candyman93 Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 (edited) 37 minutes ago, ET80 said: From what I've been told - Sumo wrestlers in Japan are like demigods, they're basically royalty out there. Why leave that sort of setup? So you can receive the love and affection of being a Houston Texan from ET80? I heard that dude still has a Andre Johnson shrine in his closet next to his #5 voodoo doll. Edited June 21, 2019 by candyman93 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ET80 Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 59 minutes ago, candyman93 said: So you can receive the love and affection of being a Houston Texan from ET80? I heard that dude still has a Andre Johnson shrine in his closet next to his #5 voodoo doll. If I could only stop breaking into DeAndre Hopkins' house and watching him sleep, I'm sure this would be a compelling argument. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superman(DH23) Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 11 hours ago, tannenballs said: Is LDT for the Chiefs the only international player that starts? Not even close 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tannenballs Posted June 22, 2019 Author Share Posted June 22, 2019 1 hour ago, Superman(DH23) said: Not even close Who else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas5737 Posted June 22, 2019 Share Posted June 22, 2019 Birthplace Nationality Player Position First year Team  Albania  Albania Kristjan Sokoli DE 2015 Free agent  Angola  Canada Christo Bilukidi DE 2012 Free agent  Australia  Australia Jordan Berry P 2015 Pittsburgh Steelers  Australia  Australia Michael Dickson P 2018 Seattle Seahawks  Australia  Australia Lac Edwards P 2016 New York Jets  Australia  Australia Adam Gotsis DE 2016 Denver Broncos  Australia  Australia Tom Hackett P 2016 Free agent  Australia  Australia Cameron Johnston P 2017 Philadelphia Eagles  Australia  Australia Jordan Mailata OT 2018 Philadelphia Eagles  Australia  Australia Brad Wing P 2013 Free Agent  Australia  Australia Mitch Wishnowsky P 2019 San Francisco 49ers  Belize  Belize Rakeem Nuñez-Roches NT 2015 Tampa Bay Buccaneers  Brazil  Brazil Cairo Santos K 2014 Tampa Bay Buccaneers  Cameroon  Cameroon Arie Kouandjio OG 2015 Free Agent  Cameroon  Cameroon Cyrus Kouandjio OG 2014 Free Agent  Cameroon  Cameroon Steve Longa LB 2016 Detroit Lions  Canada  Canada Eli Ankou DT 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars  Canada  Canada Antony Auclair TE 2017 Tampa Bay Buccaneers  Canada  Canada Brett Boyko OG 2015 Free Agent  Canada  Canada Stefan Charles DT 2013 Free Agent  Canada  Canada Christian Covington DT 2015 Dallas Cowboys  Canada  Canada Tyrone Crawford DT 2012 Dallas Cowboys  Canada  Canada Laurent Duvernay-Tardif OT 2014 Kansas City Chiefs  Canada  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines N'Keal Harry WR 2019 New England Patriots  Canada  United States T. J. Jones WR 2014 Free Agent  Canada  Canada Brett Jones C 2015 Minnesota Vikings  Canada  Canada L. P. Ladouceur LS 2005 Dallas Cowboys  Canada  Canada Austin Pasztor OT 2012 Tennessee Titans  Canada  Canada Jon Ryan P 2006 Free agent  Canada  Canada Nathan Shepherd DE 2018 New York Jets  Canada  Canada Brent Urban DE 2014 Tennessee Titans  Canada  Canada Luke Willson TE 2013 Oakland Raiders  Democratic Republic of the Congo  Canada Boseko Lokombo LB 2017 Free agent  Democratic Republic of the Congo  Canada Andy Mulumba LB 2013 Free agent  Denmark  Denmark Hjalte Froholdt OG 2019 New England Patriots  England  United Kingdom Jay Ajayi RB 2015 Free Agent  England  United Kingdom Jack Crawford DT 2012 Atlanta Falcons  England  United Kingdom Jermaine Eluemunor OL 2017 Free Agent  England  United Kingdom Alex Gray TE 2017 Atlanta Falcons  England  United Kingdom Menelik Watson OT 2013 Free Agent  Estonia  Estonia Margus Hunt DE 2013 Indianapolis Colts  France  France Anthony Dablé WR 2016 Free agent  Germany  Germany Moritz Böhringer WR 2016 Cincinnati Bengals  Germany  Germany/ United States Kasim Edebali OLB 2014 Cincinnati Bengals  Germany  United States Mike Jenkins CB 2008 Free agent  Germany  Germany Mark Nzeocha LB 2015 San Francisco 49ers  Ghana  Ghana Ezekiel Ansah DE 2013 Free Agent  Haiti  Haiti Dadi Nicolas LB 2016 Free Agent  Italy  Italy Giorgio Tavecchio K 2012 Atlanta Falcons  Jamaica  Jamaica Corey Ballentine CB 2019 New York Giants  Jamaica  Jamaica Patrick Chung S 2009 New England Patriots  Jamaica  Jamaica/ United States Danielle Hunter DE 2015 Minnesota Vikings  Japan  United States DaeSean Hamilton WR 2018 Denver Broncos  Kenya  Kenya Rees Odhiambo OG 2016 Arizona Cardinals  Liberia  Liberia Jehu Chesson WR 2017 Washington Redskins  Liberia  Liberia Kelvin Harmon WR 2019 Washington Redskins  Liberia  Liberia Jonathan Massaquoi LB 2012 Free agent  New Zealand  New Zealand Paul Lasike FB 2015 Free agent  Nigeria  Nigeria /  United States Nelson Agholor WR 2015 Philadelphia Eagles  Nigeria  Nigeria Ade Aruna DE 2018 Minnesota Vikings  Nigeria  Nigeria Jeremiah Attaochu LB 2014 Kansas City Chiefs  Nigeria  Nigeria Ben Banogu DE 2019 Indianapolis Colts  Nigeria  Nigeria Obum Gwacham DE 2015 Free Agent  Nigeria  United States Leon Jacobs LB 2018 Jacksonville Jaguars  Nigeria  United Kingdom Efe Obada LB 2015 Carolina Panthers  Nigeria  Nigeria Chukwuma Okorafor OT 2018 Pittsburgh Steelers  Nigeria  Nigeria/ Canada David Onyemata DT 2016 New Orleans Saints  Scotland  United Kingdom/ United States Graham Gano K 2009 Carolina Panthers  South Africa  South Africa Greg Joseph K 2018 Cleveland Browns  Spain  Spain/ United States JJ Arcega-Whiteside WR 2019 Philadelphia Eagles  Tonga  Tonga Star Lotulelei DT 2013 Buffalo Bills  Turkey  Turkey/ United States Chris Conley WR 2015 Jacksonville Jaguars  United States  Canada /  United States Brett Rypien QB 2019 Denver Broncos  United States  Germany /  United States Equanimeous St. Brown WR 2018 Green Bay Packers  United States  Spain /  United States Alejandro Villanueva OT 2014 Pittsburgh Steelers  Zimbabwe  Zimbabwe Stansly Maponga DE 2013 Free agent This sports-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.  Not many starters there and many are essentially out of the league but still interesting to look at. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wyld Stallyns Posted June 23, 2019 Share Posted June 23, 2019 3 Colts on that list (Margus Hunt, Ben Banogu and Dadi Nicholas-incorrectly listed as a free agent) and 1, Obum Gwacham who was with us for a hot second.   I think the biggest difference between the NBA and NFL is that unless an overseas player comes to play college football in the states the level of competition just isn’t relatable enough to judge. At least in basketball there was high level competition outside the states already but now even more players come here to play basketball to show off their skills to a broader audience. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwibrown Posted June 24, 2019 Share Posted June 24, 2019 Aussie rules breeds punters which is interesting. Obviously it is a specific skill, that translates well.  2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Small Town Values Posted June 25, 2019 Share Posted June 25, 2019 On 6/24/2019 at 9:03 AM, Wyld Stallyns said: 3 Colts on that list (Margus Hunt, Ben Banogu and Dadi Nicholas-incorrectly listed as a free agent) and 1, Obum Gwacham who was with us for a hot second.   I think the biggest difference between the NBA and NFL is that unless an overseas player comes to play college football in the states the level of competition just isn’t relatable enough to judge. At least in basketball there was high level competition outside the states already but now even more players come here to play basketball to show off their skills to a broader audience. Nailed it. Basketball benefits from global pro leagues. While football is indeed played around the world, it's pretty much an amateur sport in those nations. So, for internationals it's pretty much no college ball, no bueno. Imo - football needs an abbreviated form of the game (Not flag) that's easier to pick up & can be played at a higher level in nations without the necessary resources to create a full scale pro league. Something similar to Rugby Sevens which has seen both the US Men's & Women's teams go from making up the numbers to legitimate contenders. And produced an American back to back World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year in Perry Baker. Baker is without doubt one of the best to ever play rugby's abbreviated form. Had he transitioned to rugby earlier in his career he'd probably be a world class fifteens (Full version) outside back  too.   2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boknows34 Posted June 26, 2019 Share Posted June 26, 2019 Christian Wade is an English international in rugby union who signed for the Buffalo Bills a few months ago as a running back. Wade is an explosive and elusive 5-8 scatback type runner with good vision and cutting ability. He played rugby at the highest level and will be on the Bills practice squad this season as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway programme. For an NFL comparison think of him as rugby’s version of Tarik Cohen.  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hitch Posted June 26, 2019 Share Posted June 26, 2019 as i understand in America kids are taught to play Football at school from an early age.  In europe, some schools teach sports (obviously not American football) but from my experience, at least growing up in the 90's, we play sports a little at school but mostly in our free time on the streets or in parks.  richer kids may go to schools were a specific sport is taught (eg rugby) or go to private clubs (like sign up for youth teams of professional clubs. Barcelona eg has youth teams going down to like age 5 iirc. But that will be very selective, you need to have connections to get into places like that.)  Kids who would be good at American Football - growing up in Europe, will never get into American Football because they will never come across it at School. They will never have had the coaches teaching them the ins and outs of their particular position, when they are younger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N4L Posted June 26, 2019 Share Posted June 26, 2019 On 6/23/2019 at 5:56 PM, Kiwibrown said: Aussie rules breeds punters which is interesting. Obviously it is a specific skill, that translates well.  Which is why the niners spent a high 4th round pick on a mitch wishnowsky. He's got leg talent the same way Patrick mahomes has arm talent, to hear it told. It's not just one kind of kick either, he has a lot of different tools in his tool box. Lots of different types of spin based on field position. I can't wait to see him punt in person during the preseason. Punting is an art form and one that can only be appreciated from the 2nd deck lol Plus he's pretty big as far as punters go and supposedly pretty tough so he may be able to run some fakes for us. Anytime you can give Shanahan extra possessions, you are going to have a good chance to win. with a DL of Buckner, bosa, Dee Ford etc you would hope punts inside the 5 could lead to some negative plays for the other team At least, that's how it better turn out if you don't have a deep roster, win 4 goddamn games and then take a 27 year old punter with pick #110 the following year . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaguarCrazy2832 Posted June 26, 2019 Share Posted June 26, 2019 Unfortunately without a developmental league or any way of showcasing on-field talent they won't get a scholarship to a university and the shelf life of the average player is so short that teams probably dont want to or have the time to take someone who is that raw with 0 on-field time and develop them to even a PS guy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc Ball Posted June 26, 2019 Share Posted June 26, 2019 It will continue to be incredibly rare for a player to go directly from playing football outside the USA to being drafted/ signed by an NFL team. The level of competition is simply not good enough to make it a regular thing. Off the top of my head, only Boeringher and Efe Obada have made it directly from playing football in Europe to the NFL without the help of the NFL international player pathway programme. The goal for teams in Europe should be to send players to college in the states. There’s a few good European prospects coming through that have went the JUCO route and are now playing D1. That’s the only way of having a reasonable shot of making it to the NFL. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Small Town Values Posted June 27, 2019 Share Posted June 27, 2019 (edited) 21 hours ago, Boknows34 said: Christian Wade is an English international in rugby union who signed for the Buffalo Bills a few months ago as a running back. Wade is an explosive and elusive 5-8 scatback type runner with good vision and cutting ability. He played rugby at the highest level and will be on the Bills practice squad this season as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway programme. For an NFL comparison think of him as rugby’s version of Tarik Cohen.  I really wish he'd have made the move in his England Under 20's days & pursued a spot on a college roster. I don't want to be negative, but at 28 he really left his run late. Rugby League player Valentine Holmes (Currently with the Jets) probably has a better chance simply due to being 4 years younger. It's a shame as imo Wade is the more explosive / dynamic athlete.  Wade may have been an even better football player than rugby player due to it being a better fit for his athleticism. (In saying that, I hope he proves me wrong & makes it to the active roster for a year or two) Edited June 27, 2019 by Marc MacGyver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iknowcool Posted June 30, 2019 Share Posted June 30, 2019 I forgot what it was called, but the NFL did something awhile back where all 4 teams in a division got an international player they were required to keep on the practice squad but couldn't call-up (I think?). NFC South was one of those divisions and that's how we got Efe Obada, who contributed a little bit last year. I wonder if they will bring that back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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