NFL Aussies in the NFL

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Re: Chris Bryan signed by the Packers.

Before we all get subjected to the usual bull from the "experts", I just want to inform everyone that Chris has indeed signed a 3 year deal with the Packers.

He has worked with Nathan and myself for some time and let's just remember that he is not at a try-out, he is on the squad and had his first practice session with Mason Crosby etc yesterday.

Chris is a really smooth effortless kick, has great hands and is now in an environment where his kicking ability will be appreciated.

There is a long way to go before the Packers make a decision on who they go forward with at punter for 2010. Pre-season camps and pre-season games are ahead for Chris.

It is a great testament to the work Chris, Nathan and myself have done, that the Packers signed Chris after his first full workout for them at their training facility. The medical is not for the faint-hearted.

3 other teams were due to review Chris, but the Packers saw him first and made the decision.

He is now a Packer player. We expect him to make the transistion and be the starting punter for 2010.

Cheers

Johnny Smith
ProKick Australia
www.prokickaustralia.com
 
Re: Chris Bryan signed by the Packers.

Just having a look at Green Bay's incumbent - Jeremy Kapinos - stats, he may not have a lot to beat out. Close to last in the NFL for basically all punting stats last year. Although I'd imagine punting in GB would be a slightly more difficult proposition than say Ben Graham's situation in 'Zona...
 

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Re: Chris Bryan signed by the Packers.

Johnny Smith said:
Before we all get subjected to the usual bull from the "experts", I just want to inform everyone that Chris has indeed signed a 3 year deal with the Packers.

He has worked with Nathan and myself for some time and let's just remember that he is not at a try-out, he is on the squad and had his first practice session with Mason Crosby etc yesterday.

Chris is a really smooth effortless kick, has great hands and is now in an environment where his kicking ability will be appreciated.

There is a long way to go before the Packers make a decision on who they go forward with at punter for 2010. Pre-season camps and pre-season games are ahead for Chris.

It is a great testament to the work Chris, Nathan and myself have done, that the Packers signed Chris after his first full workout for them at their training facility. The medical is not for the faint-hearted.

3 other teams were due to review Chris, but the Packers saw him first and made the decision.

He is now a Packer player. We expect him to make the transistion and be the starting punter for 2010.

Cheers

Johnny Smith
ProKick Australia
www.prokickaustralia.com
Click to expand...

Well done to you and Nathan getting him on the squad. But whatever way you look at it, it is a try out in that he will compete with other punters for the starting position as all the Aussie punters that have made it.
 
Re: Chris Bryan signed by the Packers.

Good on him. :thumbsu: Hope he makes the final roster.
 
Re: Chris Bryan signed by the Packers.

The Great Barry Besanko said:
Well done to you and Nathan getting him on the squad. But whatever way you look at it, it is a try out in that he will compete with other punters for the starting position as all the Aussie punters that have made it.
Click to expand...

Let's just define the term try-out, as it affects punters and kickers.

Try-out to me means that you get assesed by the NFL team on their territory.

Based on that try-out, the team will make a decision on whether they bring the player back for a further assessment (still a try-out) or sign the player to a free agent contract.If you don't sign a free-agent contract, they don't want you. They are always happy to say they will see you next year.

Once a player has signed a free agent contract and takes part in a number of practice sessions, we are past the try-out phase. It is then a competition with the other punter or punters.

But just to clarify, the performance of a free agent player is constantly monitored during OTAs (Organised Team Activities) and pre-season games. They can be cut at any time - just as a punter/kicker can be cut at any time during the regular season.
 
Re: Chris Bryan signed by the Packers.

Is there a more difficult place to punt than Green Bay? Pittsburgh or Chicago possibly, but still a very different prospect week in week out compared to Benny at Arizona.

Interested to know where and what sort of conditions he tested in... big difference kicking in warm still conditions at a camp compared with extreme cold and strong winds in Wisconsin.

Great news though, hope he takes his opportunity by the scruff of the neck and establishes himself in the NFL.
 
Re: Chris Bryan signed by the Packers.

Johnny Smith said:
Johnny Smith
ProKick Australia
www.prokickaustralia.com
Click to expand...

Thanks and congrat's Johnny.

Pretty impressive that the first team to look at him took a punt (pardon the pun).

I read somewhere the Saints were one of those other teams. Was that true?
 
Re: Chris Bryan signed by the Packers.

JeffDunne said:
Thanks and congrat's Johnny.

Pretty impressive that the first team to look at him took a punt (pardon the pun).

I read somewhere the Saints were one of those other teams. Was that true?
Click to expand...

Thanks Jeff.

The Saints made an enquiry late last year, but they were not one of the 4 teams Chris was due to visit. It would not be good form to mention those teams now that Green Bay have signed Chris. It might be of interest to you that I played football with Sean Payton at the Leicester Panthers in the late 80s, he always was going to be a top coach, you could see it then. He is a top bloke, still mad as a hatter.

The Saints drafted Thomas Morestead from SMU, and he and Hartley really performed when it mattered in the play-offs. So their interest tailed off.

Hey, I really appreciate the informed comments on this forum, always open to a spot of dialogue and banter. We do not get enough of it over here.

What always amuses me are the " he was dud AFL player. so why would he do well in the NFL?" comments.

The best way to look at the competition for NFL for punting and kicking places is to compare it to the U.S PGA.

There are probably 50 blokes who could win a starting job out of the 32 places available. Maintaining form is everything. So over the course of a 3 year cycle there is a heap of movement by the same 50 players across different teams.

And each year a new crop of rookies from College appear on the scene!

That's why Chris's achievement should be applauded, he has secured a foothold in an incredibly tight competition.
 
Re: Chris Bryan signed by the Packers.

well with the 3 year contract it shows they have faith in him, and as a packers fan i know that the special teams was weak all season with bad punting by Kapinos and Crosby missing game winning FG's and having Will Balckmon our returner on IR most of the season the whole Special teams needed improvement, IMO the only Special Teams high notes were some of Jordy Nelsons returns and most things the Spencer Havner did he stoped many returners before they got past the 30
 
Re: Chris Bryan signed by the Packers.

It's great to see someone coming in here and informing people about the decision, thanks for all the information.

Good luck to him, it's a tough job to get and like you said there is a heap of punters but not so many positions. Funny, a couple years ago if you looked at the Magpie list and said Chris Bryan would be making more money than anyone else you'd be crazy. And now it could happen.

I like the video posted in the article linked in the OP. It has a YouTube video of Stokes smothering Bryan and kicking a goal. A great goal, but the caption is "Bryan has a kick blocked". As if thats a transferable thing from one sport to the other. Still a great goal though
 
Re: Chris Bryan signed by the Packers.

I saw that too scarecrow, quite misleading. Also the part where it says he 'appears' to be a left footer (as if the video posted immediately after doesn't indicate this). Can't complain though, they're just trying to give as much info about him as possible so that's cool with me.

After watching the vid posted, there is good distance and hangtime, and being so young and a left footer to boot (pardon the pun) bodes well for his future.

Not only is it another Aussie in the NFL, it's yet another Victorian too joining the likes of McBriar, Rocca and Graham. Even our own Johnny Smith represented Vic.

I hope he is the Packers starting punter, it'll mean another NFC punter too. With Dallas set to play Arizona, Green Bay and Philly twice this season there'll be aussies left, right and centre.

Is there any news on the other ex-Magpie big man Anthony Rocca's punting prospects?
 

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Re: Chris Bryan signed by the Packers.

Johnny Smith said:
Hey, I really appreciate the informed comments on this forum, always open to a spot of dialogue and banter. We do not get enough of it over here.

What always amuses me are the " he was dud AFL player. so why would he do well in the NFL?" comments.
Click to expand...

You wont find those sorts of comments on this board Johnny, I think I speak for everyone here when I say that we want Aussies to do well in the NFL so it gets more of a footprint in Australia and grows the game. Every little bit helps and with McBriar, Graham, Rocca and now Bryan getting a foot in the door, it benefits all of us on here who are genuine, knowledgeable NFL fans.

Further to that, how is the expanded Prokick going with teaching Aussies the skills of the positional players? Any luck with any ex-Rugby guys or some basketballers who could become WRs?

I'm personally very interested in this cross code thing and I believe if the game were to grow in Australia we could provide some amazing athletes to the NFL. I currently live in Toronto and am trying to grow AFL over here, it amazes me that the AFL pours money into South Africa rather than North America where we have thousands of kids over here who do bugger all once their college careers are over. Most of them play NCAA Div I Football or Basketball, then never play sport again once they graduate.
 
Re: Chris Bryan signed by the Packers.

Nappies, I think we could really look at expanding when we have a few more runs on the board.

If we have to be subjected to the " AFL/NRL players coudl play in the NFL" annual debate then count me out.

Kick/punt return specialist aside, IMHO I coudl not see anyone making an NFL roster unless they have been through the U.S.College system.

Australia has so many great athletes who could cut the mustard if they served the correct apprenticeship in U.S.College.

That's why I prefer to train younger blokes to achieve full U.S. scholarships for punting/kicking. After 4/5 years in Div 1, they have a much better chance to make the big time and they have the benefit of a college education.

But the NFL makes all the headlines over here.
 
Re: Chris Bryan signed by the Packers.

Congrats to Chris and he was a booming kick with us when he started his career at Carlton.

Appreciate the input Johnny Smith and i wish Chris the best of luck and it is great to have another aussie in the NFL. Well done also on the hard work you put in to get these types a real shot at making it in the NFL. :thumbsu:
 
Re: Chris Bryan signed by the Packers.

redragger said:
Just having a look at Green Bay's incumbent - Jeremy Kapinos - stats, he may not have a lot to beat out. Close to last in the NFL for basically all punting stats last year. Although I'd imagine punting in GB would be a slightly more difficult proposition than say Ben Graham's situation in 'Zona...
Click to expand...

Haha, understatement of the year...

All facets of Special Teams were atrocious for us, and Kapinos pretty much threw his teammates under a bus when quizzed about his poor performance.

I would really like to see a Punter who can kick under pressure. Kapinos would often shank kicks after a poor offensive series etc.,

But agreed, it wouldn't be hard to be an improvement on Kapinos...
 
Re: Chris Bryan signed by the Packers.

Johnny Smith said:
Nappies, I think we could really look at expanding when we have a few more runs on the board.

If we have to be subjected to the " AFL/NRL players coudl play in the NFL" annual debate then count me out.

Kick/punt return specialist aside, IMHO I coudl not see anyone making an NFL roster unless they have been through the U.S.College system.

Australia has so many great athletes who could cut the mustard if they served the correct apprenticeship in U.S.College.

That's why I prefer to train younger blokes to achieve full U.S. scholarships for punting/kicking. After 4/5 years in Div 1, they have a much better chance to make the big time and they have the benefit of a college education.

But the NFL makes all the headlines over here.
Click to expand...

I totally agree with your sentiments on having to go through the College system. It just seems that with all the flip-flopping of players between League, Union, AFL there seems to be a window of opportunity to poach players out at a young age and get them into a College system if they have the measurables. I guess it would take an 18 year old to give up on his dream of playing NRL, AFL, ARU...but to get a 4 year scholarship to college in the US, that would be pretty inviting.

Redshirt them as a true freshman, give them two years as a benchrider and see what happens. I think Aussies are very versatile and with our sporting background we acquire a lot of different skills. The one difference with NFL is having the book smarts and the cognitive ability to soak up the playbook and execute that every weekend.

Interesting topic though, and one I would like to see explored.
 
scarecrow2k1 said:
Im confused by that article critising Bryan. Also I find it hard to believe that Anthony Rocca signed with Philly. I figure'd Sav was safe, and why would Anthony be trying to compete with him for a spot?
Click to expand...

You are not as confused as Bob McKinn from the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel. The " mediocre punter" described in that article is not Chris. Chris has not taken part in any camps and his Green Bay tryout was conducted in complete privacy with only Green Bay coaches in attendance . There are so many inaccuracies in that article it is disturbing. A real case of mistaken identity and not enough research once again.
 
Johnny Smith said:
You are not as confused as Bob McKinn from the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel. The " mediocre punter" described in that article is not Chris. Chris has not taken part in any camps and his Green Bay tryout was conducted in complete privacy with only Green Bay coaches in attendance . There are so many inaccuracies in that article it is disturbing. A real case of mistaken identity and not enough research once again.
Click to expand...

Well I'm glad the faulty reporting didn't get in the way of his job chances, just a shame the same piece was picked up in the media here
 
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