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That was the verdict of Olympian Mike Rodgers
as National Football League wide receiver DK Metcalf prepares to
compete in the 100-metre sprint at Sunday's USA Track and Field
(USATF) Golden Games and Distance Open in Walnut, California.
The Seattle Seahawk, who posted a 4.33-second, 40-yard dash at
the 2019 NFL combine, is competing in hope of earning a spot at
next month's U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. He famously
chased down a 90-yard interception in an October game with a top
speed of 22.64 mph (36.44 kph), according to NFL data.
But veterans of the track were sceptical.
Rodgers, who will compete against Metcalf in the 100-metre
sprint, told reporters in an online media briefing that he
watched video of Metcalf's combine performance and believes he
saw the wide receiver's energy flagging near the end.
"And he has to do it twice – and that’s if he gets through the
first round," he said of Sunday's competition. An attempt to
reach Metcalf's agent on Thursday was unsuccessful.
Rodgers, who picked up gold in the 100-metre relay at the 2019
World Championships, said NFL players often do not have the
mechanics and weight distribution techniques of sprinters.
USATF's qualifying standard for the Olympic trials is 10.05
seconds for the men's 100 metres.
"The track and field community has been going back and forth
with the NFL community as to who’s actually fast and who’s not,"
said Rai Benjamin, who won gold in the 2019 World Championship
in the 400-metre relay and will compete in the 400-metre hurdles
Sunday.
"By no means am I discounting DK. I think he’s a phenomenal
athlete and it takes a lot of guts and heart to actually come
out and line up against the guys that are in the field."
(Reporting by Amy Tennery; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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