re: How difficult is it to be an NFL scout?

Agree, it is not hard, but is a lot of work and a lot of travel.

In today's NFL, it is mostly about the measureables. Few scouts will go to bat for a guy that is a REALLY good football player but undersized, average combine numbers, etc. It is all about their size and forty yard dash times sadly, its not rocket science to recommend a guy who is 6'3" and runs 4.4. They want young, tall, and fast, and will put up with the off the field issues, poor fundamentals, poor overall skills if the guy is big and can run.

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I truly think if you put anyone in the position with an above 110 IQ and has vigorously watched football for minimum 15 years, they could do the job just as well as anyone else. I meet that criteria, so yes I think I could do as good of a job as anyone in the industry.

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For most football jobs, if it was your full time job it wouldn't be hard to be at least mediocre. It still takes a certain talent and person to be great at it.

I knew Hokie Gagan for the Saints. He said it always sounded sexy but it was not and he did it for years before moving into the broadcast end. A lot of time on the road going to out of the way colleges, staying in Comfort Inns and Holiday Inns or mostly, worse. Of course this was 25 + years ago. They typically would start about now and plan out through October. Then after getting tips on new guys , adjust their schedules accordingly.

It really did not stop until the Senior Bowl. Then they might start over again in the Spring by going to some of the Spring games....and practices, although he said largely Spring stuff was kind of a waste of time....at least back then

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How difficult is it to be an NFL scout?

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Like most collegiate and professional sports it's about who you know. I imagine getting a foot in the door wouldn't be that difficult if you were willing to go anywhere. At the low end it's mostly monotonous grunt work.

To just walk in off the street and do it for an nfl franchise without knowing anyone would be difficult, you'd probably need to do it for pennies or start out as the janitor. Recycling is the name of the game though. Once you're in, you're in

Agreed. They both have young families and that is the hardest part hands down.

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In today's NFL, it is mostly about the measureables. Few scouts will go to bat for a guy that is a REALLY good football player but undersized, average combine numbers, etc. It is all about their size and forty yard dash times sadly, its not rocket science to recommend a guy who is 6'3" and runs 4.4. They want young, tall, and fast, and will put up with the off the field issues, poor fundamentals, poor overall skills if the guy is big and can run.

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Those young, tall, and fast guys are all known to the scouts and directors of player personnel and most play on tv every Saturday… their challenge is to find the guys that are producing but not known, who still have what it takes

Dude just go out and just do it already. Just start doing it. Don't ask anyone's permission. Just show up at the park and start scouting. When you believe you're a scout, the pro's cannot ignore you. Just do it man.

I've been asked by a few college coaches to observe players. I've don't this numerous times. Something I enjoy.

I have found talent, called up a coach, told him about a player. I said this player would average 100 yards a game easy, in your offense. After looking at film, the coach arrived on a Friday to attend a game, only to be told, the player had committed to Michigan the night before.

I was asked to observe a Spring Practice at Cy-Ridge, Russell Shepard's high school. Both coordinators, offensive and defensive, and I met up. After practice they asked for my evaluation. I said I'd offer all three players, they did, and signed the three.

But then again, a good friend of mine, an offensive coordinator, his wife was watching a high school game with him. After a half, she said, "That might be the best high school QB, I've ever seen!" That QB, Air McNair.