The New York Giants sign French wide receiver Anthony Dable
After casting their net as far as Europe to find a wide receiver of intimidating enough dimensions, the New York NFL franchise have settled on the 6ft 5in Frenchman.
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Wide receiver Anthony Dable could be set to become the only Frenchman playing in the National Football League after signing a contract with the New York Giants, it was confirmed on Thursday.
The New York Daily News said Dable had been signed by the Giants after impressing staff in a tryout in New Jersey on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old arrives in New York after spending two seasons playing in Germany for the New Yorker Lions, the newspaper reported today.
Dable, who cuts an imposing figure at 6ft 5in (1.95m) and 215 pounds (99 kilos), racked up 145 catches with 32 touchdowns in two seasons.
The New York Giants did not immediately respond to requests to comment on the signing.
However, Dable confirmed the deal in a post on Twitter. “I had no idea when I woke up yesterday morning that my dream was about to be realized that afternoon”, Dable said.“I would like to thank the New York Giants for offering me this opportunity”.
Only a handful of French players have ever joined the ranks of the NFL, most notably Richard Tardits, a linebacker for the New England Patriots who played between 1990 and 1992.
Three other French players signed contracts with NFL sides without playing a game -- Sebastien Sejean (St Louis Rams), Philippe Gardent (Washington Redskins and Carolina Panthers) and Marc-Angelo Soumah (Cleveland Browns).
Dable will not be alone as the only non-American born player to ply his trade in the NFL. Australia’s Jarryd Hayne, the former National Rugby League player, joined the San Francisco 49ers last year as a backup running back.