ChWRoCk2 Posted May 5, 2007 Share Posted May 5, 2007 (edited) Justin Gaitlin is going to tryout out for the Buccaneers for a wide receiver spot. Found this interesting, we all know hes fast, and appearently he played little football at Tenn so who knows. Gatlin has tryout with Buccaneers May 5, 2007 TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Olympic 100-meter champion Justin Gatlin, facing a track and field suspension of up to eight years for failing a drug test last summer, is trying to launch a career in pro football as a wide receiver with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "If (his speed) can transfer to football, you have a real threat," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "If it can't, then it won't work." Gatlin, who is participating in the Bucs' rookie mini-camp this weekend, said he last played football during his freshman year at Tennessee. He then concentrated on track, winning the 100 meters at the 2004 Athens Olympics and equaling the world record of Jamaica's Asafa Powell at 9.77 seconds. "This is where I want to be," Gatlin said. "I didn't come here on my high horse, all mighty, and saying give me a locker and let me do what I want to do. I'm starting from the ground up, and that's where I want to start." Gatlin said he worked out with Arizona and Houston. The Bucs have been the only team to bring him in for a formal workout. The team will decide after this weekend whether to sign Gatlin and bring him back for the club's next mini-camp. "He won a gold medal. He wants to give this a shot, and this is a good launching pad to see how quickly he picks it up, how natural he is and how far he has to go," Gruden said. Gatlin faces the suspension following a positive test for testosterone and other steroids at the Kansas Relays last April. His appeal is pending and he said Friday that he has not given up hope of resuming his career as a sprinter. In the meantime, he will try to make the transition from fastest man in the world to football -- as Bob Hayes did more than four decades ago. But he knows there is a lot more to making an NFL team than being the first runner to the finish line. "Track and field, you go out there and run, you're the fastest guy, that's what it is, you're the fastest guy," Gatlin said. "In football you might have the fastest go route or the sickest cuts out there, but if you ain't what they're looking for out on this field then take a number and get in line." Edited May 5, 2007 by ChWRoCk2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasox24 Posted May 5, 2007 Share Posted May 5, 2007 I wouldn't expect him to make it. He and Jonathan Wade (who just got drafted) were both track stars that also played football. Wade had what it took, and now he's in the NFL. Gatlin didn't, so he focused on track. Anything can happen, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChWRoCk2 Posted May 6, 2007 Author Share Posted May 6, 2007 QUOTE(dasox24 @ May 5, 2007 -> 11:55 AM) I wouldn't expect him to make it. He and Jonathan Wade (who just got drafted) were both track stars that also played football. Wade had what it took, and now he's in the NFL. Gatlin didn't, so he focused on track. Anything can happen, though. If Im Tampa Bay I would be somewhat intrigued by the idea. Fastest man in the world trying out for wideout, only question is can he play? When you look at it he will be one of the faster players on the field, he should know how to run routes from Tennessee. Difference maker will be his catching, getting hit, and awareness. Id like to see him make it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggsmaggs Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 Jason Capel, former Bear draft pick from Florida, I think, was a track star and Olympic qualifier who played football and he wasn't able to do the football thing. I dunno how he stopped playing football: own will or suckage, but he didn't last long. Gatlin may have track speed straight away, but cutting and keeping momentum and dodging NFL players while doing so is a completely different ballgame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalapse Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 What happens the first time he's asked to piss in a cup? That'll kill the NFL dream pretty quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve9347 Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 (edited) that's pretty interesting... didnt Gatlin test positive for a performance enhancer a while back? EDIT: helps to read the story... yes,yes he did. Edited May 7, 2007 by Steve9347 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHammer Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Capel was cut because he was caught with weed or something for the 2nd time in training camp if i remember right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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