Quote :

"The Texans didn't make a big deal out of the Tuesday visit. They looked at Gatlin like they did two other receivers: Kevin McMahan of Maine and Jovan Witherspoon of Central Michigan. NFL teams usually bring in players for Tuesday workouts while the 53 players on the regular roster take a day off. The only difference in this workout was the name recognition of Gatlin, the 100-meter gold medal winner in the 2004 Summer Olympics. Gatlin holds the world record for running the 100 meters in 9.76 seconds. In April, he tested positive for the banned substance testosterone and accepted an eight-year ban from track and field. Though the Texans wouldn't be willing to sign him for this season, they are one of the first NFL teams to look at him for future contracts, which teams can start signing in late December. Texans coach Gary Kubiak said team officials told Gatlin he was "very impressive.'" "I'm sure it would be a big step for him to step up and start playing football," Kubiak said. "But that looks like it's something that he's interested in." The reason for the slow reaction by NFL teams to Gatlin's availability is his lack of football experience. At the University of Tennessee he ran track instead of playing football. He hadn't played football since 10th grade. Still, he's an interesting athlete to study. He's 6-foot-1, 180-pounds and only 24 years old. His agent is former track star Renaldo Nehemiah. Kubiak said he isn't worried about the steroids matter, because the NFL is allowing him to work out for teams. "It was positive," Kubiak said of the workout. "He did a good job. Some of our people who were over there watching him were amazed at how fast he ran. I don't even know if he was full speed at that time. But he did catch the ball pretty good.""

there was a guy that the Cowboys had a while back who was a track star, and no one could catch him... me and my roommates couldnt figure out his name though

good for him, i hope he makes it

11/30/2006 9:45:28 AM

^His name was "Bullet" Bob Hayes.

As long as he can catch and take a hit, he can play like in the slot WR position. He will learn how to block, and I forgot, he does need to learn how to run a route, but you know, a go route is probably all he needs to run.

[Edited on November 30, 2006 at 9:54 AM. Reason : blah]

11/30/2006 9:47:04 AM

awesome, thanks

yeah i mean they said he caught well, and you know if someone bites on an inside turn or shoulder fake he will dust them on a go rout

the pads wont take much off his time

11/30/2006 9:50:15 AM

I dont think he will need to do any kind of fake or juke to get by the cornerbacks, just take off full speed at the snap and you'll blow right by the defender

11/30/2006 10:02:20 AM

Quote :

"In April, he tested positive for the banned substance testosterone and accepted an eight-year ban from track and field."

11/30/2006 10:02:46 AM

he won't blow by everyone

11/30/2006 10:03:13 AM

^^Yeah, that's a problem.

11/30/2006 10:03:58 AM

^Not that big of one...He was banned for 8 years in running not football. Dont take the shit and let it get out of your system and you are good to go.

Im sure the nfl will test him on a regular basis but he didnt use roids in the NFL.

At least thats how I would think it would work.

[Edited on November 30, 2006 at 10:32 AM. Reason : ninja]

11/30/2006 10:11:30 AM

Quote :

"a go route is probably all he needs to run."

yep

Quote :

"he won't blow by everyone"

you'll be surprised, thing is he not only accelerates fast he continues to accelerate the entire time he will run....

[Edited on November 30, 2006 at 10:16 AM. Reason : pwnage]

11/30/2006 10:13:48 AM

That'll be awesome if he caught a TD pass and he kept going and ran into the goalpost.

11/30/2006 10:17:33 AM

^ just make sure he runs all his 100 meters before the endzone

11/30/2006 10:18:25 AM

I'm not really anti-roids, but in my point of view, this sends a pretty poor message about 'roids from the NFL.

11/30/2006 10:19:23 AM

Its not like they let him suit up right after he was banned from track and field. he will certainly have to be clean before he's ever allowed to play.

11/30/2006 10:29:01 AM

^^ So you think people should be just banned from everything for life after testing positive?

The guy has crazy speed, according to espn his forty time is something like 3.9.

He won't be able to block for shit though.

11/30/2006 10:36:53 AM

What's stoping the cover guy from just starting 15-20 yards back? Let him run his go route and cover him deep. Meh.

He'll have to do more than just run fast to succeed. He'll have to learn routes, how to block, how to catch, etc.

11/30/2006 10:48:31 AM

i cant wait to see a safety lay the smack down on this guy for the first time

11/30/2006 10:50:37 AM

haha, I worked out with Gatlin about 3 years ago at Paul Derr track.

11/30/2006 11:01:32 AM

Quote :

"He will learn how to block, and I forgot, he does need to learn how to run a route."

11/30/2006 11:03:12 AM

Theres no telling how fast he might be in pads. Might slow him down considerably.

11/30/2006 11:07:48 AM

Quote :

"^^ So you think people should be just banned from everything for life after testing positive?"

Nope.

11/30/2006 11:08:09 AM

Quote :

"Theres no telling how fast he might be in pads. Might slow him down considerably."

wr pads aren't all that much really...

they don't time folks at combines in pads do they? (not sure)

11/30/2006 11:13:49 AM

he can run as fast as he wants to, the fact is he still has to get by 11 guys before he can score. I doubt he can take the pain of football.

11/30/2006 11:20:23 AM

Who cares? His career in track is over. He's got nothing to lose.

11/30/2006 11:21:13 AM

Quote :

"His career in track is over. He's got nothing to lose."

pretty much

11/30/2006 11:21:42 AM

I'm sure he could be a force on special teams even if or until he is good to go at slot receiver.

11/30/2006 11:36:16 AM

Quote :

"What's stoping the cover guy from just starting 15-20 yards back? Let him run his go route and cover him deep. Meh."

Then they could throw it to him all day at the line of scrimmage and get 10 yards a play.

THINK ABOUT IT.

11/30/2006 11:42:27 AM

he could be like michael bates (olympic sprinter and the original panthers kick returner). guy used to make the probowl every year.

11/30/2006 11:50:37 AM

last night on sportscenter, stuart scott was talking about this and he said that gatlin runs between a 3.8-3.9 in the 40. while i find that hard to believe, if its true, thats atleast 2 tenths of a second faster than anyone else in the NFL(and probably half a second faster than the average DB)...if he learns to run some routes and has (or develops) decent hands, he can play in the NFL.

11/30/2006 11:56:23 AM

yeah i dont think he should be held out of football for what he tested for in track

plus he should be clean and its out of his system by now and i know they will test him

but why would we give this guy shit but no one is really saying much about "Lights Out" coming back this week for the Chargers... steriods is a subject that really brings out the hypocrites

I met Gatlin out on Paul derr track one day as well during my fitness walking class... his warmup laps where he was "jogging" still seemed like 30 seconds

11/30/2006 1:04:47 PM

A talented WR, whether is be their speed that mights them talented, or their route running or their catching ability, it totally changes the dynamic of the team and the type of defenses the other teams will be fored to play because of it.

11/30/2006 1:21:21 PM

just with this guy lined up the defense would totally have to change coverage

whether u play man with a DB lined up 20 yards back, that creates an easy stretch play for the RB.
if you bring over a safety in zone coverage that creates a mismatch on the opposite side of the field.

if he lines up slot it creates problems for the LBs

basically he would do what steve smith does just on every single play.

11/30/2006 1:25:17 PM

http://www.thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=410498&page=6

11/30/2006 1:42:05 PM