Sports Scott Polacek @@ScottPolacek Featured Columnist IV August 20, 2024
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It appears to be like like NFL gamers will more than likely be competing in flag football within the route of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
NFL executive vp Jeff Miller told reporters Monday the NFL and the NFL Gamers Affiliation are taking part in ongoing discussions about the finest procedure to attain such an endeavor.
“The amount of enthusiasm that we cling seen among our gamers or more broadly for flag football in ’28 … has been unheard of,” he said. “Conversations are continuing to slip on with the [NFL] Gamers Affiliation, with gamers themselves … but obviously the hope would be that gamers who want to participate within the Olympics and signify their country cling that different to ranking so. … It is one thing that we’re engaged on actively.”
Excessive-profile gamers much like Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, Tyreek Hill and Caleb Williams cling already expressed interest in taking part within the Games, and a form of more will surely want to suggest their country as the Olympics ranking closer.
“I in actuality want to play for the Olympic flag football team,” Burrow said within the route of an look on Pardon My Take. “Love me, Ja’marr (Dart), Justin (Jefferson). Me and my mates within the market taking part in football. … I own it would possibly perchance well be surely frosty.”
The NFL even ran a commercial with Hurts throwing a flaming football over the cauldron at the head of the L.A. Coliseum promoting that football is coming to the Olympics.
While there is repeatedly damage risk, the following Summer Olympics will happen from July 14 to July 30 in 2028. That means groups would possibly no longer must worry about gamers lacking any common-season games and even preseason contests if they ranking participate within the Games.
NFL gamers taking part will surely generate more interest, but no longer all individuals is extremely delighted with the postulate.
“I own or no longer it is disrespectful that they moral routinely mediate that they are ready to moral join the Olympic team as a result of person that they are—they didn’t help develop this recreation to ranking to the Olympics,” U.S. nationwide flag team quarterback Darrell “Housh” Doucette said, per the Guardian . “Give the guys who helped this recreation ranking to the build or no longer it is at their admire.”
Doucette helped the US earn the 2021 world championship title and the title at the 2022 World Games. He also led the Red, White and Blue to the Americas Continental championship title as the match’s MVP in 2023.
Still, it have to be advanced for any flag football player to beat out the likes of Mahomes, Hill and others if they’re in actuality going to compete for spots on the roster.
First, although, the NFL and the NFLPA must decide out an settlement that will enable the gamers to showcase their expertise at the Olympics.