Lauren Silberman became the first female participant to compete in an NFL regional scouting combine on Sunday. Unfortunately, her tryout was both short and underwhelming.
Silberman, who was one of 38 kickers to take part in the combine at the New York Jets' facility, kicked only twice. Both attempts were kickoffs and only one actually crossed the midfield line. In fact, her two kicks combined to travel a total of just 30 yards.
She called it quits early after claiming she aggravated a quad injury she suffered during practice the week before.
Katie Hnida, the first woman to score a point in a Division I football game, believes Silberman's showing may have actually done more bad than good in regards to other females hoping to pursue the sport.
"Her performance does not have to do with her gender. It has to do with her experience and her preparation," Hnida, a former kicker for Colorado and New Mexico, told USA TODAY Sports by phone. "Unfortunately, what's going to happen now is she's going to be looked at (as inferior) because she was female.
"But she was terrible."
Video of one of Silberman's kicks can be seen at the end of this post.
Hnida is currently recovering from a blood clot that has put her Arena League career on hold.
Aside from the fact that Silberman didn't kick too well, Hnida also slammed her for other reasons. Silberman couldn't figure out how to stand the ball on the tee without it falling, she lined up six yards behind the ball instead of the standard approach of 10 or more yards, and Hnida also noted that Silberman's technique was "terrible."
Three kickers who tried out along with Silberman said she asked them how to approach the ball on the kick.
Silberman didn't take any warm-up kicks before the tryout, citing the fact that she was nursing an injury. Hnida doesn't buy her claim.
"I also find it curious she didn't warm up. You never go in kicking cold," Hnida said. "There's a reason why the kickers are the first people out there. It takes us a while to warm up."
Some now fear that females may have an even harder path to receive a fair shake on the football field, including Hnida.
"It is disappointing," Hnida said. "I hoped she would go out and do justice for an NFL tryout, because there are lots of people who have dreamed of going to the NFL. It should be something serious."
Silberman played soccer at the University of Wisconsin before attending MIT for her Master's degree. It was there at MIT in which she wrote a thesis about how video games help athletes enhance their own performance. She then took her thesis one step further when she founded a consulting company that helps athletes use video games to train.
Although her performance on Sunday was less than stellar, at least she had the courage to put herself out there.
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March 04, 2013
If and when a non-male ( women, donkey....whatever ) does get a REAL tryout ( this would mean being at a HQ for a team, with decision makers on hand ) then fine....but this pay to watch me kick an effin 13yrd ( oh wait, she really stepped up on her 2nd kick and smashed a 19yder ) kick is just elfin embarrassing to all huMANs that really deserve a chance.
Go find a pole somewhere and collect those dolla bills yo......
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No, she's not a kicker, she played club womans soccer, couldn't even make the Wis. womans team. She even said she wanted to go to the combine to get advice from real kickers to "perfect her skills" but it's obvious that she had no skills, she couldnt even stand the ball on the tee!
This is nothing but a publicity stunt, watch her showing up for all the "Good Morning" shows , afternoon talk shows and probably dancing (kicking) with the stars too.
There are probably many female athletes who could have put in a strong showing but from now on when a woman tries out for a male dominated sport all anybody will bring up is this pathetic Silberman joke as proof that it's just a waste of time for women to try out.
She would have done better if she stayed at home and written a thesis on kicking. Know your strong points.
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So Germany didn't failed in WWI and WWII?
Absurd. What you two people have is a false belief system and you are trying to alter facts, to support your false belief system.
So when you interview for a job and don't get the job, that's not a failure? Be serious! You FAILED to get the job!
We are raising a generation full of weaklings who feel somehow they have some type of entitlement.
Update: March 05, 2013
Isn't it ironic that women who do these things are all beautiful and have bodies built for luv? Do you think if Danika was butt ugly and had a body like Barney Rubble she would be racing in NASCAR? That tramp wouldn't be able to find a sponsor for a go cart.
Does it cheapen the sport? Only if you're a woman. Does it make women look cheap? Of course it does.
This was a combine and not an actual tryout right?
She was injured.
She had never kicked a football prior to the last several months.
It was a publicity stunt.
She was set up to fail.
The lady had an injury, end of story. I have seem top level kickers sit the bench because of turf toe. Wow, turf toe!!! Following some of these armchair comments suggests the pro kickers must be panzies which suggests, why pick on her!!
Stop applying grade school standards to adults. She was in it for the notoriety, that's all.
You must have been dreaming....or fibbin' to be kind. Female? 98 lbs? with a full 80 lb ruck? 20 miles? She'd be luck to get 20 feet..just like that great female kicker who couldn't kick a ball 10 yars. Stop the BS as we are not buying it like you boy Obama evidently does.
If women want to try to do what men do, then there is no need for womens sports let them try out with the men and win a spot on the team.
I find it hard to believe by the way SOME of you belittle women that you were actually raised by women. I pray you don't have daughters. They will find men who will treat them exactly how you are talking. Belittle them, treat them like 2nd class citizens & expect them to call them HO's!
So sad!
Keep drinking the KoolAid too....ok!
Too bad these days that these types of females will soon be joining the infantry and getting themselves and others needlessly killed.
The question is not why she was at this pay-to-participate tryout. It seems she was just having a good time and getting some cool life experience. The real question is why so many are hating on her for doing it. Angry that their own lives are so dull and resentful of anyone that finds a unique way to have some fun?