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Rams’ Rodger Saffold Discusses LeBron James Playing in NFL

By Michael Moraitis

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Rodger Saffold thinks Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James would make a good NFL quarterback.

Over the course of his National Basketball Association career, people have wondered if Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James could play in the National Football League.

Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Rodger Saffold has an opinion on James’ NFL prospects, however it’s slightly different than the opinions we normally hear on the subject.

Saffold spoke to Motez Bishara of CNN while the team was in London for the Week 7 game against the New York Giants and said that James would make for a good NFL quarterback:

"“At quarterback I think that he could do extremely well. He’s very agile, very fast for a big guy. He’d be able to shed tackles and throw the ball down the field. That would actually be really good.”"

Saffold went on to say that James’ height (6-foot-8) is “perfect” for a quarterback because he’ll be able to see over the offensive line without an issue and high snaps would be few and far between.

Most people have LeBron pegged as a guy who could play wideout thanks to his size, however Saffold doesn’t think he’d enjoy it that much:

"“I think that LeBron has the ability to do it. But the only problem is that it’s so physical in the NFL that if he played wide receiver and he got one of those routes in the middle of the field — and somebody hit him as soon as he caught the ball — I don’t know if he would like football very much.”"

Is LeBron James Ready for NFL Physicality?

Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Banging down low with big guys in the NBA is a different animal than trying to catch a pass over the middle in the NFL. As Saffold points out, James might think twice about wanting to play receiver once he gets laid out by a linebacker and realizes just how physical the game is.

If any NBA player can handle it, it’s James, who is listed at 250 pounds. Still, it would take a lot of getting used to for the 31-year-old after not stepping on a football field since high school.

In his seventh year, Saffold would know a thing or two about what it takes to make it in the NFL. All the talk about LeBron being an ideal receiver doesn’t hold weight with Saffold, and he’s one of the few people out there who think James would be better suited as a quarterback instead.

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