Female kicker to attend NFL scouting combine


Former soccer player realizes odds are stacked against her

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lauren Silberman has a scant chance at making the NFL.

Silberman never kicked anything more than a soccer ball in an organized game, and she just started practising long-range field goals.

Even so, the first female kicker scheduled to try out at an NFL regional scouting combine would like to see where her new hobby will take her. In an era where Danica Patrick can contend against men in motor sports, Silberman is about to take a big kick forward for female athletes, even if the odds are clearly stacked against her. The 28-year-old Silberman will kick Sunday at the New York Jets' training facility in Florham Park, N.J.

'I realize that I may not make an NFL team this year,' Silberman told NFL.com. 'But for me, I'm expecting to have fun, to meet really interesting people and hopefully perfect my technique from the other tremendous kickers that will be in attendance.' Her goal for the weekend is a true long shot - perfect 60-yard field goals. Odds are, though, that scouts will want to see her connect on extra points and chip-shot field goals with some consistency before moving on to the heavy kicking. Silberman will compete against more accomplished or polished college kickers, all hoping to prove they have the leg strength and accuracy worthy of earning an invite to an NFL training camp. St. Louis Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein participated in a regional combine last year before he was drafted and morphed into 'Legatron.' Silberman won't be kicking against the best of the sure-footed prospects, but there will be talent there regardless. The regional combines debuted in 2011 and feature players who weren't among the 333 invited to the main combine in Indianapolis. The league is holding these sessions in 10 cities this season, with the most impressive players advancing to a super-regional in April in Dallas. It's sort of the sports version of a TV reality show, where each hit and tackle can wow a scout and move a player on to the next round. Only instead of a recording contract, it's an NFL one.