J’Nathan Bullock to Work Out for Browns

by Chris Pokorny on Apr 2, 2009 12:14 PM EDT in General News Comment 16 comments

For those of you who were excited to see Cleveland State University (CSU) advance as far they did this season in NCAAB, here's a question for you: how would you like to see one of their basketball players in a football uniform? Specifically, a uniform of the Cleveland Browns.

According to Pro Football Talk, CSU basketball player J’Nathan Bullock will try out for several NFL teams on April 10, including the Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears and the Cleveland Browns.

At 6-foot-5, 245-pounds, Bullock is hoping to draw some interest as a tight end. Considering this is the same way that San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates broke into the league, it's definitely intriguing to take a look at him.

In high school, Bullock played every skill position as well as defensive end and linebacker.

Link

Wouldn't that be something -- you dump Kellen Winslow and end up finding Gates-like productivity from a person who didn't play college football.

Poll

Should the Browns consider adding J'Nathan Bullock to their roster when he becomes available?

Yes

350 votes

No

19 votes

369 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Would we have to use a draft pick for him or will he be a FA. If its the latter im for us taking him.

by BradyQuinnisBeast on Apr 2, 2009 12:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We’d have to wait for him to become an UDFA.

The Chargers signed Gates as an UDFA on May 2, 2003. Not much action in his first year, but nothing but explosiveness after that.

Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.

by Chris Pokorny on Apr 2, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

With only 5 draft picks, I don’t know if Bullock is a gamble they’d want to take on Sunday. However, if they do their due diligence after his workout, and are satisfied with picks 1-4, a 6th round flier on him cannot be much riskier than that of the collegiate football players available at that time. Something tells me though that drafting someone on pure, physical ability alone is something that Savage or Butch Davis would have done, but not Kokinis/Mangini.

All that being said, I’m all for bringing him in as a free agent if he goes undrafted. And kudos to Chris, for phrasing the question so ambiguously that it can be taken as “should they draft him at #177 if he’s available” or “should they sign him if he is not drafted?” I have no choice but to vote for ‘yes’.

You know Selig? Ombudsman.

by rolub on Apr 2, 2009 12:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, that question is very open-ended. I certainly don’t think we should use a draft pick on this kid, but who would have a problem with bringing him in to camp and seeing what he can do? That wouldn’t do any harm.

by Buckeye Brad on Apr 2, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I doubt he will be drafted by anyone, but if he could be looked at for as a UDFA he could be a steal.

by Bernie19Kosar on Apr 2, 2009 6:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is why 7th round picks aren’t useless: you can find super-athletic guys like this and draft them, bring them in to camp and see if they can fulfill some of their potential.

That way, you don’t have to bid on anyone as a free agent, you don’t have to do any wooing and you can be sure the kid is in your camp and not another team’s.

There is also pretty much zero risk.

by rufio on Apr 3, 2009 3:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

There is also pretty much zero risk.

Exactly. In fact, I had started posting this last night when my laptop crapped out. I don’t have the numbers to back this up, but I’d imagine that less than half of the 7th-round draftpicks make a team’s active squad, and maybe 75% are out of the NFL by the third year following their draft. If you’re going to reach for someone in the draft, better to do it in the late rounds (6 and 7) than with a 2nd-round pick (hello Chaun Thompson!).

You know Selig? Ombudsman.

by rolub on Apr 3, 2009 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

totally agreed. the browns have no 7th rounder, though, correct?

by DontCallMeJoey on Apr 3, 2009 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

nope. last pick is the 6th rounder at #177 overall.

You know Selig? Ombudsman.

by rolub on Apr 3, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Still, I would like to see that guy be someone who has the physical tools to play in the NFL.

That’s why I loved Hubbard as a guy who could make an impact if he could learn to catch and run routes, but not guys like Babatunde Oshinowo who never had the frame to become a NT.

by rufio on Apr 4, 2009 2:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wish we would take Gartrell Johnson or Ian Johnson with that pick

by BradyQuinnisBeast on Apr 9, 2009 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

However, when you only have 3 able bodied CBs, it’s better to trade a 7th rounder for one, than a 6th, 5th or 4th, isn’t it? (as long as your non-handpicked head coach is willing to play him and about 5 other guys you’ve drafted)

www.lowbrowsophisticate.com

by kwoog on Apr 8, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely. As long as he is talented enough to play, which we will never know because Romeo had him on the field for what, 1 play last year?

by rufio on Apr 8, 2009 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

bullock

I say sign him as UDFA & see wat he’s got 2 offer. Lord knows we havent done ANYTHING positive in the last 5 or 6 drafts. Minimal risk-Possible Gold Mine?!?!!!!

by davedawg on Apr 5, 2009 9:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nothing positive about Joe Thomas, Brady Quinn, Eric Wright, Brandon McDonald, D’Qwell Jackson, Lawrence Vickers, Braylon Edwards, Brodney Pool, Kellen Winslow, Sean Jones, Ryan Pontbriand?

Nothing?

You know Selig? Ombudsman.

by rolub on Apr 5, 2009 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs