NBA star LeBron Jamessat down with the Manning brothers during the “Monday Night Football” broadcast that the family hosts. Surprisingly, many untold stories were shared. In fact, the professional basketball player revealed to Peyton and Eli that in 2011, he was offered contracts with both the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks.
Playfully posing the question, “any temptation to put the uniform on and go play for the Cowboys?”, Eli Manning received a shockingly honest answer from James. The Los Angeles Lakers star reported, “That’s true, Jerry Jones offered me a contract. Also, Pete Carroll did as well, in Seattle during our lockout time.”
Continuing, he began explaining his stance on the subject of football. Although he did end up declining both offers, James admitted, “It definitely got my blood flowing again. Got my mind racing again thinking about the game of football, being out there on Sundays.”
Perhaps had the lockout time not been sorted out, LeBron would be sporting a Cowboys or Seahawks Jersey. For now, that is a sight that is being left up to the imagination. Yet, the two teams even sent him jerseys, almost like a trial run to see which jersey had the best fit.
“We were able to get a deal done in the NBA and I was back on the court in no time, but I definitely thought about it. I still got the jerseys too, that Jerry and Pete Carroll sent me from 2011,” James shared, reported by TMZ.
"I still got the jersey too, that Jerry [Jones] and Pete Carroll sent me from 2011."
Perhaps the most pressing question that arose from this entire conversation was wondering what position the NFL star would have taken. Although he was known for an extensive high school playing career as a wide receiver, would he have simply picked up where he last left off? Eli and Peyton made sure to get the details.
“Yeah, more tight end, tight end,” the 36-year-old stated. He added, “I wanted to be a red-zone specialist like Gronk.”
LeBron James / Instagram
Reflecting on LeBron James’ high school football career, he was among the best in the nation. TMZ additionally reported his stats at the time as having 57 receptions, 1,160 yards, and 16 TDs, giving him the opportunity to play for a Division 1 school in college.
Peyton Manning even pondered about if the athlete had gone into football instead and offered, “I would have thrown so many touchdowns to LeBron, put him out wide, throw the ball, throw the fade, jump ball. 75 touchdowns.”
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