Wow monaro, some league players can box.
In American football, it is illegal to punch another player, so whether or not a player can box is beside the point.
Boxing doesn't expecially make you good at playing another sport.
You'd be surprised at how tough the little guys are. And besides, they are bigger than many NRL players (especially the halves and hookers), so size really wouldn't make a difference.
And just because the NFL players have a gut doesn't make them poor athletes. A lineman has the most physically tiring job of any American football player...he has to act as a brick wall preventing the opponent from getting through. They are very strong men, and, while not really physically suited for league, are superb athletes.
Rememer, American football has no ten meter rule. If they did, then linemen would be pointless and wouldn't be in the game.
Just because Choc boxes doesn't make him better than American footballers.
And you also have taken photograph from different contexts...the NFL shots are mostly between plays, while the RL shots are action photos.
I could do the exact opposite thing, but I'm not.
And if you are going to doubt the athleticism of American footballers, then I have just 5 words for you. BO JACKSON and DEION SANDERS.