LeBron James: 6 NFL Teams King James Could Play for

LeBron caused a stir earlier this week by tweeting to John Clayton, asking when the NFL trade deadline is.

Hey, the guy needs to maintain that salary or he might fall on hard times.

Seriously, LeBron was a star receiver in high school before hanging up the spikes to focus on hoops. It's safe to say he made the right choice.

King James is still one of the most athletic humans on this planet, and has above-average size and speed for a receiver in the NFL.

At 6'8" 250 lbs, with good speed, big hands, a football background, and what would undoubtedly be the best hops in the league, I am willing to bet there were some GM's that at least lost sleep over the idea of extending an offer to LeBron.

Now let's get one thing straight. He won't play in the NFL. Even if he did get an offer, his contract with the Heat would not cover any injuries on the gridiron, and he's a little bit too valuable to that franchise to take that risk.

But hypothetically, there are some teams that have a need at the position, and probably wouldn't mind getting the extra ticket and jersey sales generated by such a move.

Here are those teams.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers, simply put, are the greatest, most storied franchise in the National Football League.

I say that for two reasons. First, they have a perfect 5-0 record in Super Bowls. Second, they are my favorite team. The latter is more likely the reason I'd like to see LeBron suit up.

Unfortunately for him, the Niners already have two pretty dominant tight ends in Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker. Still, I'd like to see LeBron step in on red-zone passing situations, and take on even the biggest cornerback on a jump ball fade.

There's no doubting who would win that battle.

Not to mention, Josh Morgan got injured last week and is out for the season. If our receiving corps is going to be decimated, and the best replacement we can come up with is Brett Swain (I'll pause to allow you to Google his name...), I'd rather take a freak-of-nature athlete like James who has no professional football experience.

Seattle Seahawks

As a loyal 49ers fan, I can not, in good conscious, root for this move to go through. The Seahawks are a division rival who are a playmaking receiver away (okay fine, and a stud linebacker, a technically-sound offensive line, an average quarterback and a little coaching too) from being a contender in the NFC.

Pete Carroll is sure trying his hardest to make some waves in this situation, though. What's new?

I don't think a LeBron-to-Seattle move would work very well. Fans in Seattle are still sore about losing the SuperSonics, and with the track record of this new receiver, they would eventually be heartbroken all over again. 

Seattle could definitely use some kind of winning team these days, though. Maybe it would work. As long as either Carroll or James will bow to the other's spotlight.

I can imagine King James would even make Charlie Whitehurst look good, as long as the QB just threw the ball in the general vicinity of those big paws.

Besides, the Seahawks could really use a No. 1 option downfield!

Carolina Panthers

How awesome would it be to watch Cam Newton throwing passes to LeBron James.

Two of the most physically-gifted, controversial athletes of the last few years hooking up on the football field, and trying to lead the exciting Panthers back to the playoffs.

I can't imagine King James lining up in a two-tight end formation with Jeremy Shockey. I have an even harder time imagining an opposing defense stopping that duo.

Carolina is close enough to Florida that it's reasonable. I don't know how willing LeBron would be to not wear No. 6 or 23, though.

There is one problem with this scenario; Carolina's biggest problem this season has been finishing. They have been so close in every game, but just can't come through in the clutch.

Something tells me that signing LeBron would make that problem a lot worse. Ooh, low blow...

Miami Dolphins

It would obviously make geographic sense. And the Dolphins could use any kind of spark right now with QB Chad Henne out for the season, and Brandon Marshall acting like a nut case. Oh, and with their whole team stinking up the league.

The only way this would work, though, is if LeBron signed with the Browns first and brought them to the brink of winning the Super Bowl. Then, an hour-long special later, he would announce he was moving BACK to South Beach to help the Dolphins win a championship. And the catch would be that he was bringing his good friend Tom Brady with him.

All kidding aside, I am a huge "The Decision" apologist. If LeBron wants to go play for the Dolphins, I have no problem with it. It wouldn't make a damn difference to that team, but at least I'd have a reason to watch them!

New York Jets or Giants

I kind of cheat on this one.

Both teams could use a spark, and both teams have overrated quarterbacks that could use some more playmakers to further trick analysts into thinking they are actually talented.

That was a bit harsh, but both New York teams are underachieving, and could use a big target downfield like LeBron.

For someone with a ferocious love of the spotlight, and no fear of media attention, where better to burst onto the NFL scene than the Big Apple?

James would take some pressure off of the Giants receiving corps, and help the fragmented Jets locker room gel.

How? All the heat would go straight to him, freeing up Santonio Holmes and Brandon Moore to duke it out in private.

The main problem with this scenario, besides that it's all fictional and hypothetical of course, is that LeBron would surely crumble under the bright lights of New York.

I don't know if he can handle the mental wear and tear of a football career, especially on the Jets or Giants where every move is criticized worse than he could ever imagine.

Cleveland Browns

Oh, come on. You know I had to do it.

It's safe to say that almost every fan at the Browns home games is also a Cavaliers fan. And I bet some of the longer-tenured players on the team are Cavs fans. I don't think the reception would go over too well for Bron-Bron here.

It sure would be interesting to see, though; a good old-fashioned social experiment.

Chances are, a crazed fan would charge the field and hit LeBron with a blindside tackle. I'm not sure it would do any damage, but it would be enough to end the LeBron James-to-the-NFL experiment. 

We will never see King James on the football field, but if we do, let's buckle down and prepare for the ride.

It's going to be bumpy.