NFL Player Jalen Ramsey says he could make the NHL with 6 months training

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by Zoller

NFL is by far the most athletic sports league in the world. NFL players are athletically superior to NHL players. I don't think anyone can dispute that.

However, hockey requires more skill than athleticism. No amount of athleticism can overcome the decades of practice a NHL player needs to reach that level.

Likewise, no amount of training will turn you into a top level NFL athlete. (We're talking the very top echelon here) The very best are, quite literally, genetically superior to the rest of us.

I have no doubt in my mind that if these top level NFL athletes had chosen hockey over football they would absolutely dominate the NHL today. But you're not erasing a 15 year skill gap in less than a year, no matter how athletic you are.

Don't agree with that at all. If you can run really fast, are tall, and can catch a football you can be a wide receiver in the NFL. Lots of track and field transition to the NFL.

[Zoller]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Can't say I agree with the opening statement.

How are you defining athletic?

Are you suggesting that the o-line and d-line are more athletic than say ...

Elite swimmers
Elite boxers
Usain Bolt and other track athletes?

When I suggest that NFL has the best athletes of any major sport, I'm not talking about the o-line and d-line. I'm talking about the top echelon athletes in the NFL.

Your definition of athletic may be different from mine. But I tend to consider things like speed, agility, and explosiveness as being weighted more heavily in terms of athleticism.

I deliberately didn't include Olympic level athletes because they are simply the best of the best. Usain Bolt changed what we thought about sprinting. No one ever thought a man that tall could be that fast. But that's a different discussion. Track and field is literally the best that humanity has to offer in terms of athleticism.

As far as the 4 major sports leagues in North America go, the NFL has the best athletes.

Swimming is a different story. While top level swimmers are most definitely elite athletes, I typically wouldn't include things such as bone density and body fat percentage when talking about athleticism. (In regards to swimming, having a lower bone density and slightly higher body fat percentage can help with buoyancy)

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by Zoller

When I suggest that NFL has the best athletes of any major sport, I'm not talking about the o-line and d-line. I'm talking about the top echelon athletes in the NFL.

Your definition of athletic may be different from mine. But I tend to consider things like speed, agility, and explosiveness as being weighted more heavily in terms of athleticism.

I deliberately didn't include Olympic level athletes because they are simply the best of the best. Usain Bolt changed what we thought about sprinting. No one ever thought a man that tall could be that fast. But that's a different discussion. Track and field is literally the best that humanity has to offer in terms of athleticism.

As far as the 4 major sports leagues in North America go, the NFL has the best athletes.

Swimming is a different story. While top level swimmers are most definitely elite athletes, I typically wouldn't include things such as bone density and body fat percentage when talking about athleticism. (In regards to swimming, having a lower bone density and slightly higher body fat percentage can help with buoyancy)

and again I don't agree, even when considering your metrics on how to measure athleticism. You're hand picking a few athletes in select positions and using that to toss the entire league ahead of others.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

and again I don't agree, even when considering your metrics on how to measure athleticism. You're hand picking a few athletes in select positions and using that to toss the entire league ahead of others.

You're being silly. There's nowhere else in the world where you see the combination of strength, speed and size except maybe in basketball. You put up prime insert nhl player against prime TO and prime LeBron in an athletic competition that nhl player will come in 3rd.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by FlamingLonghorn

You're being silly. There's nowhere else in the world where you see the combination of strength, speed and size except maybe in basketball. You put up prime insert nhl player against prime TO and prime LeBron in an athletic competition that nhl player will come in 3rd.

until you put the other two on skates. To test their agility on a different surface.

I think it's silly to say that elite athletes who train for their specific sport are better than other elite athletes who train for different aspects of their sports.

You don't make the NHL, NFL, or NBA unless you have elite athleticism. Period.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by FlamingLonghorn

You're being silly. There's nowhere else in the world where you see the combination of strength, speed and size

Because there's nowhere else in the world where so many different specialized athletes all play the same sport. You don't see any one player with the strength AND the speed AND the size of the best players at each position.

[DeluxeMoustache]

So here’s the thing about hockey as compared to others sports.

- Hockey players skate as fast as Usain Bolt runs. Routinely they have to not just move at that speed, but to react to other players moving the same speed, and handle the puck as well
- Hockey time is continuous. Football players only have to play for a few seconds per play. And they don’t run nearly as fast as hockey players skate.
- Hockey is physical, you have some similarity to football in that regard, but no other major team sports really permit that degree of physicality
- Baseball has players at the limits of human hand-eye capability, hitting a ball going around 90-100 mph. Or ... the speed of a slap shot. Which a goalie may have to catch, but it’s not necessarily coming from 60 feet away, and there may be guys in the way, trying to redirect it. Footballs, basketballs - comparatively slow moving
- Hockey requires precision, picking a corner is like shooting a 3 pointer.

I don’t know about how a guy defines athleticism but seems like hockey has elements that take the best of all of the other (and lesser) sports.

Hockey is the best. I have to assume its athletes are the best.

[FlamesAddiction]

Puck handing while skating is one of those things that people not familiar with hockey often underestimate.

If you are an adult and never skated, you aren't going to become an elite skater in 6 months (and likely ever). But even if you did, you certainly aren't going to master puck handling while skating, hitting, taking hits, hockey IQ, positions, strategy, shooting, passing, etc...

[saXon]

When I read about players' dentists pulling wood from sticks out of their faces and going back out to finish 2 more periods, or playing for a 1/4 of a season with 3 bodily injuries that require surgery to properly heal, then I consider that athleticism. Football players are upper echelon athletes, yes, but the pop of a knee, a wrist, or a rib and they are out on the golf cart stretcher, in a season all of 16 games.

[dino7c]

Hockey is one of the hardest sports to play...this guy is looking for attention and is getting it

[Nage Waza]

I played football, without every watching a single game on tv. I played mainly defence (linebacker), but did take snaps at running back. I did just fine, but only because I could run fast. I had a shot at Uni level football, but didn't want the commitment (it is a lot of work that really cuts into all of your study time).

I played div 1 soccer, and was a really good defender. I never watched soccer on tv, even once. I would probably miss on a penalty shot. I did just fine, but only because I could run fast. I started playing when I was 30.

I played hockey since I was a kid, but wasn't on a coached team or anything like that. Mainly outdoor hockey in the winter. I am pretty good, and lately focus on playing D. Any time there is anyone who played or almost played anything near midget or higher can skate around me with almost no effort. I am a good player, but anyone who trained since they were a kid can skate completely around me (or through me).

I could play football against way better players, soccer against way better players, but in hockey I have no chance at all against better players.

I would skate circles around NFL guy, even with a few years training, and I suck.

[indes]

Isn't hockey regarded as one of the most difficult sports on the planet? Due to what other people have already said (skating, awareness, stickhandling). Running, catching and blocking are all inherent skills. Skating and stickhandling are non inherent skills which people who haven't played hockey don't have. He would get rolled by bantam players for his first 6 months.

[DeluxeMoustache]

^ Exactly. I didn’t even mention strategy and recognizing and reacting to strategies changing in real time.

I just wonder what the best beer league is that this joker could navigate, if any.

6 months to learn how to skate at an elite level is impossible, never mind other skills and game situations.

That guy is an idiot

[schteve_d]

Have you ever been to an Old-Timer's game of ex-NHLer's ? These guys are getting up in age and play some pretty fit, young firemen and policemen; some of whom have some hockey experience and have been playing for years. The NHLers absolutely toy with them and make them look downright silly now and then just to prove they've still got it.

This twit should really give it a go.

[ST20]

I think some of you guys are confusing skill and toughness with athleticism. Hockey is a highly skilled sport and probably the hardest sport for any athlete to pick up because it's not "natural" to skate vs run around. Nevermind, skating with a stick and you head on a swivel with someone chasing you down continuously at very high speeds.

However, I define athleticism by physical exertion (cardio, strength, agility, etc.). By this definition hockey is not the most athletic sport when compared to other sports. Once you have picked up the skill of skating it's much easier and less taxing on the body to skate then it is to run (impact on joints, friction etc). Being able to play hurt is a mental thing not an athletic thing (also much easier to skate on a tweaked knee than run on it).

If you want to go by the eye test you can even compare locker room interviews and see a soccer, basketballs or football player (depending on position) without a shirt vs a hockey player.

In short hockey is probably the toughest sport to play but I'd say it's not the most athletic.

[Since1984]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Hockey is one of the hardest sports to play...this guy is looking for attention and is getting it

As one of the top DB's in the NFL he gets all the attention he needs. He's just an outspoken amazing young athlete. Just confident in his abilities. Some people hate his trash talking, I for one love you. How often do we even hear NFL all Stars speak of the NHL?

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Since1984

As one of the top DB's in the NFL he gets all the attention he needs. He's just an outspoken amazing young athlete. Just confident in his abilities. Some people hate his trash talking, I for one love you. How often do we even hear NFL all Stars speak of the NHL?

Jalen Ramsey is awesome. Full stop.
Hes out to lunch here though.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by Since1984

As one of the top DB's in the NFL he gets all the attention he needs. He's just an outspoken amazing young athlete. Just confident in his abilities. Some people hate his trash talking, I for one love you. How often do we even hear NFL all Stars speak of the NHL?

Thanks, I love you too.

[FlamingLonghorn]

How many nhl players compete in other sports? There are numerous NFL players who have competed in track and field Olympics and other sports. You guys are talking about skill not athleticism. Using a stick and Puck is not athletecism.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by ST20

However, I define athleticism by physical exertion (cardio, strength, agility, etc.). By this definition hockey is not the most athletic sport when compared to other sports. Once you have picked up the skill of skating it's much easier and less taxing on the body to skate then it is to run (impact on joints, friction etc). Being able to play hurt is a mental thing not an athletic thing (also much easier to skate on a tweaked knee than run on it).

I would include skating as part of "agility". The other skills necessary for the game would be under dexterity, or again agility. It's not such a stretch to include the necessary skills to play a game as part of its athleticism.