Rocket Ismail Still Runs a 4.3, Wants Another Chance in NFL
Rocket Ismail, the most electrifying player ever to play for the Fighting Irish, spurred the NFL for big money from the CFL (how crazy does that sound all these years later?), but at age 37, he is hoping for another shot in the NFL according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
Raghib “Rocket” Ismail, the former Cowboys receiver and Notre Dame superstar, is hoping for another chance in the NFL.
Ismail, who is 37 and lives in Dallas, works out daily and said he ran a 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds during a workout last season for the Washington Redskins. He wants a shot at winning a Super Bowl which eluded him during his nine-year NFL career with three teams.
If Rocket can still run a 4.3 at age 37, there could still be a place for him in the NFL if for nothing else, as a punt and kick returner.
Right now, if I walk in most of the teams are talking third receiver and special teams stuff. It’s a gift that I have. I just keep it sharp and hold it. My thing is speed and my hands are still there.
What I find interesting in this article, however, are Rocket’s claims that he dumbed down his game in order to fit in better…
One of the things I encountered when I would go to teams, there would be certain people you could sense the envy and the feeling of being threatened. One of the things I did was I tried to play below what the normal level I was accustomed to playing. I would do that to lessen the hate. After you do that for a certain amount of time, you realize that’s not right and you try to re-establish yourself.
I’m not quite sure I buy into this because I am sure all the teams Rocket played for would have loved for him to be the kind of game-breaker at the NFL level that he was on the college level. I’ve never heard a player say they dumbed down their game before either which makes these type of comments a little suspect.
Still, if Rocket can still play I wouldn’t mind watching him play as long as he wasn’t on the Cowboys, a team I despise, again. Hey Rocket, my beloved Eagles haven’t returned a kick or punt for a touchdown in a couple years, how about wearing some midnight green if you come back?
Frank Vitovitch has been Co-Owner and Editor in Chief of UHND.com since joining forces with Kyle Flavin in 1999. Since that time, he has written over 2,000 articles covering Notre Dame football, recruiting, and basketball. He also works with all staff and external writers on all articles published on UHND.com. Frank's love for Notre Dame football started at a young age watching Rocket Ismail give opposing coaches ulcers in the late 1980's. By day Frank works in marketing and holds a degree in Digital Media from Drexel University. Frank's work has been cited by online/print editions of NBC Sports, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated and has been quoted on air by ESPN's Collin Cowherd. He's conducted interviews with Notre Dame legends Rocket Ismail, Randy Kinder, Lee Becton, Reggie Brooks, Michael Stonebreaker, and Ned Bolcar among others over his 20+ years of covering Notre Dame football. He's also been published in the print edition of USA Today Sports Weekly and the USA Today College Football Preview multiple times. Other Published Works/Citations for Frank Three Reasons Notre Dame Will Beat Alabama - USA Today Notre Dame Suspends WR Kevin Stepherson, RB C.J. Holmes Indefinitely - Bleacher Report Notre Dame / Ohio State Fiesta Bowl Preview - Eleven Warriors Brace Yourself: The Fighting Irish are Relevant Again - Sports on Earth Interviews with the Enemy: A Q&A with Frank Vitovitch of UHND - Yahoo! Sports Five Good Minutes: Notre Dame Football Preview With UHND.com - BC Interruption Vicious Electronic Questioning with UHND - MGO Blog
Its sounds to me like he is conveying his reality at that time. I would much rather hear the context in which he said it, as opposed to a sound bite. Even still, he doesnt deserve to be slammed for asking for another shot. He seems as though he was admitting to his lack of being competitive, which is how the elite get to the top. He had to live with not getting back to the top, more than anyone else. Whatever he needs to say or do to find peace within, so be it. We live and we learn and if I were a coach I would give him a shot. He seems to have changed his mind about his less than 110% effort. If coming clean is what it took, and risking being criticized, then more power to him. I am still a fan, and I think everyone has to deal with defeat (self induced or not) the best way they can. So I say, Go Rocket! Actions speak louder than words! Just give us 150% this time!
Can’t disagree w/ you CC, but this is the pros & as long as idiots like TO, Leonard Little, etc. get 2nd & 3rd chances, Rocket will, too. So if a team is impressed w/ his workout (granted that’s a big “if”), they won’t care if he’s 60 yrs old, if they think he can help them whether it be as a special teams player, a role player or a 3rd receiver. What Rocket said was pretty insulting to our intelligence, yet dumber things have been said by current NFLers & I don’t expect it to end.
I agree! Why not! If he still has the speed, a team like the Niners could use him. They need some speed and it would be nice for a guy like him to line up with Arnaz Battle once in a while and play on the same team as the great Bryant Young!
Rocket coming back? Why not, the NFL is diluted w/ mediocrity at just about every position anyway. Every team has a legitimate shot at the postseason every year. That’s why I prefer college over pro game.