One More Try for Wadsworth | AP

[tommccabe]

The Associated Press has this article on today's wire:

One More Try for Wadsworth

Former Seminole All-American not quite ready to give up football yet.

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr.

AP Sports Writer

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y.- Nearly seven years have passed since Andre Wadsworth last appeared in the NFL, and six since he was told he would never play again.

Yet there he was on the New York Jets' sideline, helmet in hand, awaiting his next set of plays. After 13 knee operations, Wadsworth is healthy enough to compete for an outside linebacker position with the Jets.

"I love football," Wadsworth, 32, said after a voluntary team workout. "Why do people think it's crazy to do this? I know in life you can be a businessman or whatever you want to do after football. You can do it until you die. But in football, you can't do it until you die."

Wadsworth, you may remember, was a Florida State star and the No. 3 overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals in the 1998 draft. Hampered by knee problems, he appeared in just 36 games for the Cardinals in three seasons.

In 2001, Arizona opted to not pick up the last three years of his six-year, $42.1 million contract and released him. The odds seemed stacked against him when medical professionals said he'd never play again.

"Every doctor said it," Wadsworth said. "I mean, every doctor."

During his brief pro career, he racked up 119 tackles, eight sacks, three fumble recoveries and one interception - off Dan Marino. He'd love to add to those numbers.

"Even though I officially retired and I never could play again because of my injuries, I never put it out of my mind," Wadsworth said. "My agent and everybody knew I'd never put it out of my mind. The only way it'll ever get out of my mind is if I was 40 ... or maybe 37 or 38."

That gives Wadsworth, whose knees "are coming along," at least five seasons to make it all the way back. But he's competing against at least 32 players on the Jets' preseason roster who weren't even in college when Wadsworth played his last down in the NFL.

If he makes the team and plays, Wadsworth would be a heavy favorite to follow Chad Pennington as the league's comeback player of the year.

"It's not about proving wrong," he said. "You've got to believe in miracles. It's about being blessed and making the impossible happen."

Wadsworth is familiar with overcoming obstacles. Told he couldn't play at a Division I school, he walked on to the Florida State team. Told he'd never see any playing time, Wadsworth became a starter after his first year with the Seminoles. Informed he couldn't play nose tackle at the next level, he moved to defensive end and was a first-round draft pick.

"In life, you can't take no for an answer," he said. "Call me stubborn or not, but that's the way I live my life."

Wadsworth appears in terrific shape, and one would never guess he hasn't played football in years. During retirement, he bought six car dealerships - BMWs, Porsches and Volkswagens - with two shops in Gainesville, three in Ocala and one in Destin.

"When we talked to him, it was almost a case of trying to talk him out of coming back," Jets coach Eric Mangini said. "The guy has a very successful business. He's done very well in terms of setting up the next phase of his life.

"This is something that he was determined to try. In interviewing him and getting to know him, he was so impressive that as much as we tried to scare him off and get him to reconsider, he was too determined."

NFL seasons came and went without Wadsworth, but his passion for the sport never wavered.

"The itch has never left. It's just like a cast, an itch in your cast that you can't scratch," he said. "That's what I have. I couldn't scratch it because I was hurt.

"There's a lot of rust to get off. It feels good to be with the guys, the coaches, be in the locker room, the camaraderie - the whole thing."

Wadsworth was a defensive end in his first stint in the NFL, but he's setting up at outside linebacker for the Jets.

[DefenseWinsChampionships]

I just have a feeling his best years are behind and this will not work out with the Jets. I hope I'm wrong.

[faba]

You have to root for him but the odds are real long he can make the team-if he does it is a coup for the Jets.

[Thai Jet]

You have to root for him but the odds are real long he can make the team-if he does it is a coup for the Jets.

I'm totally in agreement. What a truly GREAT story this would be. Coup indeed!!

[Irish Jet]

Id love to see Andre out playing for us but cant see it happening unfortunately, I really do feel sorry for him. his career and life have been ruined by injuries.

[Barton]

Id love to see Andre out playing for us but cant see it happening unfortunately, I really do feel sorry for him. his career and life have been ruined by injuries.

His life has been ruined? He's had a very successful life to say the least.

[Irish Jet]

His life has been ruined? He's had a very successful life to say the least.

He loves football and his career was taken away from him. I know what you mean by saying that though, for example I would give all I could for a life as succesful as that. But read his interviews were it describes how his life has been like an itch he is unable to scratch. it must be torture knowing how great a career he could have had in the NFL only to have injuries take it all away.

i understand your point though.