On the same day that the first overall pick in the 2001 draft received a second chance at an NFL career, word emerged that the first overall pick from eleven years earlier would still like another opportunity, too.
Unlike Mike Vick, however, Jeff George needs no reinstatement from the league office to get back into the NFL.
He only needs a team that wants him.
“I feel like I can still play, and if there’s someone out there to give me a shot, that would be wonderful,” George said, according to IlliniHQ.com, via USA Today.
We’re not quite sure what to make of this. On one hand, it couldn’t be any more clear that the NFL isn’t interested. On the other hand, we still think the guy is better than more than a few of the slapolas who are littering the lower rungs of quarterbacking depth charts in the pro game.
The fact that he’s 41 is irrelevant to us. His arm by NASA/body by Lego (man, it still feels good to break that one out once in a while) makes him more like a pitcher, and they often continue to perform at a high level into their fifth decades of life.
In this case, however, we’re going to suggest that George lower his sights just a bit. The UFL is launching this year, and his one-time coach in Minnesota, Dennis Green, is leading one of the teams. George should call Green and ask for a workout.
Assuming Green wants to win football games, and assuming he remembers the impact that George had ten years ago after Green wisely realized that Randall Cunningham’s chariot had turned back into a pumpkin, Green should at least be intrigued.
We’re not saying that George will have a Tommy Maddox-style rebirth in the upstart league, but at a time when redemption seems to be the trend in the NFL, we’d love to see George get a chance to show whether he can still bring the heat.
We all have dreams.
Or, bring his cane and catheter.
What do you mean by “STILL” wants to play? Did he ever really play?
As long as “that leadership thing is overrated” in the UFL too, he’d be a great fit there.
Wasn’t Jeff George also called a “coach killer”?
This story has been coming up for… well, years, and he never gets a sniff. Gotta figure he really burned bridges on his way out of the league.
Sometimes I sit here and think, “hey I can still play high school football”. Then I realize I’m an idiot and will stick to “two hand touch” and slow pitch softball and sooner or later opt for the Tuesday night bowling league as well.
He has already struck out.
Strike against him with the Colts,
Strike against him with the Falcons,
Strike against him with the Raiders,
Strike against him with the vikings,
Strike against him with the Redskins,
Character does matter.
He burned his bridges with the NFL and can never come back.
The fact that he rfuses the try out for the CFL says he still hasn’t grown up.
“His arm by NASA/body by Lego”
You forgot “Brian by the Scarecrow”.
I wanna see his mom run onto the field again.
He must be hurting for money.
Jason Whitlock approves this message.
Florio, you’re out of your mind.
“On the other hand, we still think the guy is better than more than a few of the slapolas who are littering the lower rungs of quarterbacking depth charts in the pro game.”
Based on what, the fact that he was mediocre a decade ago? There’s no way he’s worth wasting time on. He’s such a jackass that every coach in the league simply decided he’s not worth dealing with. And that was when his arm was a decade younger.
“His arm by NASA/body by Lego (man, it still feels good to break that one out once in a while) makes him more like a pitcher, and they often continue to perform at a high level into their fifth decades of life.”
Only juicers, lefthanded junkballers, and Nolan Ryan. Jeff George is neither (and if he’s a juicer, he’ll get busted).
Seriously, Florio, the Jeff George bandwagon consists of you and Jeff’s mom. Give it up already.
thunderdog says:
July 28, 2009 8:55 AM
“His arm by NASA/body by Lego”
You forgot “Brian by the Scarecrow”.
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Doh!
Somebody asked him if he still wanted to play, and he said yeah. Probably a lot of 41 year-old players would say the same thing. Doesn’t mean he’s delusional.
I’m not a Jeff George fan but you get tired of these mini-controversies as if he’s standing outside a GM’s office demanding to be signed.
Isn’t George a 113 year old child?
Looks like Chilly just found a backup plan if Farve stays retired!
Boo-ya!
I’d love to see Jeff George in a #3 Viking uniform if only for a preseason game or two. His basic knowledge would be great for Tjack and Rosenfels.
thunderdog says:
July 28, 2009 8:55 AM
“His arm by NASA/body by Lego”
You forgot “Brian by the Scarecrow”.
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Who’s Brian?
I love how Childress made a wisecrack comment last year about Jeff George being too old at 40 and then the next year practically whores himself like a little sorority girl for another 40 year old. If he would have kept his mouth shut, he would have had a plan B for when Favre leave him at the altar.
Brian is a scarecrow.
But I personally think that the UFL should give Jeff George a sniff. His arm was strong and accurate, and he can read defenses.
His attitude was horrible, and he’s a liability in the locker room, but he may do himself some good to play and play the old sage for a while.
Redemption 2009, Everybody! Everyone deserves a second chance!
So what’s the real difference between J George and Brent Favre? Besides the fact the Vikings feel that Favre has something left in his tank…Ya that Major Dad is a pretty smart guy!
This one time……at Brett Favre camp……I stuck a Viking horn up Jeff George’s ass and ESPN reported on it…….but Florio at profootballtalk refused to run the story .
meanwhile inaacurate passing dogkillers have lots of supporters!
dude couldn’t even play, when he could play
SixBurghDude says:
July 28, 2009 11:18 AM
dude couldn’t even play, when he could play
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Overall his numbers are pretty average, but he played on some really shitty teams. When he had talent around him he did well ( 8-2 record as a starter with MIN in 1999). And he’s a member of the 4,000 yard club.
In fact, only 28 QBs have ever passed for more yardage than Jeff George accumulated in 1995 with Atlanta. He produced three 1,000 yard WRs that season: Eric Metcalf, Bert Emanuel and Terance Mathis.
At this point in their respective careers (ha), I’d take George over Vick as my starting QB. Wildcat? I’d take Vick. RB/WR? Obviously Vick. But George was (and probably still is) the better passer.
The 28 QBs who have passed for more than George’s 4,143 yards in 1995:
Bill Kenney
Brett Favre
Dan Fouts
Dan Marino
Daunte Culpepper
Don Majkowski
Drew Bledsoe
Drew Brees
Elvis Grbac
Jay Cutler
Jeff Garcia
Jim Everett
Jon Kitna
Kurt Warner
Lynn Dickey
Marc Bulger
Mark Brunell
Neil Lomax
Peyton Manning
Rich Gannon
Scott Mitchell
Steve Beuerlein
Steve Young
Tom Brady
Tony Romo
Trent Green
Vinny Testaverde
Warren Moon
And I’ll be the first to admit there’s a few duds on that list.
Jeff George…..you blew it dude. You had the opportunity 10 years ago to become very good but you decided you were too good to be taught anything. Your arm should divorce you. Hail!!
a bad apple is a bad apple
Lynn Dickey ? you might want to check that one out again, that dude is like 65 or something
gooboy6 says:
July 28, 2009 12:56 PM
Lynn Dickey ? you might want to check that one out again, that dude is like 65 or something
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Lynn Dickey passed for 4,458 yards in 1983. 32 TDs, 29 INTs. 18th best season by passing yardage in NFL history. At the time, only Dan Fouts had passed for more yardage in a single season. The following year Marino set the bar much higher.
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/pass_yds_single_season.htm
Knock “the Drama Queen” Farve all you want Florio.
Most of us are tired of hearing about about him!
Good point and comparison on what Childress said.
Farve as a top 5 QB all time is laughable at best. Top 20..maybe.
All George needs to do now is buy 50 pit bulls, slit their throats on his front lawn, go to jail for two years, and say you’re sorry. Seems to be the way it works.
sorry I thought you meant SINCE 1995, Lynn Dickey was good