CaP'N GRuNGe Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 Wednesday, April 18, 2007 Vikings sign the next Antonio Gates? The Vikings have agreed to terms on a three-year deal with Todd Lowber, who has never played organized football. So why did the Vikings sign him? Because they obviously see untapped potential. According to Lowber's agent, Jim Ulrich of Enter-Sports Management, Lowber is 6 feet 3, weighs 205 pounds, runs a sub-4.4 40-yard dash and has a 43-inch vertical. Lowber won the 2006 NCAA Division III men's high jump championship with a jump of 7-0.5 for Ramapo College in Mahwah, N.J. He also played four seasons of basketball there. After graduating last year, Lowber has been training to become an NFL receiver, and he was impressive enough in a workout on March 29 that several teams offered him contracts. "I did a lot of research on the coaching staff and coach (Brad) Childress," Lowber said. "He was with the (Philadelphia) Eagles, and coach (George) Stewart is a great teacher. That really intrigued me. "And the Vikings like to throw the ball." Despite his inexperience, Lowber said, he can contribute immediately in the NFL. "I have a fast learning curve," he said. "Realistically, do I think I can help this team right now? Yeah. You tell me to run this route, and catch the ball, of course I can do it. I don’t think it’ll be a problem." Ulrich said the San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers and Eagles were among the teams that expressed an interest in his client. "He's a freakish athlete with unbelievable hands," Ulrich said. "There's no one on par with him athletically in the NFL right now." posted by Sean Jensen at 11:40 AM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bier Meister Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 i thought they were going to clone mike tice and institute them as head coaches throughout the league Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outshined Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 "He's a freakish athlete with unbelievable hands," Ulrich said. Maybe they can transplant his hands on Williamsons arms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMD Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 He is probably awesome all the way until he actually gets tackled for the first time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wolf Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 The article doesn't mention that he will be a TE, but the comparison to Gates (unless it's the "played basketball, not football in college" thing that they refer to) makes me think they are leaning that way. If so, 6'3", 205 is really small for a TE. He can run and supposedly he can catch...but can he block DE's and LB's at 205? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrTed46 Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 The Jets tried this same tactic last year...I forgot the TEs name but he was a bball player with great hands and hardly played football...well that went bad real fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Scorp Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 Reminds me of the Brock Lesner experiment..... Of course Childress does have a kick offense.... so anything is possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swiss Cheezhead Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 @ the agent's last statement. The Packers just got a little better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE SIX KINGS Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 Wednesday, April 18, 2007 Vikings sign the next Antonio Gates? The Vikings have agreed to terms on a three-year deal with Todd Lowber, who has never played organized football. So why did the Vikings sign him? Because they obviously see untapped potential. According to Lowber's agent, Jim Ulrich of Enter-Sports Management, Lowber is 6 feet 3, weighs 205 pounds, runs a sub-4.4 40-yard dash and has a 43-inch vertical. Lowber won the 2006 NCAA Division III men's high jump championship with a jump of 7-0.5 for Ramapo College in Mahwah, N.J. He also played four seasons of basketball there. After graduating last year, Lowber has been training to become an NFL receiver, and he was impressive enough in a workout on March 29 that several teams offered him contracts. "I did a lot of research on the coaching staff and coach (Brad) Childress," Lowber said. "He was with the (Philadelphia) Eagles, and coach (George) Stewart is a great teacher. That really intrigued me. "And the Vikings like to throw the ball." Despite his inexperience, Lowber said, he can contribute immediately in the NFL. "I have a fast learning curve," he said. "Realistically, do I think I can help this team right now? Yeah. You tell me to run this route, and catch the ball, of course I can do it. I don’t think it’ll be a problem." Ulrich said the San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers and Eagles were among the teams that expressed an interest in his client. "He's a freakish athlete with unbelievable hands," Ulrich said. "There's no one on par with him athletically in the NFL right now." posted by Sean Jensen at 11:40 AM This made me chuckle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonkis Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 WHAT? no one in the NFL on par with him? Might as well put a target on the poor kids head. and that designation, even if true, will not last beyond the drafting of one Calvin Johnson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irish Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 The article doesn't mention that he will be a TE, but the comparison to Gates (unless it's the "played basketball, not football in college" thing that they refer to) makes me think they are leaning that way. If so, 6'3", 205 is really small for a TE. He can run and supposedly he can catch...but can he block DE's and LB's at 205? Wednesday, April 18, 2007 Vikings sign the next Antonio Gates? The Vikings have agreed to terms on a three-year deal with Todd Lowber, who has never played organized football. After graduating last year, Lowber has been training to become an NFL receiver, and he was impressive enough in a workout on March 29 that several teams offered him contracts. I know that making the Gates references would have you thinking TE but the kid is practicing at WR. A 205lb. TE would not fit the bill, obviously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menudo Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 Well, I now know who I'm taking with my first pick in next year's draft. Thanks ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Beatings Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 Reminds me of the Brock Lesner experiment..... Exactly the first thing that I thought of too. And here I thought that we had already signed the greatest unsung TE in the league when we got Vishante Shiancoe. This off-season is just plain embarrassing for Minnesota. Why not just have open tryouts? Sounds like Childress just got jazzed after watching Invincible one too many times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grits and Shins Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 I don't guess things like knowing how to run a route, adjust a route for the blitz, block or any number of other things is important to know ... if you can run fast and jump high surely you can be an NFL WRs ... right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexgaddis Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 The Vikings like to throw the ball? There is nobody on par with him athletically? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyBalata Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 Reminds me of the Brock Lesner experiment..... I bought his jersey... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaP'N GRuNGe Posted April 19, 2007 Author Share Posted April 19, 2007 I bought his jersey... I bought a Williamson jersey last summer... but had second thoughts and returned it the next day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mystykoekaki Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 I bought a Williamson jersey last summer... but had second thoughts and returned it the next day. Good for you my friend! ...good for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaP'N GRuNGe Posted April 21, 2007 Author Share Posted April 21, 2007 (edited) The kid is really fast and he can jump,'' Garrett said. We had a workout for six NFL teams and he ran a 4.11, a 4.21, a 4.28 and a 4.3 40-yard dash. And he had a 421/2 vertical leap. Plus, he's such a nice kid. In all my years, he's the nicest kid I've ever been around. So polite and so respectful of his elders." http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/109...07-1334159.html Need size? Lowber is 6-3. Need leaping ability? Lowber, according to trainer Jim Garrett, can jump 42œ inches more than anyone did at the Combine. So hes 6-3 and can jump three-and-a-half feet straight up in the air standing flat-footed. How about speed? You kidding? According to a print report in a Pennsylvania newspaper, Lowber worked out for six teams and ran the 40-yard dash four times. What were his clocked times? 4.11 seconds, 4.21, 4.28 and 4.30. Even that last time would make him one of the fastest players ever in the NFL. If that 4.11 time is accurate, he could be the fastest of all time. http://vikings.scout.com/2/637505.html Oh, c'mon. Is 4.11 even possible? Sounds like the Vikings have signed Superman. Edited April 21, 2007 by CaP'N GRuNGe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chavez Posted April 21, 2007 Share Posted April 21, 2007 Oh, c'mon. Is 4.11 even possible? Sounds like the Vikings have signed Superman. Well, maybe Captain America, at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaP'N GRuNGe Posted April 21, 2007 Author Share Posted April 21, 2007 Well, maybe Captain America, at least. It figures. Captain America is dead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted April 21, 2007 Share Posted April 21, 2007 Isn't a secret weapon supposed to be let's see... secret? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outshined Posted April 21, 2007 Share Posted April 21, 2007 4.11 seconds, 4.21, 4.28 and 4.30. Even that last time would make him one of the fastest players ever in the NFL. If that 4.11 time is accurate, he could be the fastest of all time. Thats hard to believe he ran that fast...I wonder how they timed him - manually or automatically with the strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikesVikes Posted April 21, 2007 Share Posted April 21, 2007 This must be why Childress mentioned Renaldo Nehemiah's name the other day when he was talking about finding hidden gems. A preview of things to come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chavez Posted April 21, 2007 Share Posted April 21, 2007 Isn't a secret weapon supposed to be let's see... secret? You can't keep something like this under wraps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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