- Messages
- 153,579
From the Geelong Footy Club Official Site (damn)
Graham confident gamble will pay off
1:17:12 PM Thu 28 October, 2004
Sportal
Ben Graham is confident his decision to leave Geelong and gamble on a career as a punter in the NFL will be the right one in the long-term.
The 30-year-old, who informed the Cats on Wednesday of his intention to pursue his dream with the New York Jets, said he had been given every indication that he had the credentials to be a success.
"I know that in the time that I've had with the footy that my results in gross distance and hang time have basically outweighed any punters that are kicking the ball over there at the moment," Graham told radio station SEN 1116 on Thursday.
"The average age (of punters) is 34 but there are three or four or five that are in their 40s. I'm not going over there saying, 'well I'm going to have one shot at it'.
"If it doesn't quite work out in the short term, I'll be definitely making sure that I'm over there for the long term."
"You have to be competitive, you have to work hard, you have to, you know, do what you can to make it and that's what I'm planning to do."
Graham has spent the past few weeks having informal trials with four NFL clubs, including the Jets.
The 12-year veteran at Geelong is hoping to follow in the path of former Melbourne player Darren Bennett, who has successfully forged a career as a punter with San Diego and now the Minnesotta Vikings.
Graham has sounded out Bennett in the United States about how to make his new career a success.
"The advice that he gave me, he just said to me, 'when you come over, be just like a sponge, just take everything in you possibly can'," Graham said.
"When I went over there originally, there was every intention that I would play another year (in the AFL) but it all sort of pointed to if I left it too late I may not get that opportunity."
The former Cat said his head was still spinning about how events had unfolded in recent weeks.
"I just can't stress enough how hard the decision was and now that it's made, we're going to grab it with both hands and go for it a hundred percent."
Graham confident gamble will pay off
1:17:12 PM Thu 28 October, 2004
Sportal
Ben Graham is confident his decision to leave Geelong and gamble on a career as a punter in the NFL will be the right one in the long-term.
The 30-year-old, who informed the Cats on Wednesday of his intention to pursue his dream with the New York Jets, said he had been given every indication that he had the credentials to be a success.
"I know that in the time that I've had with the footy that my results in gross distance and hang time have basically outweighed any punters that are kicking the ball over there at the moment," Graham told radio station SEN 1116 on Thursday.
"The average age (of punters) is 34 but there are three or four or five that are in their 40s. I'm not going over there saying, 'well I'm going to have one shot at it'.
"If it doesn't quite work out in the short term, I'll be definitely making sure that I'm over there for the long term."
"You have to be competitive, you have to work hard, you have to, you know, do what you can to make it and that's what I'm planning to do."
Graham has spent the past few weeks having informal trials with four NFL clubs, including the Jets.
The 12-year veteran at Geelong is hoping to follow in the path of former Melbourne player Darren Bennett, who has successfully forged a career as a punter with San Diego and now the Minnesotta Vikings.
Graham has sounded out Bennett in the United States about how to make his new career a success.
"The advice that he gave me, he just said to me, 'when you come over, be just like a sponge, just take everything in you possibly can'," Graham said.
"When I went over there originally, there was every intention that I would play another year (in the AFL) but it all sort of pointed to if I left it too late I may not get that opportunity."
The former Cat said his head was still spinning about how events had unfolded in recent weeks.
"I just can't stress enough how hard the decision was and now that it's made, we're going to grab it with both hands and go for it a hundred percent."
