In the spirit of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, we're projecting which NFL players would be best suited to participate in 10 popular sports.
During the 1990s, there would've been several great NFL candidates in the boxing category. Ken Norton Jr. is the son of the former heavyweight champion of the world. Everyone remembers the epic on-field boxing display by Deion Sanders and Andre Rison during the 1994 season. Former return specialist Vai Sikahema was a very accomplished amateur boxer while growing up and famously knocked out Jose Canseco during a celebrity match in 2008.
That said, there also some current players with potential in the ring, including one with genuine results. Here are my top three current boxing candidates:
Tom Zbikowski, SS, Indianapolis Colts
This was the easy choice. Zbikowski is a very accomplished fighter. He began boxing at the age of 8 and compiled an amateur record of 60-13. He made his professional debut in 2006 and knocked out his opponent within the first minute of the fight. Zbikowski currently holds a perfect record (4-0) as a professional boxer.
Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans
Johnson is one of the most athletically gifted wide receivers the NFL has ever seen. A few years ago, he proved he can also be one of the most violent players at the position. Johnson reached his boiling point with cornerback Cortland Finnegan (then a member of the Tennessee Titans) and they exchanged several blows. Johnson clearly landed the bigger shots, including a couple vicious haymakers, and would've scored a knockout if the scuffle hadn't been broken up.
Josh Kaddu, LB, Miami Dolphins
I struggled to find a third candidate in this category, but decided to trust in the genes of the Dolphins' 2012 fifth-rounder. Kaddu's father, Fred Kaddu, was a dominating boxer in Africa. He was the heavyweight champion of the 1987 All-Africa Games. Josh has the look of a great boxer with an ideal combination of height, reach and foot speed. And you'd figure he picked up a few tips from his father growing up.
Follow Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter @MoveTheSticks.
