Jake Paul has declared he wants to play in the NFL, and as you might expect, the reaction from people who actually know what the NFL involves has been less than enthusiastic. The 29-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer claimed this week that he has already spoken to several teams and coaches who are interested, and that making the transition would be "really quite easy."
Atlanta Falcons legend Roddy White, who spent 11 seasons in the league, had a very clear message in response. He told Hard Rock Bet that Paul's past comments about NFL players being mediocre have not gone unnoticed inside the league, and that walking onto a field after saying those things would be a serious mistake. "It would not be good for him if he went out to play in the NFL," White said. "It could get really ugly when they put those pads on."
White also pointed out the basic practical problem with Paul's plan, which is that nobody actually knows what position he would play. He acknowledged Paul's wrestling background gives him some athleticism, but said he has never seen the man catch a ball, and suggested linebacker, running back or tight end as possibilities, while ultimately concluding he would not make it at this level.
Paul, predictably, is not listening to any of it. He compared the scepticism to the doubts people had when he first started boxing, which is at least a consistent response even if the comparison is a stretch. He also said his dream team would be the Cleveland Browns, which is either very genuine or a very good bit.
White's advice is simple: start in the CFL or UFL, prove yourself, and work up from there. Whether Paul takes that advice or turns up to an NFL training camp and gets absolutely folded by a linebacker remains to be seen.
