2 weeks ago
For erstwhile Derry Under-20s gaelic footballer Jude McAtamney, his perchance life-changing dream of signing for NFL broadside nan New York Giants has go a reality.
Following nan NFL draught past week - wherever nan game's champion assemblage prospects are selected by nan league's 32 franchises - McAtamney has signed pinch nan four-time Super Bowl winners arsenic a free agent.
The kicker, who won an Ulster Under-20s title pinch Derry, will now compete pinch Scottish-born Graham Gano for a roster spot.
“We verbally agreed connected Saturday, it was bully to person that clarity," McAtamney told BBC Sport NI.
"The magnitude of feedback nan Giants gave maine since nan time I worked retired pinch them, I would possibly person been amazed if they wouldn’t person taken me. I had a bully emotion it was going to happen.
“It was a agelong time but nan longer nan time went connected nan much apt that I was going to get picked up. It was astir 6.30 US clip and I sewage a telephone to say, ‘look, nan offer’s there, if you want to return it return it’ truthful maine and my agent, we jumped connected it.
“From nan interactions we had earlier if we were to prime a squad [to beryllium with] it would person been nan Giants.”
McAtamney played 2 assemblage seasons for Rutgers University who, for illustration nan Giants, are based successful New Jersey.
He is pursuing successful nan footsteps of erstwhile Down GAA goalkeeper Charlie Smyth, who past period penned a deal pinch nan New Orleans Saints.
Wexford punter Dan Whelan made nan Green Bay Packers past season, becoming nan first Irish-born subordinate successful nan NFL for 38 years.
"Charlie reached retired and said congrats truthful that was nice. It's cool to person different Irish personification connected an NFL team," reflected McAtamney.
"Also Dan. He played past twelvemonth truthful it's bully to cognize that it's possible."
The Swatragh clubman besides recalls a societal media speech he had pinch David Shanahan, nan first Irishman to person a afloat danasiwa to play American College Football, successful May 2020
Shanahan reposted nan connection connected societal media connected Sunday successful which McAtamney had said, "Well done connected your scholarship! I'm a keen kicker of nan shot myself and I was wondering if you had immoderate tips connected really to attack nan guys astatine prokick Australia? Thanks."
"It seems benignant of cringey now. He sent maine it nan different time and I burst retired laughing, reasoning ‘I can’t judge I said that’. It was funny looking backmost and reasoning really acold we person some travel since then," said McAtamney.
McAtamney will study for work pinch nan Giants connected 9 May, past return portion successful a three-day rookie mini-camp, earlier Staying astir nan installation until mid-June, training each week.
The perchance lucrative financial rewards connected connection for kickers scope from a reputed $200,000 minimum for their first engagement up to $800,000 if selected for nan playing squad.
He says that will not beryllium his superior information however.
"“You get a mini guarantee but aft that everything is earned. You person to support your spot successful nan team. They could get free of you astatine immoderate second," he explained.
“If you ore connected nan money you get excessively acold up of yourself, it’s important to support your caput down and conscionable attraction connected kicking well. The money broadside will return attraction of itself further down nan line.
“You don’t want to beryllium driven by nan money, get caught up successful that broadside of things arsenic they could telephone maine adjacent week and say, ‘no, we’ve changed our mind’. You can’t deliberation excessively acold ahead.”
“The extremity end would beryllium to look backmost connected my profession and opportunity I’ve had a 10 twelvemonth aliases 15 twelvemonth profession kicking successful nan NFL. That’s nan champion lawsuit scenario.”
