Thread: Aussies in the NFL

I knew there was one so I researched it and found three Australians in the NFL:

Darren Bennett - New Orleans Saints

Matt McBriar - Dallas Cowboys

Ben Graham - New York Jets

These guys are all like 6' 5", 230 and are all punters. Bennett is the one I was referring to in another thread.

Any of you rugby fans know if they all played rugby ? Why do Aussies make such good kickers for the NFL ? There are more of them on the way to the NFL via NFL Europe.

Anybody know how many Americans there are playing pro soccer (football in Europe ) ?

I believe that McBriar played Rugby League, the other 2 played Aussie Rules.
The Aussie rules guys make good kickers because that is what Aussie rules is all about, or used to be, kicking the ball long.
There is another guy here that wants to have a go after he finishes playing here.

i find it incredible that people get paid just to come on and kick the ball.
gotta be easier than running round an aussie rules oval for hours, those pitches are mind bogglingly huge.

CMN,

Can you believe the median salary for punters/kickers in the NFL is over $650,000 per year ? Can you believe that's the highest median salary for all positions in the NFL ? Incredible. What do players get payed to play professional rugby ?

200,000 pounds a year tops for internationals, excluding endorsements. there might be a few exceptions.

NFL is a field position game, kickers are an important part of field position play. Place kickers and Punters are a huge part of special teams play and special teams are 25% of the game so it makes sense that they would be well remunerated.

They are also extremely important players in rugby, 40 % of all points come from goal kicking, place kickrers in rugby do all the other stuff as well like tackling and running and passing.
They still manage to pick themselves up and do the specialist stuff too.

One of those Aussie guys kicked a 65 yard field goal in a pre-season game which would be a record for a regular game. Right now the Aussie guys are popular to be Ps/Ks in the NFL ... for years it was the Hispanic cats.

It ain't just the NFL ... more people in the countries who can kick should realize that college scholarships can be had as well ... easily if you can kick. I guarantee you Bobby Bowden at Florida State would love to have an accurate Aussie kicker.

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

Anybody know how many Americans there are playing pro soccer (football in Europe ) ?

I found this about the EPL...

Americans playing in The English Premier League:

Carlos Bocanegra - Fulham

Brad Friedel - Blackburn Rovers

Tim Howard - Manchester United FC

Kasey Keller - Tottenham Hotspur

Brian McBride - Fulham

Claudio Reyna - Manchester City

Frank Simek - Arsenal
(on loan to Queens Park Rangers, English League Championship)

Jonathon Spector - Manchester United FC -> Charlton Athletic

Is Tim Howard the goalie ?

Yes, so is Kasey Keller.

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

Is Tim Howard the goalie ?

He is a goalie, yes, but he plays second fiddle to a Dutch dude now (actually, I'm not sure if he's even with Man U anymore).

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

Yes, so is Kasey Keller.

Who does he play for in the Premiership?

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

Yes, so is Kasey Keller.

Who does he play for in the Premiership?

"On January 15, 2005, Keller joined German Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach on a free transfer during the Bundesliga's winter break."

Well, it's in Europe.

What do they think of Freddie Adu over there in Europe ? Could he play there ?

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

What do they think of Freddie Adu over there in Europe ? Could he play there ?

Who's that then?

I'll look him up....

Fredua Koranteng "Freddy" Adu (born June 2, 1989 in Tema, Ghana) is an American soccer player who gained fame when, at the age of 14, he became the youngest professional athlete in modern history when he signed a professional contract with the MLS, an American based pro soccer league. Adu is widely regarded as the most exciting young player on the planet [1]. Adu left Ghana with his family in 1997, and is now a resident of Potomac, Maryland in the United States and a U.S. citizen, where he went to The Heights School.

At age 13, Adu joined the Bradenton Academy, U.S. Soccer’s full-time residency program, in January 2002. Some major European teams looked into the possibility of signing Adu but did not due to employment legislation in Britain that states players cannot join FA Premier League teams professionally until they turn 17; before this they are limited to very low paying apprenticeship contracts. Adu's agent opted for a contract in the United States, partially because of the financial situation, but also because joining MLS gave the young player the opportunity to play professional soccer very near to his home in Potomac, Maryland.

^
I know.

I remember reading in Sports Illustrated a few years ago that they were comparing him (Adu) to a young Pele. But it looks like you guys haven't payed him too much attention.

Just like the Japanese who are determined to give the MLB a shot ... I betcha young Freddie will be in Europe before he's 22. Unless the money just is too big a difference.

getting away from the topic aren't we lads

Originally Posted by teko

getting away from the topic aren't we lads

Get used to it.

I'll get us back on track. We Aussies (Vics, Croweaters & Sandgropers) just love dropping a torpie (spiral punt) 50 odd yards. I still go out an have a run every now and again. Happy 2 say I've still got all the skills.

A 3.5 second hang time is about the best I can do.... and I'm a rover.

Ben Graham once kick the ball 90 metres. It went over the centreline @ Kardinia Park.

Bennett even lays touchdown saving tackles.

If Malcolm Blight had've done a similar thing 25 years back the US football public would've been blown away. His spirals were legendary.

Do you have a runout with the Tigers, Maggie?

Kiwi used to play in the NFL.......real position too.....not some poncy kicker....got some SB rings as well.....

who can name him?

That I do, Marmers.