Kurleigh Gittens receiving NFL interest

[paulwoods13]

Gittens is apparently getting some NFL interest, not surprisingly.

https://3downnation.com/2023/01/03/canadian-receiver-kurleigh-gittens-jr-to-work-out-for-new-england-patriots/

Would hate to lose him, but he's good enough to play down there IMO. Hopefully Brissett and/or Nield is ready to become a starter. I wish Gittens all the best, just hope if he does go to the NFL it is with some team other than the Patriots, my least favourite NFL team.

[Will]

I felt this warranted its own thread -- best of luck to Kurleigh if he does make it down South -- both Brissett and Nield have flashed potential, but nothing substantive to make me feel totally comfortable in 2023.

[OV Argo]

Schaffer-Baker from the Riders is another talented young Canadian receiver who has attracted some NFL interest (several try-outs so far);; good luck to these guys, but tough to make it there as an undrafted FA, especially Canadian trained. Agree with paul13 though about he could play down there - and if there's one position group where top CFL players could have most impact in the NFL it's easily receiver; don't watch as much NFL ball as i used to, but see all kinds of dropped passes and average type receiver play. Top CFL pass catchers (like Burnham or Ellingson in their CFL primes) would easily be NFL starters or upgrades; but again, thank gawd for NFL ignoramuses that keeps top CFL talent up here and ignored down there - hope this is the case for Gittens so he will stay an Argo.

[ArgoRavi]

Honestly, I can't wait until this NFL window closes so that we can have a bit more certainty about who will be in the CFL and with the Argos and who won't be.

[paulwoods13]

The Pats are apparently looking at both Ford brothers as well as Schaeffer-Baker. Hoping to corner the market on young Canadians, it seems.

[SkalbaniasGhost]

Honestly, I can't wait until this NFL window closes so that we can have a bit more certainty about who will be in the CFL and with the Argos and who won't be.
I'm concerned were going to lose Vince Magri and Alex Russell. The money from the new tv contracts is going to be flowing into the personnel side of the NFL business this year.

[Shatto]

I hope Gittens gets a fair shot at the NFL. He deserves it. However, he is a bit on the small side for the NFL and his 6.2 40 time is slower than most smaller NFL receivers. After watching him for a couple of years, I think he is faster than he showed in the combine. Hope he does well in his tryout but if he is unsuccessful he should get a major salary boost in his next CFL contract. Win win for him

[paulwoods13]

I hope Gittens gets a fair shot at the NFL. He deserves it. However, he is a bit on the small side for the NFL and his 6.2 40 time is slower than most smaller NFL receivers. After watching him for a couple of years, I think he is faster than he showed in the combine. Hope he does well in his tryout but if he is unsuccessful he should get a major salary boost in his next CFL contract. Win win for him

Surely his 40 time was not 6.2!? I would assume it would be in the 4s, even if he's not a burner.

[paulwoods13]

I'm concerned were going to lose Vince Magri and Alex Russell. The money from the new tv contracts is going to be flowing into the personnel side of the NFL business this year.

That would be great for them, terrible for us. Pinball is not a hands-on personnel guy, and I would not want Barker becoming the senior exec in charge of that file.

[Will]

I hope Gittens gets a fair shot at the NFL. He deserves it. However, he is a bit on the small side for the NFL and his 6.2 40 time is slower than most smaller NFL receivers. After watching him for a couple of years, I think he is faster than he showed in the combine. Hope he does well in his tryout but if he is unsuccessful he should get a major salary boost in his next CFL contract. Win win for him

https://www.cfl.ca/combine/2019-cfl-national-combine/

This is a link to the 2019 combine results. Gittens 40 time was listed as 4.62.

[paulwoods13]

https://www.cfl.ca/combine/2019-cfl-national-combine/

This is a link to the 2019 combine results. Gittens 40 time was listed as 4.62.

That makes much more sense than 6.2, which was obviously just a slip of the fingers on the keyboard.

[AngeloV]

Surely his 40 time was not 6.2!? I would assume it would be in the 4s, even if he's not a burner.

It was 4.62.

I don’t see him sticking but I would be very happy for him. Smaller and/or slower than most receivers down there doesn’t bode well for him.

[Shatto]

Mea Culpa. Yes, a finger slip. I would like to thank all who spotted and corrected the error. May also express my appreciation for your comments being both polite and diplomatic. Will teach me to check before sending. Cheers

[OV Argo]

IF, Gittens was able to stick in the NFL, that might mean the Argos would look to drafting a receiver with an early pick next draft? Cause they have lots of talent (best in league pretty well IMO) at most other position groups for Canadian players, and, if Brescacin (history?) and Gittens are not back, that leaves just Brissett and Nield i guess? Could also go free agent route if there was need to add a Canadian receiver or two; this year's draft is not real deep at receiver it seems (and the top guy - Wayne from Pitt., is likely to draw an NFL look), but still bound to be a few good prospects (eg. Jeremy Murphy (Concordia) who is going to one of the US college ball all-star/draft prospect events upcoming).

[OV Argo]

https://www.cfl.ca/combine/2019-cfl-national-combine/

This is a link to the 2019 combine results. Gittens 40 time was listed as 4.62.

I believe some guy named Jerry Rice ran a 4.6 range 40 out of college ball. ;o)

[argolio]

I believe some guy named Jerry Rice ran a 4.6 range 40 out of college ball. ;o)That's an internet myth.

[paulwoods13]

That's an internet myth.

"While no official results were published publicly from that 1985 event, The Athletic's Bob McGinn reported last year that a scout in possession of the official results says Rice clocked in at 4.58."

https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/03/02/jerry-rice-40-yard-dash-nfl-combine-rich-eisen

However, there are a variety of other unofficial reports suggesting his time ranged between 4.45 and 4.55. Regardless, it might be one of football's dumber statistics since players hardly ever need to sprint 40 yards in a straight line.

[OV Argo]

That's an internet myth.

Point still is, he's about the greatest receiver in football history and did not run a blazing (or even close to ) 40 yard time at football testing; and with this evidence, some still like to fawn all over 40 times and write off some players who do not show it.

In addition to paul's research there, I read another article that was quoting a (i think?) USFL scout of the time, who claimed to have tested Rice multiple times and the fastest result he got was a 4.55.

[primetime31]

As much as I like Gittens, his best shot at making the NFL is as an inside slot possession receiver of which there are many. Even though he played some as a slot receiver up here, perhaps a season in that role up here full time would give him a better shot of sticking down south. My New York Giants, whose senior director of football ops Kevin Abrams is Canada, needs receivers rather badly.