OldRightHander
07-28-2015, 01:08 AM
I was running Uber this evening and picked up a rather athletic looking young man from a hotel in Covington and he wanted to be taken to the nearest Kroger to buy a few things. I was making the usual small talk I do with passengers and since I picked him from a hotel and he had a bit of a southern accent, I assumed he was from out of town so I asked him where he was from and what brought him to Cincinnati. He proceeded to tell me that he plays for the Bengals and he's in town for training camp, but he's been here for a couple weeks already working out at PBS.
A bit more into the drive I found out that he's an undrafted free agent from Texas A&M named Floyd Raven and that he grew up in New Orleans. He was a very polite young man who seems to have a good head on his shoulders, and from the conversation on the way back to the hotel, a decent grasp of the Bengals defensive schemes. He gave me an earful of information that went a bit over my head, and I've been following the game longer than he's been alive.
I asked him what he thought of his chances of making the team and he gave me a very diplomatic answer, that he thinks he has the skills but it's up to the coaches. My response was that I think most of the people at an NFL camp have the physical skills but what will set him apart is the mental part, how hard he works and how good a grasp he has of the schemes and what is expected of him.
Overall, it was an enjoyable experience and I think it gave me a brief glimpse into the life of a young man hoping to fulfill a dream. I can't say I know anything of his college career or even of his chances of making this team at that position with the competition he has in camp, but I saw a side of these guys that we don't often see, the hopeful kid with an outside shot who wasn't a high round draft pick, the kind of guy you could root for as something of an underdog. He's not one of those guys with a huge signing bonus who's a lock to land a roster spot, but a guy full of hope who seems just grateful to have a chance. I think I'll be pulling for him. Heck, it will give me a reason to pay attention to camp this year. Anyway, anyone here see him in college and know anything of his skills and what his odds might be?
A bit more into the drive I found out that he's an undrafted free agent from Texas A&M named Floyd Raven and that he grew up in New Orleans. He was a very polite young man who seems to have a good head on his shoulders, and from the conversation on the way back to the hotel, a decent grasp of the Bengals defensive schemes. He gave me an earful of information that went a bit over my head, and I've been following the game longer than he's been alive.
I asked him what he thought of his chances of making the team and he gave me a very diplomatic answer, that he thinks he has the skills but it's up to the coaches. My response was that I think most of the people at an NFL camp have the physical skills but what will set him apart is the mental part, how hard he works and how good a grasp he has of the schemes and what is expected of him.
Overall, it was an enjoyable experience and I think it gave me a brief glimpse into the life of a young man hoping to fulfill a dream. I can't say I know anything of his college career or even of his chances of making this team at that position with the competition he has in camp, but I saw a side of these guys that we don't often see, the hopeful kid with an outside shot who wasn't a high round draft pick, the kind of guy you could root for as something of an underdog. He's not one of those guys with a huge signing bonus who's a lock to land a roster spot, but a guy full of hope who seems just grateful to have a chance. I think I'll be pulling for him. Heck, it will give me a reason to pay attention to camp this year. Anyway, anyone here see him in college and know anything of his skills and what his odds might be?