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What is a 30-year-old, unemployed NFL running back to do? The obvious choice is to shop yourself around and try to land with the best team for the best price. Grab the cash while you can!
What if LaDainian Tomlinson decided to make a career change? Imagine if you will, LT hung up his pads in an effort to try his had at new sport: rugby.
This is obviously an outlandish thought; there is no money in American rugby and no reason for a Pro-Bowl running back to try a completely different sport.
However, what would a big name NFL player like LT do for the game of rugby? Not just in America, but for the global perspective of the sport?
Consider big name code switchers from league to rugby. There is always a great deal of interest in a particular player switching codes.
Regardless of what they may say, league fans follow code switchers even if just to with them ill. A player moving from the NFL has no code war barriers to deal with.
The attention drawn to rugby would be monumental. The story of LT’s move to rugby would be a global story. Casual sport fans from the US would follow Tomlinson’s progress in the sport, even if they had no clue what they were watching.
The question does arise: how could this ever be a reality?
At this day and age, it doesn’t. Only European clubs would have the means to possibly get a sniff from a person of Tomlinson’s caliber. In spite of LT being 30, he is still a huge name and pulls a lot of weight monetarily.
Tomlinson would also have to have an interest in the sport to even make this a consideration, but that might change soon.
If there is one thing that the NFL doesn’t have, it is international competition. With rugby in the Olympics, NFL players might consider taking up the sport in an effort to win an Olympic medal.
If you don’t believe me, several NFL running backs have tried their hand at bobsledding. Former NFL great Herschel Walker is an example.
So, bash me for dreaming a little, but I know a day will come when NFL players, in the twilights of their careers, make the switch to rugby.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.