Ebner takes leave of absence to train for the Olympics

[JMC00]

 

[borg]

BB is getting soft

 

[BelichickFan]

Good for Ebner. How many other teams have players trying out for the Olympics ? Awesome.

 

[BelichickFan]

New England Patriots ‏@Patriots 45s45 seconds ago
We are proud to support @Natebner34 in his effort to earn a place on the United States National Rugby team.

 

[tasmlab]

Very interesting. Good for him.

But,
- I would think he'd best suited to be at Patriots practice.
- I would think there would be a bunch of rugby players who have been playing their own game for the past few years who would be better for the Olympics team.
- Who knew the US had a rugby team???

 

[IllegalContact]

Very interesting. Good for him.

But,
- I would think he'd best suited to be at Patriots practice.
- I would think there would be a bunch of rugby players who have been playing their own game for the past few years who would be better for the Olympics team.
- Who knew the US had a rugby team???

BB disagrees

 

[BelichickFan]

Very interesting. Good for him.

But,
- I would think he'd best suited to be at Patriots practice.
- I would think there would be a bunch of rugby players who have been playing their own game for the past few years who would be better for the Olympics team.
- Who knew the US had a rugby team???

Maybe he won't make it, that's for the Rugby team to decide.

I think it's super cool that he's trying this and that the team supports it.

 

[Froob]

 

[BobDigital]

I am fine with it. Honestly there is not much we ask him to do that will not be helped by also training for rugby a bit. If he makes the team good for him but i don't see a big draw back to this particualy with Rugby and football being so related.

 

[Fixit]

There is literally nothing that some Pats fans won't complain about.

 

[PrairiePat]

Shesesh, next Brady will be asking for time off to try to make the golf team...

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Very interesting. Good for him.

But,
- I would think he'd best suited to be at Patriots practice.
- I would think there would be a bunch of rugby players who have been playing their own game for the past few years who would be better for the Olympics team.
- Who knew the US had a rugby team???

It's not like he's chasing a quixotic dream here; he represented the US in international rugby competitions before walking on to the football team at OSU.

 

[Kontradiction]

Good for him.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Between golf returning after a 100 year hiatus and Ebner on the rugby team, the Olympics will be fun to watch.

 

[upstater1]

Does anyone knows what they rugby play in the Olympics? Union? League? 7s?

EDIT: Never mind, they are playing 7s.

And given the roster here, Ebner stands a good chance of making the team: Men's Eagles 7s Player Pool

Canada seems to be the main competition for the #1 spot from North America.

 

[DarrylS]

At first glance was skeptical, but on second thought.. not a bad idea at all. Rugby is big among my nephews and often head on over to the "pitch" to watch them.. do not understand the game all that well, but it can get crazy... always a keg after the game, what can go wrong. Blood, mud and beer a great game.

 

[BillBurr's_Bruinskid]

Does anyone knows what they rugby play in the Olympics? Union? League? 7s?

7's rugby, its pretty open and the defense isn't nearly as good as traditional rugby.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

Goodell and company will take 2 weeks off also to train for the Special Olympic.

 

[DaBruinz]

Very interesting. Good for him.

But,
- I would think he'd best suited to be at Patriots practice.
- I would think there would be a bunch of rugby players who have been playing their own game for the past few years who would be better for the Olympics team.
- Who knew the US had a rugby team???

Some things to think about:
- Despite the fact that he's not played rugby for years, Ebner got an invite to try out for the rugby team. That invite says a lot about how he is viewed as a rugby player.

- Ebner will miss the majority of Training Camp if he makes the team. That being said, it won't be the first time he's made the team while missing TC.

- Ebner not being there could be a blessing in disguise. It will force the team to develop another person to act as the Personal Protector on the punt unit. I know that Chung has done it, but it would be nice to see someone else with that ability..

 

[upstater1]

7's rugby, its pretty open and the defense isn't nearly as good as traditional rugby.

It will open up the game for the USA's Carlin Isles, a guy who flamed out in NFL tryouts. The kid could blow by Chris Johnson in his prime, but had fewer skills than Renaldo Nehemiah.