Did You Know That You Can Try Out for the NFL?

You know that guy at the bar who never stops talking about how good of a football player he was in high school? Finally, you have the perfect counter to his obnoxious babbling: Tell him to put his money where his mouth is and try out for the NFL. 

No, seriously. And you can too. 

This loophole came to the forefront when Lauren Silberman tried out as a kicker at one of the league's regional combines and, well, failed miserably. 

Sure, she made history as the first female to try out for the NFL, but her brutal effort served as a harsh reminder that the league isn't for everyone. 

But, if you think you're up to the task, league spokesperson Greg Aiello, engaged in a Twitter feud with Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, sent out few encouraging tweets for all the high-school has-beens out there. 

"

Yes. That's an open tryout. RT @profootballtalk: .@gregaiello So any slappy w/$275 can show up+try out, regardless of skill or experience?

— Greg Aiello (@gregaiello) March 5, 2013"

"

We did it every year in Dallas. RT @thefantasynerd: @gregaiello So teams will allow anyone that wants to show up an opportunity to try out?

— Greg Aiello (@gregaiello) March 5, 2013"

"

Precisely. RT @everybody_hits: @thefantasynerdAn open tryout is an open tryout. What media decides to make a story is their prerogative

— Greg Aiello (@gregaiello) March 5, 2013"

If there's money to be made, the NFL just can't say no. 

And why should they? If people are willing to hand the league $275 to make fools of themselves, then so be it. 

In Florio's report, he wrote the following in regards to tryout eligibility: 

"

In the November 18, 2012 press release announcing the dates of the Regional Combines, the league said that the events are “conducted specifically for” the following:  players eligible for the 2013 NFL Draft but not attending the National Scouting Combine; players with college playing experience who want to gauge their pro potential; players with some pro playing experience but who have been out of the game for a period of time.

"

However, that clearly contradicts Aiello's series of tweets, and when I visited NFLRegionalCombines.com—the site where you can register for a tryout—I was prompted to an "NFL Eligibility" page.

The most interesting subheadings, titled "Non-Football Collegians" and "Player Not Attending College", specifically outline that as long as four league seasons have elapsed since someone's last year in high school, that person is eligible to play in the NFL, thereby making them eligible for a tryout at a regional combine. 

So, if Silberman, who never played football at any level, can try out for the NFL, there's nothing stopping you—even if you were cut from your Junior Varsity team as a 10th grader. 

Follow @ChrisTrapasso