Lauren Silberman warms up at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center during an NFL regional combine event in Florham Park, N.J. on March 3, 2013. (Photo: Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY Sports)
Story Highlights - Lauren Silberman, a club soccer player at MIT, had never kicked in a football game but was invited to the combine by the NFL
- She said she hoped to inspire other women to try to compete with men
- But Silberman was injured on her first kickoff attempt (which went 16 yards), then tried again (14 yards) before quitting
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Kicker Lauren Silberman, the first female to participate in an NFL-sponsored tryout, had her session at the NFL's New York/New Jersey Regional Scouting Combine ended by a leg injury after only two kickoffs Sunday.
Silberman, a former MIT student, appeared to pull up lame after her first kick, which traveled only 16 yards and barely crossed midfield at the New York Jets' indoor training facility. Silberman landed awkwardly and hobbled a bit as the ball bounced at the 49-yard line.
HIGH HOPES: Silberman wanted to inspire
After looking down at her leg, Silberman paused and the regrouped. She had trouble teeing the ball up, but finally got it to stay and backed up 6 yards from the ball. That kick went only 14 yards.
Silberman was getting ready for her third attempt when she turned toward combine officials and asked if she could see a trainer. After a brief consultation, she walked off to the sideline with a member of the training staff. About 10 minutes later, Silberman was escorted to the side of the field where her undisclosed injury was evaluated.
Silberman then walked with the trainer and combine officials through the team cafeteria.
"Gonna try again," she said to reporters.
FAREWELL: Randy Moss says goodbye to Niners
Silberman came back onto the field, but was walking with a noticeable limp. She headed back to the sideline, where she was first evaluated by trainers. She was then joined by 6-foot-8 Jesse Scott from Division II North Carolina at Pembroke, who also pulled up lame.
"I know I can do it," Silberman told a combine official as he tried to talk him into letting her kick again.
"It's up to you," he told her after advising her to "take it slow," so she wouldn't make the injury worse.
But she could not continue.
Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/03/03/lauren-silberman-female-kicker-nfl-tryout-ends-with-injury/1960553/
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Kicker Lauren Silberman, the first female to participate in an NFL-sponsored tryout, had her session at the NFL's New York/New Jersey Regional Scouting Combine ended by a leg injury after only two kickoffs Sunday.
Silberman, a former MIT student, appeared to pull up lame after her first kick, which traveled only 16 yards and barely crossed midfield at the New York Jets' indoor training facility. Silberman landed awkwardly and hobbled a bit as the ball bounced at the 49-yard line.
HIGH HOPES: Silberman wanted to inspire
After looking down at her leg, Silberman paused and the regrouped. She had trouble teeing the ball up, but finally got it to stay and backed up 6 yards from the ball. That kick went only 14 yards.
Silberman was getting ready for her third attempt when she turned toward combine officials and asked if she could see a trainer. After a brief consultation, she walked off to the sideline with a member of the training staff. About 10 minutes later, Silberman was escorted to the side of the field where her undisclosed injury was evaluated.
Silberman then walked with the trainer and combine officials through the team cafeteria.
"Gonna try again," she said to reporters.
FAREWELL: Randy Moss says goodbye to Niners
Silberman came back onto the field, but was walking with a noticeable limp. She headed back to the sideline, where she was first evaluated by trainers. She was then joined by 6-foot-8 Jesse Scott from Division II North Carolina at Pembroke, who also pulled up lame.
"I know I can do it," Silberman told a combine official as he tried to talk him into letting her kick again.
"It's up to you," he told her after advising her to "take it slow," so she wouldn't make the injury worse.
But she could not continue.
Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/03/03/lauren-silberman-female-kicker-nfl-tryout-ends-with-injury/1960553/