Well, that was fun while it lasted. Just days after announcing a planned attempt at playing in the NFL, former NBA guard Nate Robinson has signed a deal with an Israeli basketball team, as Chuck Myron of Hoops Rumors writes. Robinson, a former football standout at the University of Washington, had not stepped on the gridiron in more than a decade. Now, his NFL dream is on hiatus and, perhaps, done for good.
Here’s the latest on the guys who are still hoping to play in the NFL in 2016:
- Is this NFL free agency or a rom-com? The Jaguars tried to convince free agent Kelvin Beachum not to board his flight, hoping that he would stay and sign a contract before leaving (Twitter link via Josina Anderson of ESPN.com). However, the Steelers free agent tackle was already in his seat and could not leave the plane (link). Beachum is now on his way back to Pittsburgh where he says he will evaluate things (link). The tackle also has interest from the Jets and Jaguars.
- Free agent defensive end Jason Jones visited the Steelers, per Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Jones, 29, has been a full-time starter for the Lions for the last two seasons, picking up a total of 9.5 sacks in his last two seasons. In 2015, Pro Football Focus ranked him 43rd out of 110 qualified edge defenders, assigning him solid grades as both as a pass rusher and a run defender.
- Free agent tackle Andre Smith says that things are “even” between the Vikings and the Cardinals. Smith, the 38th-ranked player in PFR’s top 50 free agents list, was on the field for 567 pass snaps and 414 run snaps last season.
“Kelvin, don’t leave! We can work this out!” Clearly, Beachum’s not a Friends fan. Beachum and Okung’s decisions will have an interesting ripple effect for a left tackle market that hasn’t really progressed yet, with Donald Penn as well probably waiting on what transpires with the younger tackles. This derby could well decide what position Kelechi Osemele winds up playing in Oakland.