It appeared to be a curious coincidence when news that a female kicker would attend one of the various Regional Scouting Combines emerged within a day after a report surfaced regarding the NFL’s long-term plan for turning the regional events into an American Idol-style competition.
What better way to get people to pay attention to Regional Scouting Combines that were ignored when they debuted in 2012 than to come up with a new twist?
Kicker missing part of his foot? It’s been done.
Kicker who kicks without a shoe? It’s been done.
Donkey that kicks field goals? It’s been done.
Female kicker who didn’t kick in college, or apparently ever? Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
With nearly 150 NCAA football programs, each producing at least once every four years (if not more often) a kicker whose eligibility has expired, how does a 28-year-old former club soccer player at Wisconsin with no football kicking experience end up among 37 kickers at the Regional Scouting Combine in New York? That’s a question that has yet to be fully answered.
But don’t feel bad for Lauren Silberman. If it was a publicity stunt, she got her 15 minutes of NFL fame in exchange for a tryout at a group event that was never, ever going to result in anything more.
Based on the fact that, via the New York Post, more than two dozen media members (including the E! television network) attended the Regional Scouting Combine in New York, the apparent publicity stunt accomplished its goal of creating publicity.
And we can now go back to ignoring the Regional Scouting Combines. Until they track down Dr. Nick Riviera’s old friend Mr. McGreg, with a leg for an arm and an arm for a leg.