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Wrestler-Turned-Football Player Catching On

The Chiefs last season signed Jermail Porter to their practice squad. His signing caused a little more than the usual practice squad buzz because he was a former wrestler (and a former Patriot).

Some say that the skills and agility necessary to be a high-level wrestler can translate to the NFL field. The Chiefs, apparently, are banking on that with Porter. Here are a few other wrestlers-turned-football players (linked in Arrowheadlines):

  • Two-time NCAA champ Cole Konrad tried out for the Jets
  • All-American heavyweight John Wise signed with the Patriots
  • 2009 heavyweight champ Mark Ellis worked out for the Browns

And of course the best example of this is Stephen Neal, a former wrestler who has played for the Patriots since 2001. It seems the Belichick tree believes this can work. The Browns (Eric Mangini) have tried out a few former wrestlers, the Chiefs have one signed and the Patriots have a couple on the roster.

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