Olympic wrestler and former WWE pro Gable Steveson recently signed with the Buffalo Bills as an offensive lineman. Former NFL offensive lineman Ramon Foster finds it to be ridiculous.
The 11-year veteran does not think that Steveson has any chance of making the league.
To be fair, Foster might be right. Steveson, who won a gold medal for the United States in Tokyo, put on cleats for the first time during his tryout in upstate New York. He has never played a down of football.
On the flip side of that, what does Buffalo have to lose? The former Minnesota Golden Gopher is 6-foot-1, 265 pounds of muscle. He knows how to use his leverage.
Gable Steveson is also nimble and athletic enough to hit a backflip which, at his size, is impressive.
As a newly-minted 24-year-old there is very little downside to the Bills’ decision to try and teach him the ropes. They will pay him marginal money to be on the practice squad, if he even makes it that far.
Why not?
Foster disagrees with the gamble on Gable and made that clear during an appearance on 104-5 The Zone. Having played more than a decade at guard with/for the Pittsburgh Steelers, he does not expect the wrestler to figure it out.
Hate it. Hate every bit of this. No, you were pro in a different sport. Hate it. And I ain’t mad at him. Just calling me a hater cause I hate this. You can’t just show up to go practice and think that you can do this.
Now, wrestlers are a big part of this. I know for sure Pittsburgh’s rookie last year, Keannu Benton was a wrestler, okay? There draft pick this year, Zach Frazier was a (high school) wrestler. Wrestling is a cool part of playing football.
— Ramon Foster
With the understanding that wrestlers who also played football have had success in college and the NFL, Foster does not think that just a wrestling background is enough. Gable Steveson, in his eyes, is not qualified enough for a roster spot.
This dude’s trying to come out here and play football, I hope they line him up on a nine-on-seven. Do you hear me? Put him on Dawkins, Dion Dawkins, and just let him have his way with him.
I’m tired of these folks just trying to walk out here and think, “oh because I’m physical, I’m strong, I can move good in quick space, that I can play in the NFL.” No, boo that man.
— Ramon Foster
Foster did not hold back. He torched Buffalo for making the move and thinks that Steveson is in for a rude awakening.
You want to come out here and play football, and on top of this, you don’t have your little leotard anymore. You got pads on. You got to wear cleats. We don’t have the little slippery shoes on on the soft mat. We ain’t got none of that!
And guess what?
You actually have to run to the play, you actually got to be aggressive enough to know that we will trap you. I can’t wait to do a wham play on a guy like this. Set him up with a fake bloke, “oh guess what? Here’s my right guard. Welcome to the show.”
— Ramon Foster
To make the signing even more questionable, Gable Steveson was arrested on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct in 2019. Charges were dropped later that same year due to “inadequate evidence.”
Ramon Foster did not like to discover the allegations.
Get him out of here. No way he makes this damn roster.
— Ramon Foster
Steveson will soon have the chance prove the former Steelers starter right or wrong. The Bills are going to let him try and figure out this whole football thing before closing the door on that idea.
Foster clearly wishes that they wouldn’t!