The Cleveland Browns’ struggles this season are no secret, especially now that they have played on Monday Night Football and scored no points. Because of the team’s inability to get anything done on either side of the ball, Browns’ head coach, Eric Mangini was asked if he would want LeBron James on his football team. Mangini’s response was that he had an orange helmet waiting for the ”Akron Hammer” if he truly believed he could be of help to this depleted Browns team.
This question, even though it was mostly with humorous undertones, is not that far-fetched, as LeBron was a heralded All-State receiver in high school.
Although LeBron will probably stick to the NBA game, where he can deliver most of the damage on his opponents, it is interesting to think about the impact that LeBron would have on the football field. After all, LeBron is a ”freak athletically,” according to Mangini, and there is no reason to think that he would not eventually accell in the NFL. He has the size to remain a threat in the league, and he would be the kind of NBA player who can handle the constant beating that professional football delivers.
In my opinion,though, if LeBron is smart, he will NOT go to the NFL. The reason I say this is mainly due to two factors: Longevity and dominance.
There is no question that the NBA game has become much more physical over the years, and the players of today can not last as long as they used to. However, in comparison to the NFL, the NBA is a joke physically. Players get battered and bruised play after play in the NFL, and a lot of them lose the ability to stand up straight by the time they retire. Does LeBron want to be one of those guys? No way! And because of his superiority in the game of basketball, he never has to. Instead, LeBron could play in the NBA into his late thirties or early forties, with the ability to be a fully functional human being by the time he retires. Not to mention all of the bling he will have from the multiple championships that he wins.
Then there comes the dominance factor. As I just mentioned, if LeBron stays in the NBA, he WILL have multiple championships, no doubt in my mind. He has such an advantage over the rest of his competition, and once Kobe Bryant retires, he will most probably be the ”hands-down” best player in the NBA (Unless Dwight Howard gives him a run for his money). To be at the top of your sport is a very big honor, and many people are not crazy enough to give that up. If LeBron throws himself into the NFL, I believe that he could be very good, but I highly doubt that he will be a ”hands-down” best player, even at his own position. He will become ”just another good player,” and I don’t think that would turn into multiple championships. In football, there are a lot more players involved in helping a team win, and LeBron will only be able to do so much. In basketball, when there are only five guys per team on the court at a time, LeBron’s impact is much greater, and thus his impact will more likely lead to overall team success.
If LeBron thinks along the lines that were just presented, he would be out of his mind to choose the NFL over the NBA. So Mangini, you could have that orange helmet waiting all you want, LeBron would never be dumb enough to put his head in it for your team.
Filed under: NFL
