With all of Kobe's talk lately about how he could play in the NFL... and also the MLB, I got to thinking how many athletes could play across league lines. There are probably not enough at each position to make an entire team, but I tried my best to formulate a squad that could play on Sunday's. What I found was semi-expected, the NBA is LOADED with WR's and TE's. You can find a decent amount of corners, but most of them are too big to play at the corner. Here is my best 22 that I could put out onto the field on Sundays.
Quarterback - Allen Iverson 6'0 180
I know AI is not the prototypical passer for the NFL, but he earns this position based on what he has done in the past. He excelled in a fairly talent-laden state of Virginia in football leading his team to a state championship. He was a playermaker on the field at all positions. In the state football championship, he passed for 201 yards, returned a punt for a 60-yard touchdown and intercepted two passes; three days later, he scored 37 points in in the basketball opener.
With the way this team is setup, they don't need a precision passer who is stuck in the pocket. AI would be used on the run, being rolled out and letting the WRs make the plays. AI would just have to keep plays alive and put the ball in the general vicinity of the playmakers.
The throw @ 1:27 gives me the impression that AI would make this offense work.
Running Back: Dwyane Wade 6'4 220
Dwade is without a doubt tough. He is solid. He is shifty. He is fast. He has great vision on the basketball court, and he has superior body control. He is a bit tall to play NFL running back, but there have been some recent success out of these big backs. Wade has nearly the exact measureables of Texans running back Chris Brown -- who has had solid success in the NFL.
Wade has the resilicency that NFL backs needs to continue to get back up.
Left Tackle, Shaquille O'Neal 7'1 325
This may have been the easiest pick. I could've thought about Dwight Howard here, but Shaq's girth is what sets him apart. The reach of someone 7'1 at LT will make it real tough to get around him. If Shaq learned effectively how to use his hands and could add a little more weight (something I sure he'd love to do) Shaq would be able to shut people down off the edge. Think about how long it takes to get around the reach of a 7'1 tackle. Shaq has excellent feet and superb strength which combine to make him a great blindside protector for AI.
Left Guard, Robert "Tractor" Traylor 6'8 290
Tractor makes this squad because he was on the Cavs Summer League Team, and thats good enough to be able to make the NFL team. Traylor is a large man, who is very quick for his size. He carries his weight well, and would be able to pull and get down field to block well - making him a great fit to be a solid guard lead blocking downfield for DWade.
Center, Glen "Big Baby" Davis 6'9 290 Although I truly believe now that Glen Davis is basically a woman (see 2nd video below) his size and strength makes him a good fit for this offensive line. Good mobility, and decent feet, put him on about the same scouting report as Tractor Traylor. A solid player, could atleast be Manuel Wright.
Manuel Wright was like the Jackie Robinson of large men crying.
Big Baby has a hormone imbalance that makes him very emotional sometimes, OKAY?! Right Guard, Eddy Curry 6'11 285
If Eddy Curry could pass the physical... and if he had the stamina... he would be a nice addition on this line. He is a fairly physical player who will bang some bodies on the inside. 6'11 is massive for a RG, but with limited selections of big bodies, Eddy Curry will suffice. Curry grew up dreaming to be a gymnast (not a joke), and may enjoy contact with other men ("Knicks' Eddy Curry sued by limo driver for sexual harrassment and racial slurs") so that combination of graceful feet and the want for contact should make him a solid player on the line.
Right Tackle, Kendrick Perkins, 6'10 270
The reason Kendrick gets this nod is that he is a little lighter than most of the other people on this line. Kendrick does have a good wingspan which would allow for many of the same advantages that Shaq can offer. I would not expect Perkins to play with the same meanstreak that Shaq would offer. Perkins would have to add some weight, and stop being such a complainer (see my previous article for reasons behind Kendrick hate). Perkins would most likely be the weak point on this line.
