Post by Free Agent Fan on Feb 2, 2007 15:47:30 GMT -5
From reporting the game to playing it
(Dave Hoffmann/For the Baltimore Examiner)
Brent Harris of Comcast SportsNet is one of many trying out for quarterback of the Baltimore Blackbirds, a new indoor football league team that begins play later this year.
BALTIMORE - Brent Harris is hoping he could be the star of “Invincible 2.”
Harris might not have the hard-scrabble life of former Philadelphia Eagle Vince Papale, but just like the inspiration for the original film, he has not played organized football since his days as starting quarterback at local Loch Raven High.
The 34-year-old Comcast SportsNet reporter is one step closer to his goal after trying out for the Baltimore Blackbirds last week. Harris impressed the city’s new American Indoor Football Association team enough to be invited to mini-camp this weekend.
“For me, it was the ‘American Idol’ of tryouts,” Harris said.
Blackbirds general manager John Wolfe said there are four or five quarterbacks invited to mini-camp, “three of which have pretty solid credentials.”
“We will keep two quarterbacks on our active roster and one more on the practice squad,” Wolfe said. “So he will have to find a way to distance himself from the quarterbacks who have been playing actively, at high levels, the last few seasons. If he can do that, we would be excited to have him as a Baltimore Blackbird.”
Harris originally intended on doing a story that documented his attempt to try out for the team, in addition to focusing on other would-be players. He expected players similar to himself, ones that had not played in a number of years, alongside more experienced players.
But he said he quickly became more serious about his efforts as he prepared for the tryout. He prepared a week in advance by enlisting former University of Maryland quarterback Al Neville as a personal quarterback coach. The two worked on speeding up drops and releases, a crucial aspect in the lightning-quick, 50-yard indoor game.
“At first, I thought, ‘It’ll be a funny story,’ but as you start to do this and you’re in it, all of the sudden you start to think, ‘I can do this,’” Harris said.
Wolfe said Harris has a strong arm.
“The staff felt that he just needs to work on his mechanics, which will improve as he gets more time on the field,“ Wolfe said.
The Blackbirds intend to keep two active quarterbacks and one on the practice squad. Harris is now pinning real hopes on the upcoming mini-camp.
“I’ll be more disappointed if I don’t show my best,” he said.
(Dave Hoffmann/For the Baltimore Examiner)
Brent Harris of Comcast SportsNet is one of many trying out for quarterback of the Baltimore Blackbirds, a new indoor football league team that begins play later this year.
BALTIMORE - Brent Harris is hoping he could be the star of “Invincible 2.”
Harris might not have the hard-scrabble life of former Philadelphia Eagle Vince Papale, but just like the inspiration for the original film, he has not played organized football since his days as starting quarterback at local Loch Raven High.
The 34-year-old Comcast SportsNet reporter is one step closer to his goal after trying out for the Baltimore Blackbirds last week. Harris impressed the city’s new American Indoor Football Association team enough to be invited to mini-camp this weekend.
“For me, it was the ‘American Idol’ of tryouts,” Harris said.
Blackbirds general manager John Wolfe said there are four or five quarterbacks invited to mini-camp, “three of which have pretty solid credentials.”
“We will keep two quarterbacks on our active roster and one more on the practice squad,” Wolfe said. “So he will have to find a way to distance himself from the quarterbacks who have been playing actively, at high levels, the last few seasons. If he can do that, we would be excited to have him as a Baltimore Blackbird.”
Harris originally intended on doing a story that documented his attempt to try out for the team, in addition to focusing on other would-be players. He expected players similar to himself, ones that had not played in a number of years, alongside more experienced players.
But he said he quickly became more serious about his efforts as he prepared for the tryout. He prepared a week in advance by enlisting former University of Maryland quarterback Al Neville as a personal quarterback coach. The two worked on speeding up drops and releases, a crucial aspect in the lightning-quick, 50-yard indoor game.
“At first, I thought, ‘It’ll be a funny story,’ but as you start to do this and you’re in it, all of the sudden you start to think, ‘I can do this,’” Harris said.
Wolfe said Harris has a strong arm.
“The staff felt that he just needs to work on his mechanics, which will improve as he gets more time on the field,“ Wolfe said.
The Blackbirds intend to keep two active quarterbacks and one on the practice squad. Harris is now pinning real hopes on the upcoming mini-camp.
“I’ll be more disappointed if I don’t show my best,” he said.