It seems to me that the new trend in the NFL is turning college basketball power forwards into tight ends.  Ed Nelson, Jai Lewis, and other "ballers"-turned-"gridders" have signed NFL contracts in recent days.  NFL teams are apparently tantilized by their combination of size and athleticism, and not at all deterred by the lack of actual football experience. 

What is responsible for this phenomenon?  One thing: the success of Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates.  These two men have become prolific pass-catching tight ends, so prolific that it can be argued that both are the focal point of their respective offenses.  Tony Gonzalez played both football and basketball in college, whereas Gates strictly stuck to the hardwood.  It is the rapid rise of Gates that has teans seeing stars in the likes of Nelson and Lewis. 

I have one question for NFL executives: Can I play tight end too?  Five years ago, I played power forward in a pickup game.  I think I had 2 or 3 rebounds.  I also punched somebody in the balls in a horrendously failed attempt at a steal.  Maybe at 5'8", 230+ lbs I'm a little misproportioned for a tight end, but we can work through that.  I also have lousy hands and marginal blocking skills (I did play high school football, I have to give Coach Ferraro some credit for teaching me to block.)  My 40 time is somewhere in the 6.5 or 6.8 range, and I can bench 225 precisely zero times.  With numbers like these, how could Bill Belichick resist me?

So here I sit, waiting for a phone call from somebody in the NFL, knowing that my chance will come soon.  I once played power forward.  My ticket is punched.