Exactly, there isn't a way of knowing unless he suits up. Which I've already said I hope he never does--so all we have right now is speculation but you're just counting him out without any kind of argument to back yourself up. At least I've presented SOMETHING. All you've said is "not every great athlete is a great NFL player". No kidding, but not only is he a great athlete--he was a great football player and on the path to the NFL as much as he was on the path to the NBA. Football was his first love anyways, basketball was a chance for him to make more money and much faster. And I'm not even going to waste your time or mine arguing who is the better athlete between Calvin Johnson and LeBron James. It's nothing against Johnson, but there hasn't been anyone EVER who can match what LeBron has, everything considered.

http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/26/randy-moss-thinks-lebron-james-could-be-a-star-in-nfl/

"LeBron James is the athlete that comes around every so often," Moss told me by phone Monday. "I would put myself in that category. We're multi-talented, able to go out and play different sports, different positions." ...

"That's a good comparison," Moss said. "I think LeBron could come in and do better than Antonio Gates. ... I believe that he could be a star in this game."

There was a scout, I forget his name, but he is to football what Sonny Vaccaro is to basketball. He's been doing it for 40+ years and he hadn't seen anything close to LeBron since Randy Moss. Look at the high school players in between Randy and LeBron and who ended up doing what--that's REALLY saying something. I can't remember the guys name, I remember reading the article about a year ago though. It's kind of hard to find, I'm trying to search for it.

Trueblue23 wrote: Not sure LeBron has the toughness to play in the NFL.

Brevin Knight agrees.

^I bet Kobe has the toughness though, right?!

LeBron may be able to play football and play it very well. but what if he gets hurt? The Browns still stink, and the Cavs return to the middle oF the pack at the very best. Let's just allow LeBron to give the Cleveland fans their best shot at a Championship of any kind and figure the Browns are terminal. Even if LeBron played football, Who throws him the ball? Who would protect him from rushing linemen? The answer, of course, is nobody.

LOL, well let's be honest here. If LeBron were going to play football the Cavs would go back to middle of the pack injury or not--there is no way in hell he could do both. Not to mention, it isn't about who is throwing him the ball or any of that. It's about him being able to play football--doesn't mean he'd have to play for the Browns lol.

Why do some of you think he could run a 4.3. Some of you do not realize that a true 4.3 is very rare and all those kids at OSU that run a 4.3 actually don't. Last year there was only 2 guys at the combine that ran a sub 4.4 forty. Remember Cris Wells and his 40 time at osu. 4.3 something right? then he goes to the combine and he is at 4.5. 4.3 is rare and lebron would be lucky to hit 4.6 with his body right now.

You're nuts dude. Everyone knew Beanie wasn't a 4.3 guy, I knew that no matter what his 40 time was on OSU's track. But I'm not going to argue about it, if you don't think that LeBron could break 4.45 then you're certifiably nuts in my book.

I did some research and Lebron was timed at 4.4 speed while in high school. Since then he has gained at least 40 pounds. There is no way he would be able to run the 40 yard dash in less then 4.5 seconds in his current "basketball shape" Give him a year or two and he would be back to 4.4 IMO and would be a force in the NFL.

SQ_Crazies wrote: You're nuts dude. Everyone knew Beanie wasn't a 4.3 guy, I knew that no matter what his 40 time was on OSU's track. But I'm not going to argue about it, if you don't think that LeBron could break 4.45 then you're certifiably nuts in my book.

He was just an example that people don't run as fast as advertised in NCAA football. Like Taylor Mays from USC does not run a 4.2 forty and TP does not run a 4.3 either. It always shows at the combine.

Also the 4.4 that Lebron ran was hand timed by a scout. Not electronically so you normally add time to that. 40 times are never legit unless they are electronically timed IMO.

So he added 40 pounds since then...so he's slower. LOL, that absolutely does NOT mean he's slower. He's DEFINTELY faster than he was in high school, you've shot your whole argument to pieces by saying that he isn't.

SQ_Crazies wrote: So he added 40 pounds since then...so he's slower. LOL, that absolutely does NOT mean he's slower. He's DEFINTELY faster than he was in high school, you've shot your whole argument to pieces by saying that he isn't.

So because I say added weight and the fact that he does not work on speed as long as guys in the NFL when working out makes my argument false? Normally when you gain weight you do loose speed. The hardest thing for a football player to do is gain weight and keep their speed. Since he does not work out like a football player than I don't see how he could be any faster now than what he was before the added weight.

Because when he was timed running a 4.4 he was a string bean compared to what he is now. He's added 40 pounds of muscle and power. I'm done with this argument. He's faster than he was in high school. You can see it on the basketball court, how in the world can you honestly believe that he is slower than he was in high school? LOL, I mean really, in my life I have yet to hear many things more ridiculous than that.

LeBron has become one of the fastest players in the NBA, I have no doubt that he is faster than when he was in high school.

SQ_Crazies wrote: Because when he was timed running a 4.4 he was a string bean compared to what he is now. He's added 40 pounds of muscle and power. I'm done with this argument. He's faster than he was in high school. You can see it on the basketball court, how in the world can you honestly believe that he is slower than he was in high school? LOL, I mean really, in my life I have yet to hear many things more ridiculous than that.

We are not talking about faster while playing the game of basketball. I am saying faster on a track.

devil1197 wrote: LeBron has become one of the fastest players in the NBA, I have no doubt that he is faster than when he was in high school.

But is he faster on the track or in pads is the question? Sure he can chase down guys who are dribbling a ball and he is fast as hell but 4.5 is fast as hell and 4.3 is and should be unbelieved until it is done IMO.

I don't think there is much doubt he can play in the NFL.

At the very least, he would be used situationally in the red zone to catch lob passes. He would score 10 TDs without even being that polished in any other area.

LeBron reportedly ran a 4.4 in high school. And he is definitely faster now. Even in pads he's still a low 4.5 at worst.

Not to mention the 44 inch vertical and the great hands.

He would have no problem in the NFL.

Non wrote: I don't think there is much doubt he can play in the NFL.

At the very least, he would be used situationally in the red zone to catch lob passes. He would score 10 TDs without even being that polished in any other area.

I also think he would block a shit ton of field goals and extra points. Look how many Rodgers gets just by being tall. He would be able to jump up and grab the ball and then run with it lol.

bo shemmy3337 wrote:

devil1197 wrote: LeBron has become one of the fastest players in the NBA, I have no doubt that he is faster than when he was in high school.

But is he faster on the track or in pads is the question? Sure he can chase down guys who are dribbling a ball and he is fast as hell but 4.5 is fast as hell and 4.3 is and should be unbelieved until it is done IMO.

Yes, I feel he would be just as fast on the track and faster than most guys with pads on.

Face it, he is a freak athlete just look at him. What guys his size can run like he does on the court? Then you add in his long strides (a reason why Bolt is fast).

What does a track have to do with basketball or football?

If he's faster on the basketball court, he'd be faster on the track and faster on the field.

SQ_Crazies wrote: What does a track have to do with basketball or football?

If he's faster on the basketball court, he'd be faster on the track and faster on the field.

We can agree to disagree then.

Long strides do not help you in the 40 yard dash time, if anything they hurt you. Long strides mean you usually have great top end speed but start off kind of slow(Usain Bolt)

^LOL, you're kidding right?

Between this and the Shockey thread I've never seen so many people make themselves look completely stupid by stretching sooo far to make their argument. Not even on CNN LOL.

No im not kidding, In a short distance long steps do not help you. With longer strides it takes you longer to get at top speed. But when you do get at top speed you have better top end speed Like Usain Bolt. Is it really that hard to understand?