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Flag football now an Olympic sport (to debut at L.A. games 2028) (1 Viewer)

Doug B

Footballguy

Love this part (though it is five years out):

Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill and former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski have both expressed interest in being part of flag football’s Olympic debut and the coming years could now see other familiar names try to add an Olympic medal to their NFL achievements.

Tyreek Hill playing flag football :eek: He could probably pick up a couple of football-slinging Joes from UCLA's Quad on the way to the event and come out with a gold medal.

Play-calling would be a breeze: "Tyreek, get open. On two ... BREAK!"
 
This will be interesting to see who in the NFL goes for it. I have to think there are all kinds of contract issues involved.
A few guys have commented on it so far, more or less off the cuff. Justin Jefferson said he'd like to win a gold medal, but stopped short of committing. AJ Brown said he'd decline to participate.
If you're running a team, would you want your superstars to play in this? If I were the Vikings, I'd trump up charges against Jefferson so that he has to spend 4 months in jail just to avoid this. I think that, if NFL players are involved, they should be Practice Squad level guys.
 
If you're running a team, would you want your superstars to play in this?

I'm going to crib from myself posting over on Saintsreport:

I doubt any NFL stars will play flag football in the Olympics. Could see maybe some practice-squad waterbug PR/KR types doing really well. Seems like small guys with short-area quickness are tailor-made for the flag game. Think guys physically similar to former LSU WR Trindon Holliday [standing 5'5"], or to Darren Sproles.

[Someone] upthread mentioned Michael Vick, now 44 years old. Even in his mid-40s, I'd bet Vick wouldn't embarrass himself as a QB for a flag football team. That said, even Michael Vick isn't at 44 what he was at 34. When you're 44, that sick cut you used to make to break the defender's ankles ... well, that cut now sends your ACL flying. Still, you can look in the college ranks for solid run-pass QBs that lack NFL size but are electric in college ball.

And then there are the guys who are already on the Team USA flag football team. Who have been immersed in the flag game for years now. Could an NFL practice-squad guy or an ex-D-II QB show up and beat out the existing flag players at their own game? Maybe, maybe not.
 
I wonder whether some professional flag players should beat out some NFL players. I assume NFL WRs and DBs would have a huge advantage just in terms of getting open and covering. And, obviously, an NFL QB would be much better than a pro flag QB. But, how much of a skill is pulling a flag and running in a way to avoid having your flag pulled? There are some pretty crazy videos out there of flag players running really low to the ground to avoid flag pulls. There are a few flag-specific skills.
 
... an NFL QB would be much better than a pro flag QB. But, how much of a skill is pulling a flag and running in a way to avoid having your flag pulled? There are some pretty crazy videos out there of flag players running really low to the ground to avoid flag pulls. There are a few flag-specific skills.

Right. It's not a matter of arm talent. It's playing two-way ball, for starters. Even when on offense, a flag QB is set upon by a defender just about from jump -- there's no 3 or 4 seconds in the pocket. And, yeah, there are plenty of NFL QBs who are good throwing on the run, off base, and all. But do you really want your team's QB trying to do a series of hard cuts to avoid a flag pull and -- whoops! -- there goes a knee?
 
... an NFL QB would be much better than a pro flag QB. But, how much of a skill is pulling a flag and running in a way to avoid having your flag pulled? There are some pretty crazy videos out there of flag players running really low to the ground to avoid flag pulls. There are a few flag-specific skills.

Right. It's not a matter of arm talent. It's playing two-way ball, for starters. Even when on offense, a flag QB is set upon by a defender just about from jump -- there's no 3 or 4 seconds in the pocket. And, yeah, there are plenty of NFL QBs who are good throwing on the run, off base, and all. But do you really want your team's QB trying to do a series of hard cuts to avoid a flag pull and -- whoops! -- there goes a knee?
Yeah, I didn't think about the need for two-way players. That's pretty important. Not that it will happen, but I'd love to see the NFL invite some flag pros to PB weekend to play against some NFL players.
 
I would love to see elite NFL WRs play without the threat of being tackled.
Hahahaha they already do!!!

And I suspect you were being clever with that fact in your post.

It was a bit sarcastic, but mainly because I can only imagine for some of them it would be harder to get big gains because all a defender essentially has to do is touch you.
But on the other side of the coin I would be surprised if the flag football players could take a hit (even the diminished hits in the NFL now when compared to the "old days").
 
I would love to see elite NFL WRs play without the threat of being tackled.
Hahahaha they already do!!!

And I suspect you were being clever with that fact in your post.

It was a bit sarcastic, but mainly because I can only imagine for some of them it would be harder to get big gains because all a defender essentially has to do is touch you.
But on the other side of the coin I would be surprised if the flag football players could take a hit (even the diminished hits in the NFL now when compared to the "old days").
They would be dead on contact!
 
This will be interesting to see who in the NFL goes for it. I have to think there are all kinds of contract issues involved.
A few guys have commented on it so far, more or less off the cuff. Justin Jefferson said he'd like to win a gold medal, but stopped short of committing. AJ Brown said he'd decline to participate.
If you're running a team, would you want your superstars to play in this? If I were the Vikings, I'd trump up charges against Jefferson so that he has to spend 4 months in jail just to avoid this. I think that, if NFL players are involved, they should be Practice Squad level guys.
Robert Edwards has entered the chat
 
around here I think kids age out after 8th grade so are there a bunch of kids going to the Olympics or are there actually grown men that play this?
 
around here I think kids age out after 8th grade so are there a bunch of kids going to the Olympics or are there actually grown men that play this?
There are adult kickball leagues, so I would say yes.
I played as a high schooler with my friends and our opponents were often Fire Dept, Police Dept, paramedics, hospital staff, consulting firm, accounting firm, etc. Mix of white collar and clear on/off duty jobs.
 
around here I think kids age out after 8th grade so are there a bunch of kids going to the Olympics or are there actually grown men that play this?
There are adult kickball leagues, so I would say yes.

around here I think kids age out after 8th grade so are there a bunch of kids going to the Olympics or are there actually grown men that play this?
There are adult kickball leagues, so I would say yes.
I played as a high schooler with my friends and our opponents were often Fire Dept, Police Dept, paramedics, hospital staff, consulting firm, accounting firm, etc. Mix of white collar and clear on/off duty jobs.

I mean yeah rec league is fine but like at a sanctioned competitive level?
 

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