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Smackdown: Toughest Road To The NFL?

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By ANWAR RICHARDSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 23, 2007

Smackdown Results: Offense 8, Defense 3

There are 53 players on an NFL roster, but each one has endured a different journey to their current uniform number.

Some were high draft picks who entered the league with more accolades and fame than most players ever will receive in their careers. Those guys received a hefty contract, coupled with a signing bonus that could feed several small countries, plus given years to develop into a premier player.

Then there are those who rarely had doors opened for them and were forced to climb through windows. They were late-round picks, or not even drafted, and needed a combination of skill and perfect timing to become an NFL player.

This week's Smackdown pits Tampa Bay offensive tackle Donald Penn versus defensive tackle Jovan Haye in a battle to determine who had the ''Toughest Road to The NFL.''

Donald Penn, Left Tackle

When Donald Penn heard he was a Top 10 college offensive lineman in 2006, he figured getting drafted by an NFL team would be a formality.

He was unable to play in the Hula Bowl after suffering a knee injury, but thought at least one team would give the former Utah State standout an opportunity. After Saturday and Sunday of NFL draft weekend passed without Penn's name being called, he quickly realized his road to the NFL was going to be long.

''I went to the (NFL) combine and nobody knew what I could do because I was hurt,'' Penn said. ''Watching your name fall from top 10 to 20 something, it was real tough. Then not getting drafted, that was real hard. Then being a free agent was real tough.''

Penn signed a free-agent contract with Minnesota last season and eventually was cut before being signed to the team's practice squad, which is normal for undrafted players. Also par for an undrafted player, Penn was released a few weeks later.

''The bad thing was when I was with Minnesota, they hardly played me in the preseason because they said they didn't want anybody to see me. Then I was placed on the practice squad and that was real tough,'' Penn said. ''On the practice squad, it felt like they [coaches] were changing. They weren't talking to me that much and a bunch of negative things started happening. Finally, I got this call and it was a new start.''

The call came from the Bucs, a team sincerely interested in Penn. He signed with Tampa Bay's practice squad on Oct. 4 and stayed there all last season believing his opportunity to play would occur this year.

Penn entered this season behind left tackle Luke Petitgout and Anthony Davis, but made Tampa Bay's 53-man roster. After Petitgout suffered a season-ending knee injury against Carolina on Sept. 30, Penn was named a starter and has played impressively while protecting quarterback Jeff Garcia's blindside.

Penn never thought his journey to become an NFL starter would be so complex, but always believed it would eventually happen.

''I play with my heart and play hungry and I couldn't slack off if I wanted to because I am a competitor,'' Penn said. ''I just got to keep working hard. Keep working my butt off. I can't get comfortable.''

Jovan Haye, Defensive Tackle

There was a time when Jovan Haye really questioned if his NFL dream would become a reality.

Haye left Vanderbilt early after being led to believe he could be at least a second-round pick. When Day One of the 2005 NFL Draft passed and Haye's name was not called, he cried. After 188 picks, Haye finally was a sixth-round selection by Carolina, which made him believe he should have stayed in school.

Determined to make the best of his situation, Haye worked extremely hard as a rookie and landed on Carolina's roster. He appeared in two games his rookie season and was released the following season.

Haye signed with Cleveland's practice squad on Sept. 14, 2006 and was released a few weeks later. It was during that limbo period that Haye wondered what would happen with an NFL career that had been disappointing since he was drafted.

''At one point I thought, 'I don't think my career is going to turn out the way I want it to be','' Haye said. ''Everything is being thrown at you. You go from drafted to practice squad. I was thinking 'What is next? NFL Europe?' I can say I gave my full effort everywhere.''

Haye's efforts were enough for Tampa Bay to sign him on Oct. 26, 2006. He appeared in nine games last season and recorded 25 tackles.

This season, Haye has shown what he can do when comfortable. He has 47 tackles and four sacks, second behind Tampa Bay defensive end Greg White. Haye also has put pressure numerous times on opposing QBs, which cannot be measured statistically, and he is among the leaders of Tampa Bay's improving defensive line.

''I've seen guys come in and out, and I was one of those guys who came in and out, so you can't relax,'' Haye said. ''Sometimes you can't do anything about it because you might be giving it your all and the situation doesn't work in your favor, but my whole thing is I'm never going to give it to them. They are going to have to come and take it from me.

''I'm comfortable now, but I'm not comfortable with my place ... I pay attention and know it can be over at anytime, so I'm taking advantage of every opportunity I get.''

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