David Harding
TheDevourerChris Bryan, next NFL punter?
March 11th 2010 14:14
It seems that Chris Bryan, a former ruckman for both Collingwood and Carlton in the AFL could be heaed to the NFL to join an NFL side as a punter. The rumour was that in February the ruckman who was de-listed from the Collingwood list in October was close to signing a deal with an NFL side once his dream of playing AFL again this season was dealt a blow when Hawthorn, the team he was hoping to be drafted by decided to take former Bulldog Wayde Skipper, and not Bryan.
Former AFL player and NFL punter Nathan Chapman who is Director and Coach of Prokick Australia with ex NFL and CFL free agent placekicker John.A.Smith. ProKick Australia is an American Football punting and placekicking school in Australia which trains and assesses Australians to the standard required for NCAA,NFL and CFL punting and placekicking positions has been reportedly looking to send Bryan to the NFL.
ProKick Australia had current Brisbane Rookie Sam Coulston, and former AFL star Nick Davis trying out to become punters, well Sam was invited along by fan of the program team mate Jonathon Brown, who has had interest himself, should his AFL career come to an end.
Currently Nick Davis is looking to become an NFL punter, his AFL career has come to an end, and he was supposedly also close to signing with an NFL team as well. It seems to be an interestinf development if Chris Bryan does sign with an NFL team, some would say he was a below average footballer with both Carlton and Collingwood, with the Magpies he showed a bit of talent and looked like he might have been able to assist the Magpies in their ruck problems, but struggling to break on through to the Pies best 22 all season he was let go.
His former team mate, and brother of current Eagle punter Saverio Rocca, Anthony Rocca is also looking to become a punter himself, taking one year off to heal his body. So can Bryan take the step from being an average footballer to an NFL punter?
It doesn't seem like a stretch, it seems more surprising that he would go this route, but it does seem that a lot of former AFL players are looking at maybe going through the motions of being an NFL punter. I still wonder, will we ever see an NFL player switch codes, and remove the pads to be an AFL footballer? I doubt they will, not because of the pad things that sees many Australians bag the sport of the NFL, but just the development of skills, a ruckman for example generally takes 4-5 years to break into being a servicable ruckman, and it will take the player some time to pick up the game as well, Marty Clarke of Gaelic Football fame managed to pick up the game fast and became a talented player for the Magpies before he called it quits and headed back to Ireland.
So far there has been no reports on him signing yet with a club, nor has there been a report of Nick Davis and how he was going in his quest to join the ranks of the NFL. Fun times ahead for the man known as "Bear" I am sure a lot of Collingwood supporters are wishing Chris "Bear" Bryan all the best, if they aren't, well I am, good luck Chris, I hope you can find yourself an NFL career.
Former AFL player and NFL punter Nathan Chapman who is Director and Coach of Prokick Australia with ex NFL and CFL free agent placekicker John.A.Smith. ProKick Australia is an American Football punting and placekicking school in Australia which trains and assesses Australians to the standard required for NCAA,NFL and CFL punting and placekicking positions has been reportedly looking to send Bryan to the NFL.
ProKick Australia had current Brisbane Rookie Sam Coulston, and former AFL star Nick Davis trying out to become punters, well Sam was invited along by fan of the program team mate Jonathon Brown, who has had interest himself, should his AFL career come to an end.
Currently Nick Davis is looking to become an NFL punter, his AFL career has come to an end, and he was supposedly also close to signing with an NFL team as well. It seems to be an interestinf development if Chris Bryan does sign with an NFL team, some would say he was a below average footballer with both Carlton and Collingwood, with the Magpies he showed a bit of talent and looked like he might have been able to assist the Magpies in their ruck problems, but struggling to break on through to the Pies best 22 all season he was let go.
His former team mate, and brother of current Eagle punter Saverio Rocca, Anthony Rocca is also looking to become a punter himself, taking one year off to heal his body. So can Bryan take the step from being an average footballer to an NFL punter?
It doesn't seem like a stretch, it seems more surprising that he would go this route, but it does seem that a lot of former AFL players are looking at maybe going through the motions of being an NFL punter. I still wonder, will we ever see an NFL player switch codes, and remove the pads to be an AFL footballer? I doubt they will, not because of the pad things that sees many Australians bag the sport of the NFL, but just the development of skills, a ruckman for example generally takes 4-5 years to break into being a servicable ruckman, and it will take the player some time to pick up the game as well, Marty Clarke of Gaelic Football fame managed to pick up the game fast and became a talented player for the Magpies before he called it quits and headed back to Ireland.
So far there has been no reports on him signing yet with a club, nor has there been a report of Nick Davis and how he was going in his quest to join the ranks of the NFL. Fun times ahead for the man known as "Bear" I am sure a lot of Collingwood supporters are wishing Chris "Bear" Bryan all the best, if they aren't, well I am, good luck Chris, I hope you can find yourself an NFL career.
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Comment by Anonymous
They need proper coaching & to learn the game in the USA.
To make it in the league a kicker needs college coaching by ex NFL players or credential coaches.
They need to attend camps in the USA to have any chance.
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Comment by Anonymous
We need our coaches down under finding these rugby guys and getting them over here.
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Anonymous
As for the transfer of players from the US to Aus, most American football players do not kick, at all. Most of our kickers are the smallest (and many times least athletic) of the players. A guy like Bryan is huge for a punter or kicker in the NFL. The rest of our players couldn't kick the ball well enough to play Aussie rules.
As for the pad thing. Again it is a different game. The way American football is set up, people would probably get killed if they didn't wear pads. There is a reason that these Aussie football players are looked at as punters and not positional players. That doesn't take away from anything that Aussie rules players do, its just a different game.