7 months ago
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Burnley co-owner JJ Watt believes Harry Kane could become an NFL kicker with the right training.
England captain Kane has made no secret of his desire to one day pick up the ball and move to the NFL as a placekicker, who is responsible for all kicking duties including field goals.
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And NFL legend Watt sees no reason why the 30-year-old Bayern Munich striker couldn’t find himself on an NFL roster in the near future.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Watt was asked by Gary Neville what it would take for Kane to switch sports. “I think with true, dedicated training, I think he could [play American football].
“I think that his skillset obviously having kicked balls for his entire life, then you put him with a proper kicking trainer.
“I don’t want to diminish the job of a kicker, I think it is an extremely difficult job but somebody that does it at the highest level like Harry Kane has with proper training, I do [think he could join NFL].”
No football player from the Premier League has successfully converted to NFL in the United States, though another Tottenham legend in Clive Allen did play as a kicker for the London Monarchs in 1997.
In March, Kane reiterated his desire to cross the pond one day and venture into the NFL and become a star in two sports and told Sports Illustrated: “That’s at least something that I have in the back of my mind.
“I have the feeling that I still have many, many years ahead of me as a footballer – but so much can happen Things change so quickly.
“As I get closer to the end of my football career, I might take a closer look and start practising a bit. Making it to the highest level in two different sports – soccer and football – would be a good idea something very special.”
Stick to football
Kane is so fascinated with the sport that he has even named his dog after Tom Brady but Watt did suggest a different position might be better suited for the role of kicker in NFL.
Alongside Neville, Roy Keane, Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott and Ian Wright, Watt added: “Justin Tucker is the best kicker in NFL history.
Burnley co-owner and former NFL star JJ Watt says the Clarets 'need to play better' and are a 'small club'
“I am not saying that Harry can be that, I mean that guy is unbelievable.
“But do I think that Harry could possibly, with three to four years of intensive everyday training, make an NFL roster of 32? I think probably.
“Just because he has kicked balls his entire life. Maybe a keeper would be a better option because of goal kicks and everything.”
While playing football his entire life might benefit him, Kane has also been warned that kicking balls is not simply enough to become a top kicker in the NFL.
Watt went on to say how Sergio Aguero wowed him in a field exercise during a pre-season tour but one facet of his game let him down.
“I did a field goal competition with Sergio Aguero in America when Man City were there and he was phenomenal.
“He was making 65-yard field goals. The only difference that he would have had to work on was he took a long run up.
“From the time the ball is snapped to the time you kick the ball is 1.2 seconds so you’ve got to take a two-step run-up and kick it.
“That was the only difference but I mean he was pounding the ball through the upright.”
