The NFL Regional Scouting Combine had some history made on Sunday, although it was short-lived, as Lauren Silberman became the first female prospect to tryout for the league and was injured after two of her kicks.
According to the Associated Press, Silberman lined for her first kick an immediately started grabbing at her right leg, as her first attempt traveled just 19 yards. After struggling to tee up the ball for her next kick, she made another attempt that went just 13 yards.
Silberman had the trainer attend to her soon after the kick and she left the field after just two attempts, as she suffered a quadriceps injury.
"They certainly didn't go as far as they were in practices," Silberman said to the Associated Press, "but I tried to work through the pain."
The 28-year-old kicker made history as the first female to tryout at the combine and she was among 36 other kickers, all of whom were male, at the Jets' facility in Florham Park. Silberman said that she suffered the injury earlier in the week and it flared up again at the tryout.
"I tried staying off it and waited for today," she said. "I didn't even take kicks in warm-ups, and, it's pretty hard to know that you'll be in pain, and I wanted to work through it and I certainly tried to, but I just couldn't do it today."
Silberman was a club soccer player at Wisconsin and was also a graduate student at MIT. The report says that she was frustrated after being injured at her tryout and only being able to attempt two kicks.
"I've always been an athlete, and I've always been a gamer," she said while fighting back tears. "When I had the opportunity to be in the NFL, one of the world's most competitive leagues, I absolutely had to take the chance."
The NFL combine in Indianapolis usually gets all the media attention, but after Silberman signed up for the regional combine, the media descended on the usually rarely-reported on event.
"I'm just really happy I had this amazing experience," Silberman said. "I might be the first woman trying out for the NFL, but I certainly hope I'm not the last."
Silberman had never kicked a ball in an actual football game, but the NFL said she was eligible for the combine due to her athletic background and past participation in soccer. She was required to pay a $275 registration fee for the event and the kickers were called in alphabetically.
"Our job is to evaluate talent and not leave any stone unturned," said Stephen Austin, the NFL's director of regional combines. "We want young, athletic people who have played a sport, typically in college or military or small schools."
Silberman was upset about being cut short at her tryout and said that she hoped to be able to try again in the future. Her goal for the day was to attempt and make a 60-yard field goal, but she never got the chance.
"I would certainly be very, very excited and happy if I had the opportunity to try again," she said, "but it's not up to me. It's up to the scouts."
