Female kicker's NFL tryout lasts all of 2 kicks
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) - Lauren Silberman's NFL tryout lasted all of two kicks, neither of which traveled 20 yards.
Silberman became the first woman to compete at an NFL regional scouting combine on Sunday, but left the New York Jets' practice field after re-injuring her quadriceps. She tried two kickoffs, the first going 19 yards and the second about 13 yards, and then asked to see a trainer.
As more than two dozen media, including E! Entertainment network, watched her every move, the 28-year-old Silberman was examined off to the side of the practice field. About 30 minutes later, while 36 other kickers continued their workouts, she called the scene "surreal" and thanked the NFL for "this tremendous opportunity."
A former club soccer player at Wisconsin, Silberman took no warmup kicks until she attempted her first kickoff and even appeared to have some trouble keeping the football on the kicking tee.
"I've always been an athlete, and I've always been a gamer," she said while fighting back tears. "When I had the opportunity to be in the NFL, one of the world's most competitive leagues, I absolutely had to take the chance."
Silberman said she suffered a quadriceps injury while preparing for the tryout earlier in the week, and attributed her struggles to that.
"I tried staying off it and waited for today," she said. "I didn't even take kicks in warmups, and, it's pretty hard to know that you'll be in pain and I wanted to work through it and I certainly tried to, but I just couldn't do it today."
Silberman, who spoke to the media for 3 minutes after the tryout, insisted she can "do more" and "it's too bad that this happened." She also said she "did the right thing" and anticipates trying to kick again in the future.
Silberman appeared to be favoring her right leg when she left the complex soon after that.
"I would certainly be very, very excited and happy if I had the opportunity to try again," she said, "but it's not up to me. It's up to the scouts."
The regional combines debuted in 2011, and include players who weren't among the 333 invited to the main combine in Indianapolis. The NFL is holding these sessions in 10 cities this offseason, with the most impressive players advancing to a super-regional in April in Dallas.
Silberman became the first woman to compete at an NFL regional scouting combine on Sunday, but left the New York Jets' practice field after re-injuring her quadriceps. She tried two kickoffs, the first going 19 yards and the second about 13 yards, and then asked to see a trainer.
As more than two dozen media, including E! Entertainment network, watched her every move, the 28-year-old Silberman was examined off to the side of the practice field. About 30 minutes later, while 36 other kickers continued their workouts, she called the scene "surreal" and thanked the NFL for "this tremendous opportunity."
A former club soccer player at Wisconsin, Silberman took no warmup kicks until she attempted her first kickoff and even appeared to have some trouble keeping the football on the kicking tee.
"I've always been an athlete, and I've always been a gamer," she said while fighting back tears. "When I had the opportunity to be in the NFL, one of the world's most competitive leagues, I absolutely had to take the chance."
Silberman said she suffered a quadriceps injury while preparing for the tryout earlier in the week, and attributed her struggles to that.
"I tried staying off it and waited for today," she said. "I didn't even take kicks in warmups, and, it's pretty hard to know that you'll be in pain and I wanted to work through it and I certainly tried to, but I just couldn't do it today."
Silberman, who spoke to the media for 3 minutes after the tryout, insisted she can "do more" and "it's too bad that this happened." She also said she "did the right thing" and anticipates trying to kick again in the future.
Silberman appeared to be favoring her right leg when she left the complex soon after that.
"I would certainly be very, very excited and happy if I had the opportunity to try again," she said, "but it's not up to me. It's up to the scouts."
The regional combines debuted in 2011, and include players who weren't among the 333 invited to the main combine in Indianapolis. The NFL is holding these sessions in 10 cities this offseason, with the most impressive players advancing to a super-regional in April in Dallas.
The NFL will have female kickers when they outlaw the kick-offs, then the punter will kick the field goals.
She could be still used for kicking idiotic spectators in the nuts at NFL games
dumb
Sounds like she would have made it if it wasn't for the injury. Maybe next year!
@sb in seattle Made what, the team?  No chance in hell.  Made the kick, it was a kickoff, you either didn't read this or have no idea about football.
What a stupid put up job.She canât kick, is too old, and to top it off, she would have died of brute force trauma after her first sack.The only question is what is she selling?
Gender aside, she is 28. How many 28 year old walk ons has the NFL had? Â
You want a female kicker? Go scout the women's NCAA soccer teams.Â
An "athlete" who doesn't warm up? This whole thing was a cartload of bollocks.
@PilonidalCyst It's the Jets, they would be better off keeping Tebow to kick than a 28 year old female.
I am curious as to why the article didn't mention if she has actually kicked the ball further leading up to this. Seems like a fair question to ask. Maybe she can kick the ball a whole lot farther than she did and truly was injured. That doesn't mean I think that is is a good idea for her to play in the NFL. As several other posters have eluded to, one good hit and she is toast.
What a waste of time! should have given the opportunity to someone that culd actully kick. I don't know whats worst, My spelling or her kicking ability. Maybe she'll get on as an onside kicker some where. What a joke..............
@zeke123. Your a joke, jerk. Of course they let other people try-out and kick. She didn't hold anyone back. I'm sure there are some guys that can't kick any better than her.
No doubt any one on the U/W Womens Soccer team can kick way farther than 13 or 19 yards....media hype FAIL!
Perhaps she can compete in the new women's "professional" league. The interest in the over /under date of their demise is of keen interest to the wagering lads.
Simple fact is humans with balls kick balls farther.
@SandyBeach Bet she kicked it farther than you can. This wasn't about being a woman in a man's profession, this was someone wanting to follow her dreams just like everyone else. So she failed, she's not crying over spilled milk, she's grateful for the chance.
@DawgFan72Â @SandyBeachThis wasn't about being a woman in a man's profession, this was someone wanting to follow her dreams just like everyone else.
So why didn't the other 36 people trying out also get their own story?
@DawgFan72....soooo me and my 48 mph fastball have a dream of pitching at SafeCo this season. If everyone that can kick a ball 19 yds or throw 48 mph got a chance...well what would that do for professional sports...This is the result of what happens when "everyone wins and gets a trophy....yay!"
She probably set women kickers in the NFL back at least until next yr.
LOL.....well they gave her the chance to try and she failed....miserably. Can we never hear about how men are "keeping women out of sports" again?
With the absolutely size and speed of NFL players nowadays, I'm really amazed that they gave her as much time as she got. Look, I'm 6' and 250 lbs and in the NFL I'm little tiny little man... ESPECIALLY when you figure in the body fat index. This young woman could get just absolutely trucked on a kickoff return and all they could do is make sure she got all her parts back.
Given that she had quadricep issues prior to the workout, I wonder if this was much ado about diddly /squat.
That's embarrassing.
Even if she could kick it twice as far, Â I doubt that she'd be effective for tackling the few that get through.
the whole issue is stupid.
@cheekygesturton Well nonetheless she gets an A for effort....Â
@cheekygesturton yeah your right. I never thought about after she kicked the ball. The NFL would make some  new rule for her anyway even if she got in.  "Unnecessary female hitting" or some crap like that.
@Seahawker They wouldn't have to make up any news rules. The ones they have in place now are only one degree removed from two-hand touch.