the open field. Takes longer to learn, but since this guy was such a sucessful wrestler (I'm referring to real wrestling here) I think he's got the raw physical skills and body control to excel here too. Those guys are amazing athletes, and if he can take down another guy his size in the ring he can learn to be effective on the field too - at least when compared to some of the guys we've had lately... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJredskins00 Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 He's a joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan T. Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 Originally posted by swissarmy47 What position??? This is the question. . . .He could be a solid OG or C possibly... Maybe a little undersized at DT but could work there... Interior Line (O or D) would let him use his college wrestling skills of leverage and body control... But I'd say if you were looking for returns sooner rather than later you think about making him a pass rushing specialist. . . Pass rushing is about raw skills - speed, strength, leverage - things he has the skills and abilities for. Takes longer to learn, but since this guy was such a sucessful wrestler (I'm referring to real wrestling here) . . . Seems to me he's destined to try out as a run-stuffing DT. The learning curve for offensive line is too steep. And DE is more than raw skills - technique is a big part of success on the outside. DT seems more suited to a strong ex-wrestler - explode off the ball and tie up the guy - or the two guys - in front of you so your linebackers can make the play. I don't know this guy at all beyond this article, but what he seems to have going for him, beyond the raw physical gifts, is a single-mindedness of purpose and the willingness to work is ass off to reach a goal. Those things will be as valuable to him as strength and speed if he's going to pull this off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skins11 Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 Originally posted by Hooper "I don't like gays. Write that down in your little notebook. I don't like gays." ... "If it was legal and I wouldn't get in trouble, I'd pick a fight on every street. If I wouldn't lose any money or nothing, I would fight. I'd fight every day." ... "He probably knows less than a high school player because he hasn't played in so long," Parten said. "But he wants to learn more." Hmm, sounds exactly like the type of guy that Coach would want on the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLusby Posted June 30, 2004 Share Posted June 30, 2004 I see a bunch of young, extremely fat, and undisciplined players all over the NFL. This guy comes in shape and motivated. Hell, it's not even about money! This guy is out to prove something in a big way. I would give him a shot since he has the tools. All we need to see is if he can develop the talent. No Leon here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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