Football There's Football Inside - Page 5

**Iowanian** · 07-28-2014, 01:55 PM

Too many topics to combine to a single thread and too many worthy topics get lost.

This thread will contain facts, notes, topics and comments that deserve mention and discussion. Feel free to contribute in any meaningful way.

In58men · 07-28-2014, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buzz

One minute it's defense, next it's offense, spin much?

WTF? I never said our defense is going to be bad. If we didn't have the talent we do we'd be 6-10 easily. It's our offense that has to score when we get the turnovers.

**Buzz** · 07-28-2014, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inmem58

WTF? I never said our defense is going to be bad. If we didn't have the talent we do we'd be 6-10 easily. It's our offense that has to score when we get the turnovers.

8-8 based on defense is average, I asked what you thought the weakness was going to be? You spun it to offense, sounded like you were covering your ass, maybe it was just me.

In58men · 07-28-2014, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buzz

8-8 based on defense is average, I asked what you thought the weakness was going to be? You spun it to offense, sounded like you were covering your ass, maybe it was just me.

I'm not covering my ass. I think our defense will be stout. We could be more talented with the corners though. Our offense is going to be horrid. We don't have enough talent to out up points, that's going to be the death of us. I'm not trying to sound negative.

Why Not? · 07-28-2014, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowanian

The Cardinals are pretty impressed with Pitt State's John Brown

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap200...kie-john-brown

The John Brown hype train barrels on.

After a springtime's worth of reports alerting us to Arizona's rookie receiver "blowing everyone away" and drawing "favorable" comparisons to Colts burner T.Y. Hilton, Brown is off to a hot start at training camp.

"I can tell you so far we haven't been able to cover him," said Cardinals general manager Steve Keim on Monday, per ESPN.com's Josh Weinfuss.

The third-round pick out of Pittsburg State has drawn parallels to Hilton because of their similar size and identical 4.34 speed. The 5-foot-11, 179-pound Brown is a candidate to leapfrog Ted Ginn as a deep threat alongside Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd in three-receiver sets.

So far he's the talk of the town out here

**Iowanian** · 07-29-2014, 08:09 AM

Feel good Story about D Bowe and a kid who doesn't........

Is it bad that my first thought after finishing was wondering if DB offered the child a hit of his medical doobie?

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/article...a-05a7e50a5c06

**Lzen** · 07-29-2014, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowanian

Feel good Story about D Bowe and a kid who doesn't........

Is it bad that my first thought after finishing was wondering if DB offered the child a hit of his medical doobie?

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/article...a-05a7e50a5c06

Good on DB. Say what you will about his contract and production (or lack thereof) or his use of MJ, but he seems like a decent guy.

**Iowanian** · 07-29-2014, 10:21 AM

I don't think Andre Reed or Buffalo fans like Bon Jovi.

I can see why Buffalo fans don't want their team to become the Mounties, but that makes as much sense as 2 teams in LA.

http://espn.go.com/blog/buffalo-bill...ds-on-bon-jovi

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- The potential for Jon Bon Jovi to be part of a group owning the Buffalo Bills continues to be a sore subject for the team’s fans.

Bills Preseason Live
Follow reporter Mike Rodak's live updates from training camp in Pittsford, New York.
Preseason Live

Count former wide receiver Andre Reed, who will enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame this Saturday, among those irked by Bon Jovi's likely bidding on the franchise.

In a feature piece published Tuesday by New York Magazine, Reed offered a strong opinion on the rock star who is part of a Toronto-based group that also includes Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum.

"Man, f--- Bon Jovi!” Reed said. "You might as well just take this city, throw it in the river, and let it go down Niagara Falls."

Since Bon Jovi's group has close Toronto ties, there is a fear among Bills fans that it would try to relocate the team to Canada.

Reed's comments were apparently part of a conversation with the co-founders of the "Buffalo Fan Alliance," a fan group with the aim of keeping the Bills in the region. The magazine later provided more details from the conversation.

“Now, I ain't gonna lie to you,” Reed said. “One year I went up to Toronto, and man, I had a good-ass time up there.”

“Off the record,” [Buffalo Fan Alliance co-chairman Matt] Sabuda said.

“Off the record -- I had a great time,” Reed said.

A representative for Reed told ESPN that Reed had no further comment on the subject.

While the Toronto Sun reported recently that the Bon Jovi-fronted group wouldn't relocate the Bills to Toronto, the Associated Press reported last week that the group had commissioned a study of possible stadium sites in the Toronto area.

**Easy 6** · 07-29-2014, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inmem58

I'm not covering my ass. I think our defense will be stout. We could be more talented with the corners though. Our offense is going to be horrid. We don't have enough talent to out up points, that's going to be the death of us. I'm not trying to sound negative.

The offense that put up 35+ points per game the last seven games is going to be horrid, now that they're all in the second year of this system?

And that was without Kelce, Harris and an improved (fingers crossed) Hemingway and Jenkins.

**LoneWolf** · 07-29-2014, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

The offense that put up 35+ points per game the last seven games is going to be horrid, now that they're all in the second year of this system?

And that was without Kelce, Harris and an improved (fingers crossed) Hemingway and Jenkins.

Inmem being Inmem. Nothing to see here.

**Iowanian** · 07-30-2014, 09:47 AM

Donkey issues at RB and RT

I make note of this as relevant to the Eric Fisher discussions.....

"Right tackle: Chris Clark has worked with the starters thus far, but the decision hasn’t been made. He has struggled at times with some of the power moves from the Broncos’ defensive linemen in pass rush drills and hasn't always gotten his hands in the right spots on initial contact. He played well in place of an injured Ryan Clady at left tackle last season, but the strong side is a different deal and he hasn't yet slammed the door on the competition for the job

The Broncos can help the right tackle with a tight end if they need to, but would prefer not to have to. So, consider auditions still open, and the position will bear watching in preseason games. "

http://espn.go.com/blog/denver-bronc...l-need-answers

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos haven’t had the usual throngs of their faithful waiting for them when they arrive at the practice field.

They've had no roars of approval for long passes completed or the customary oohs and ahs for interceptions, forced fumbles, and Peyton Manning being Manning.

[+] EnlargeMontee Ball
John Leyba/The Denver Post/Getty Images
Montee Ball seems to have Denver's starting tailback job wrapped up, but who will back him up?
As Manning put it, “It’s kind of going to be on us to keep ourselves going."

The Broncos, who will hold the second of three open-to-the-public practices at Sports Authority Field at Mile High as the $35 million makeover continues at their complex, are a deep team with very few roster spots truly in play. Still, after the first week of training camp, there are some questions they still need to answer in the coming weeks, including:

Depth chart at running back: Montee Ball was handed the starting job in the offseason, much like Ronnie Hillman was a year ago. Hillman didn’t keep the job, but Ball clearly will.

He’s shown vision in the run game, decisiveness in his cuts, and consistent quality work in the passing game. He’s poised for a big season and perhaps even the first 250-carry season for the Broncos since Reuben Droughns had 275 carries in 2004. Knowshon Moreno had 247 in 2009 and 241 last season, while Willis McGahee had 249 in 2011.

Hillman has also responded after a listless 2013. He’s been a little grittier in pass protection and seems to have learned the sometimes painful lesson that he has to stay on his toes to have a chance to stay in the lineup.

C.J. Anderson, Juwan Thompson and Brennan Clay will hash it out for the other spots. Anderson was sluggish in OTAs and minicamp at 234 pounds. After his performance in those offseason workouts, there were plenty of folks with the team who were not confident he would keep a roster spot at that weight.

But he’s about 215 pounds in camp and looks more like the guy who made the roster last seasonas an undrafted rookie. But all three of those backs should be camped out at special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers’ door because the No. 3 running back got all of 55 carries a year ago and might not get anywhere close to that this time around.

Right tackle: Chris Clark has worked with the starters thus far, but the decision hasn’t been made. He has struggled at times with some of the power moves from the Broncos’ defensive linemen in pass rush drills and hasn't always gotten his hands in the right spots on initial contact. He played well in place of an injured Ryan Clady at left tackle last season, but the strong side is a different deal and he hasn't yet slammed the door on the competition for the job

The Broncos can help the right tackle with a tight end if they need to, but would prefer not to have to. So, consider auditions still open, and the position will bear watching in preseason games.

Returner(s): There are some candidates who have flashed some explosiveness such as Hillman, rookie wide receiver Cody Latimer, undrafted rookie Isaiah Burse, Omar Bolden, and Andre Caldwell, among others. But none of them has consistently caught the ball well enough in practice so far to be considered the front runner.

At least one of them has to step forward in the coming weeks in the return game and handle the ball consistently. Otherwise the Broncos will be faced with eschewing the idea of an impact return in lieu of simply fielding the ball without a bobble.

That would be an awful lot of field position left unsecured before the Broncos offense takes the field.

**Iowanian** · 07-30-2014, 09:50 AM

Dolphins are having some Oline issues.

This is somewhat relevant as the Chiefs play Miami in week 3. Pouncy is out 4 weeks and now their backup Center is injured. That puts Poe against a backup-backup.....

Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post reports the Dolphins still have questions at center.
Morning take: Injuries are eating away at this position. Pro Bowl starter Mike Pouncey (hip) is out at least four games and backup Sam Brenner was injured in practice on Tuesday. Miami might have to look for outside options.

Schnitzel · 07-30-2014, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowanian

I don't think Andre Reed or Buffalo fans like Bon Jovi.

I can see why Buffalo fans don't want their team to become the Mounties, but that makes as much sense as 2 teams in LA.

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- The potential for Jon Bon Jovi to be part of a group owning the Buffalo Bills continues to be a sore subject for the team’s fans.

Bills Preseason Live
Follow reporter Mike Rodak's live updates from training camp in Pittsford, New York.
Preseason Live

Count former wide receiver Andre Reed, who will enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame this Saturday, among those irked by Bon Jovi's likely bidding on the franchise.

In a feature piece published Tuesday by New York Magazine, Reed offered a strong opinion on the rock star who is part of a Toronto-based group that also includes Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum.

"Man, f--- Bon Jovi!” Reed said. "You might as well just take this city, throw it in the river, and let it go down Niagara Falls."

Since Bon Jovi's group has close Toronto ties, there is a fear among Bills fans that it would try to relocate the team to Canada.

Reed's comments were apparently part of a conversation with the co-founders of the "Buffalo Fan Alliance," a fan group with the aim of keeping the Bills in the region. The magazine later provided more details from the conversation.

“Now, I ain't gonna lie to you,” Reed said. “One year I went up to Toronto, and man, I had a good-ass time up there.”

“Off the record,” [Buffalo Fan Alliance co-chairman Matt] Sabuda said.

“Off the record -- I had a great time,” Reed said.

A representative for Reed told ESPN that Reed had no further comment on the subject.

While the Toronto Sun reported recently that the Bon Jovi-fronted group wouldn't relocate the Bills to Toronto, the Associated Press reported last week that the group had commissioned a study of possible stadium sites in the Toronto area.

I really like Toronto, it's a great city. But I don't think it would make much sense to move the Bills up there. It's all about hockey (and even a little bit of Basketball lately) there. They can't even sell out the Toronto Series games once a year...

Halfcan · 07-30-2014, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schnitzel

I really like Toronto, it's a great city. But I don't think it would make much sense to move the Bills up there. It's all about hockey (and even a little bit of Basketball lately) there. They can't even sell out the Toronto Series games once a year...

Bon Jovi is a total lip-syncing dbag. I love the line-"we will do everything we can to keep the Bills here." As they are looking for another place to move them.

But **** the Toronto Bills- seems like a perfect fit.

frankotank · 07-30-2014, 11:42 AM

hope this kid makes it.

Former Florida State DB Jajuan Harley turns in Walmart badge for shot with Bills

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – During his lunch break at Walmart, he would seldom eat lunch.

Jajuan Harley ducked into a bathroom, took off his blue shirt with his name tag, changed into workout clothes, and then headed outside to run a steep cement hill until it was time to return to work.

Or he would head to the parking lot of Supercenter Store #1077 on Apalachee Parkway in Tallahassee, Fla., and run around the parking lot, weaving through the rows of shopping cart holders.

Or he would sneak into the fitness section and do some dumbbell curls. Anything to chase a football dream that once seemed so assured.

Five years ago, Harley was a prized recruit, a four-star safety from Tallahassee who ran a 4.3 in the 40-yard dash and bench pressed 400 pounds. On Jan. 1 of this year, only a few miles from the Florida State campus where he was supposed to become a household name, Harley walked away from his $7.73 per hour salary at Walmart to train full time for one more chance at big-time football. He emailed every single NFL team, hoping for a response. Now, a few months later, he's the longest of long shots at Buffalo Bills training camp.

He arrived here with 71 cents in his bank account.

"I'm real stingy about money," Harley said. "I barely buy anything. I go to the cafeteria and I collect food."

Part of the reason for the job and the stinginess is his dad, Jack, who has some respiratory issues and needs an oxygen tank. Harley has always wanted to support him and his mother, Cynthia, who works at a Florida State library. His two dreams, to play and to help others, have always been intertwined. As a high school sophomore, when his school was temporarily without a head coach, Harley led drills by himself.

"For everyone who wanted to work, he controlled everything," said longtime friend Devin Graham, who played with Harley at Rickards High in Tallahassee. "He hosted conditioning after school, and weightlifting."

Harley was a prized prospect, with measurables and highlights to match. He had his choice of Division I schools and went to Florida State in 2009. But he never grew into the star he was expected to be. Harley transferred when FSU made a coaching change, and the new staff wanted him to move to linebacker from safety. Harley played one season at Middle Tennessee State and then chose to leave for the pros. He ran a 4.44 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day in 2013, but there wasn't much film on him, and he wasn't drafted.

"That crushed him," said Jack.

Harley got a shot with Seattle, at the Seahawks' rookie camp. He didn't get signed. He got a look from Denver. Nothing. And at that point he started thinking this wasn't to be. He considered joining the military. He took a job as a sales associate with Walmart, in the toy department. He worked all hours, including overnights, but the toughest shift was Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon: "All the kids would come in," he said, "and just throw the toys on the ground."

Harley's parents would come and visit him at the store, but it was difficult. It didn't seem that long ago that Jajuan was 18 months old, in the backyard with a football, hearing his dad say, "You're going to be the next Charlie Ward."

"It hurt him," said Jack. "It hurt me. It felt like giving up, even though he wasn't. He wanted to make his own money. You see your son working at Walmart, you're like, man."

Harley couldn't give up on the game. He was fast enough, passionate enough. He wasn't too old – only 23. So on Jan. 1 of this year, after the stints running the cement hill and doing loops around shopping carts, Harley decided to commit to football one more time.

It would not be easy.

"Money started running low," he said. "I made sure I had protein and gas money. I couldn't get a haircut at times. It was pretty rough."

At one point, he said, "I went broke."

From his parents' house, he wrote letters and emails to every single NFL team. He even agreed to a deal with the expansion Bemidji Axemen of the Indoor Football League.

But late last January, only a few weeks after he left his toy department job, he got a call from Buffalo.

"I thought it was a joke," he said. "They called me in the middle of a workout. I busted out into tears right there."

After a summer of training and hoping his 1990 Acura didn't break down, Harley is here, with perhaps his last, best chance at catching on in the NFL. He carries the other defensive backs' shoulder pads from practice, and stores his Walmart ID in his locker as a reminder of how this year started.

"It was a tough situation because he was so worried he wouldn't make it to where he wanted to be to support his family," said Graham, his high school friend. "I told him, 'You can't quit. This is what you want in life.' He always was a football player and that's how he lived."

That's how he lives now, at least for a few more days in camp. He's back with former Seminoles teammate EJ Manuel, and a career that spiraled out of his grasp is now, tenuously, still alive.

"If I was drafted," Harley said, "I don't think I would have embraced the moment like I do now."

He woke up on New Year's Day and decided his resolution would be to reach for his wayward dream. Seven months later, he's closer than ever to living it.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/former-...032055441.html

frankotank · 07-30-2014, 12:06 PM

welp....guess he's pretty accurate!

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-sh...022407618.html

07-28-2014, 01:55 PM
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4788454	There's Football Inside Too many topics to combine to a single thread and too many worthy topics get lost. This thread will contain facts, notes, topics and comments that deserve mention and discussion. Feel free to contribute in any meaningful way.
Posts: 61,520

07-29-2014, 08:09 AM	#65
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4788454	Feel good Story about D Bowe and a kid who doesn't........ Is it bad that my first thought after finishing was wondering if DB offered the child a hit of his medical doobie? http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/article...a-05a7e50a5c06
Posts: 61,520

07-29-2014, 10:21 AM	#67
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4788454	I don't think Andre Reed or Buffalo fans like Bon Jovi. I can see why Buffalo fans don't want their team to become the Mounties, but that makes as much sense as 2 teams in LA. http://espn.go.com/blog/buffalo-bill...ds-on-bon-jovi PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- The potential for Jon Bon Jovi to be part of a group owning the Buffalo Bills continues to be a sore subject for the team’s fans. Bills Preseason Live Follow reporter Mike Rodak's live updates from training camp in Pittsford, New York. Preseason Live Count former wide receiver Andre Reed, who will enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame this Saturday, among those irked by Bon Jovi's likely bidding on the franchise. In a feature piece published Tuesday by New York Magazine, Reed offered a strong opinion on the rock star who is part of a Toronto-based group that also includes Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum. "Man, f--- Bon Jovi!” Reed said. "You might as well just take this city, throw it in the river, and let it go down Niagara Falls." Since Bon Jovi's group has close Toronto ties, there is a fear among Bills fans that it would try to relocate the team to Canada. Reed's comments were apparently part of a conversation with the co-founders of the "Buffalo Fan Alliance," a fan group with the aim of keeping the Bills in the region. The magazine later provided more details from the conversation. “Now, I ain't gonna lie to you,” Reed said. “One year I went up to Toronto, and man, I had a good-ass time up there.” “Off the record,” [Buffalo Fan Alliance co-chairman Matt] Sabuda said. “Off the record -- I had a great time,” Reed said. A representative for Reed told ESPN that Reed had no further comment on the subject. While the Toronto Sun reported recently that the Bon Jovi-fronted group wouldn't relocate the Bills to Toronto, the Associated Press reported last week that the group had commissioned a study of possible stadium sites in the Toronto area.
Posts: 61,520

07-30-2014, 09:47 AM	#70
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4788454	Donkey issues at RB and RT I make note of this as relevant to the Eric Fisher discussions..... "Right tackle: Chris Clark has worked with the starters thus far, but the decision hasn’t been made. He has struggled at times with some of the power moves from the Broncos’ defensive linemen in pass rush drills and hasn't always gotten his hands in the right spots on initial contact. He played well in place of an injured Ryan Clady at left tackle last season, but the strong side is a different deal and he hasn't yet slammed the door on the competition for the job The Broncos can help the right tackle with a tight end if they need to, but would prefer not to have to. So, consider auditions still open, and the position will bear watching in preseason games. " http://espn.go.com/blog/denver-bronc...l-need-answers ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos haven’t had the usual throngs of their faithful waiting for them when they arrive at the practice field. They've had no roars of approval for long passes completed or the customary oohs and ahs for interceptions, forced fumbles, and Peyton Manning being Manning. [+] EnlargeMontee Ball John Leyba/The Denver Post/Getty Images Montee Ball seems to have Denver's starting tailback job wrapped up, but who will back him up? As Manning put it, “It’s kind of going to be on us to keep ourselves going." The Broncos, who will hold the second of three open-to-the-public practices at Sports Authority Field at Mile High as the $35 million makeover continues at their complex, are a deep team with very few roster spots truly in play. Still, after the first week of training camp, there are some questions they still need to answer in the coming weeks, including: Depth chart at running back: Montee Ball was handed the starting job in the offseason, much like Ronnie Hillman was a year ago. Hillman didn’t keep the job, but Ball clearly will. He’s shown vision in the run game, decisiveness in his cuts, and consistent quality work in the passing game. He’s poised for a big season and perhaps even the first 250-carry season for the Broncos since Reuben Droughns had 275 carries in 2004. Knowshon Moreno had 247 in 2009 and 241 last season, while Willis McGahee had 249 in 2011. Hillman has also responded after a listless 2013. He’s been a little grittier in pass protection and seems to have learned the sometimes painful lesson that he has to stay on his toes to have a chance to stay in the lineup. C.J. Anderson, Juwan Thompson and Brennan Clay will hash it out for the other spots. Anderson was sluggish in OTAs and minicamp at 234 pounds. After his performance in those offseason workouts, there were plenty of folks with the team who were not confident he would keep a roster spot at that weight. But he’s about 215 pounds in camp and looks more like the guy who made the roster last seasonas an undrafted rookie. But all three of those backs should be camped out at special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers’ door because the No. 3 running back got all of 55 carries a year ago and might not get anywhere close to that this time around. Right tackle: Chris Clark has worked with the starters thus far, but the decision hasn’t been made. He has struggled at times with some of the power moves from the Broncos’ defensive linemen in pass rush drills and hasn't always gotten his hands in the right spots on initial contact. He played well in place of an injured Ryan Clady at left tackle last season, but the strong side is a different deal and he hasn't yet slammed the door on the competition for the job The Broncos can help the right tackle with a tight end if they need to, but would prefer not to have to. So, consider auditions still open, and the position will bear watching in preseason games. Returner(s): There are some candidates who have flashed some explosiveness such as Hillman, rookie wide receiver Cody Latimer, undrafted rookie Isaiah Burse, Omar Bolden, and Andre Caldwell, among others. But none of them has consistently caught the ball well enough in practice so far to be considered the front runner. At least one of them has to step forward in the coming weeks in the return game and handle the ball consistently. Otherwise the Broncos will be faced with eschewing the idea of an impact return in lieu of simply fielding the ball without a bobble. That would be an awful lot of field position left unsecured before the Broncos offense takes the field.
Posts: 61,520

07-30-2014, 09:50 AM	#71
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4788454	Dolphins are having some Oline issues. This is somewhat relevant as the Chiefs play Miami in week 3. Pouncy is out 4 weeks and now their backup Center is injured. That puts Poe against a backup-backup..... Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post reports the Dolphins still have questions at center. Morning take: Injuries are eating away at this position. Pro Bowl starter Mike Pouncey (hip) is out at least four games and backup Sam Brenner was injured in practice on Tuesday. Miami might have to look for outside options.
Posts: 61,520

07-30-2014, 11:42 AM	#74
frankotank I like 'em mustard & biscuits Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: The Hill Casino cash: $10011076	hope this kid makes it. Former Florida State DB Jajuan Harley turns in Walmart badge for shot with Bills ROCHESTER, N.Y. – During his lunch break at Walmart, he would seldom eat lunch. Jajuan Harley ducked into a bathroom, took off his blue shirt with his name tag, changed into workout clothes, and then headed outside to run a steep cement hill until it was time to return to work. Or he would head to the parking lot of Supercenter Store #1077 on Apalachee Parkway in Tallahassee, Fla., and run around the parking lot, weaving through the rows of shopping cart holders. Or he would sneak into the fitness section and do some dumbbell curls. Anything to chase a football dream that once seemed so assured. Five years ago, Harley was a prized recruit, a four-star safety from Tallahassee who ran a 4.3 in the 40-yard dash and bench pressed 400 pounds. On Jan. 1 of this year, only a few miles from the Florida State campus where he was supposed to become a household name, Harley walked away from his $7.73 per hour salary at Walmart to train full time for one more chance at big-time football. He emailed every single NFL team, hoping for a response. Now, a few months later, he's the longest of long shots at Buffalo Bills training camp. He arrived here with 71 cents in his bank account. "I'm real stingy about money," Harley said. "I barely buy anything. I go to the cafeteria and I collect food." Part of the reason for the job and the stinginess is his dad, Jack, who has some respiratory issues and needs an oxygen tank. Harley has always wanted to support him and his mother, Cynthia, who works at a Florida State library. His two dreams, to play and to help others, have always been intertwined. As a high school sophomore, when his school was temporarily without a head coach, Harley led drills by himself. "For everyone who wanted to work, he controlled everything," said longtime friend Devin Graham, who played with Harley at Rickards High in Tallahassee. "He hosted conditioning after school, and weightlifting." Harley was a prized prospect, with measurables and highlights to match. He had his choice of Division I schools and went to Florida State in 2009. But he never grew into the star he was expected to be. Harley transferred when FSU made a coaching change, and the new staff wanted him to move to linebacker from safety. Harley played one season at Middle Tennessee State and then chose to leave for the pros. He ran a 4.44 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day in 2013, but there wasn't much film on him, and he wasn't drafted. "That crushed him," said Jack. Harley got a shot with Seattle, at the Seahawks' rookie camp. He didn't get signed. He got a look from Denver. Nothing. And at that point he started thinking this wasn't to be. He considered joining the military. He took a job as a sales associate with Walmart, in the toy department. He worked all hours, including overnights, but the toughest shift was Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon: "All the kids would come in," he said, "and just throw the toys on the ground." Harley's parents would come and visit him at the store, but it was difficult. It didn't seem that long ago that Jajuan was 18 months old, in the backyard with a football, hearing his dad say, "You're going to be the next Charlie Ward." "It hurt him," said Jack. "It hurt me. It felt like giving up, even though he wasn't. He wanted to make his own money. You see your son working at Walmart, you're like, man." Harley couldn't give up on the game. He was fast enough, passionate enough. He wasn't too old – only 23. So on Jan. 1 of this year, after the stints running the cement hill and doing loops around shopping carts, Harley decided to commit to football one more time. It would not be easy. "Money started running low," he said. "I made sure I had protein and gas money. I couldn't get a haircut at times. It was pretty rough." At one point, he said, "I went broke." From his parents' house, he wrote letters and emails to every single NFL team. He even agreed to a deal with the expansion Bemidji Axemen of the Indoor Football League. But late last January, only a few weeks after he left his toy department job, he got a call from Buffalo. "I thought it was a joke," he said. "They called me in the middle of a workout. I busted out into tears right there." After a summer of training and hoping his 1990 Acura didn't break down, Harley is here, with perhaps his last, best chance at catching on in the NFL. He carries the other defensive backs' shoulder pads from practice, and stores his Walmart ID in his locker as a reminder of how this year started. "It was a tough situation because he was so worried he wouldn't make it to where he wanted to be to support his family," said Graham, his high school friend. "I told him, 'You can't quit. This is what you want in life.' He always was a football player and that's how he lived." That's how he lives now, at least for a few more days in camp. He's back with former Seminoles teammate EJ Manuel, and a career that spiraled out of his grasp is now, tenuously, still alive. "If I was drafted," Harley said, "I don't think I would have embraced the moment like I do now." He woke up on New Year's Day and decided his resolution would be to reach for his wayward dream. Seven months later, he's closer than ever to living it. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/former-...032055441.html __________________ A naked American man stole my balloons.
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07-30-2014, 12:06 PM	#75
frankotank I like 'em mustard & biscuits Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: The Hill Casino cash: $10011076	welp....guess he's pretty accurate! http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-sh...022407618.html __________________ A naked American man stole my balloons.
Posts: 6,787