Former Blizzard Player Invited To Private Workout With Packers
Published on October 2, 2005 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Green Bay Blizzard News Release
For many players in the af2, the dream of playing professional football does not end on the 50-yard field. The dream for most has always been the NFL, and one former Blizzard player is one step closer to realizing that dream - again.
OS Randall Lane (6-0, 200 Purdue), who spent the 2004 season with the Blizzard, has been invited to a private workout with the Green Bay Packers this Tuesday, October 4th, at the Don Hutson Center practice facility. "This is a wonderful opportunity for me," said Lane. "I know I have the ability to play [in the NFL], but the injuries I've had have made it tough. There are a lot of great players out there who never get a shot, so I'm going to do everything I can to take advantage of this opportunity."
Lane previously had a workout with the Packers following the 2004 af2 season, but he was coming back from a leg injury that had sidelined him for the last several games of the Blizzard season, and hadn't recovered enough to showcase his skills. "That was tough for me. To know that I was getting a shot but not being able to make the most of it... that just made me work even harder to fulfill that dream."
Lane, who spent the 2005 season with the Columbus Destroyers of the AFL, had previously spent time in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals for the 2000 and 2001 seasons. Following his stint in the NFL he played for the Quad City Steamwheelers before joining the Blizzard in 2004.
Prior to entering the professional ranks, Lane enjoyed a successful collegiate career at Purdue University. As a junior at Purdue in 1998, Lane set the Big Ten Conference record for pass receptions in a single game (18, for 178 yards) at Wisconsin. He held the record for one year until teammate Chris Daniels hauled in 21 passes against Michigan State in 1999. Lane's 18-catch game still ranks as the second-highest single-game total in Big Ten history. In two seasons with the Boilermakers, Lane caught 114 passes for 1,570 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 13.8 yards per catch. Lane was a First-Team junior college All-American in 1997 with 69 receptions for 1,200 yards (17.4 per catch) and 14 touchdowns for Los Angeles Valley Junior College. (Special thanks to the Columbus Destroyers for providing additional information.)
Although Lane has played primarily as a WR during his career, he also has experience as a Kick Returner and Punt Returner. The Packers are depleted at the WR position due to the season-ending knee injury to Pro Bowler Javon Walker, and are shuffling the remainder of their receiving corps to compensate for his loss. Lane says that he is willing to do whatever the Packers ask of him to make the team. "These opportunities don't come along very often, and I'm gong to make the most of it. Running routes, returning kicks, returning punts, whatever they want me to do, I'll do." He then added with a laugh, "If they want me to run through a wall, I'll do it!"
The NFL experience is one he'll never forget, and wants to experience again. "The talent in the NFL is the best in the world; the best there is, period. The Packers are giving me the chance to show what I can do, to show that I belong with those guys. Hopefully everything will work out and I'll be lining up with them."
For more information, contact the Blizzard office at (920) 405-1264.
arenafootball2 Stories from October 2, 2005
- Former Blizzard Player Invited To Private Workout With Packers - Green Bay Blizzard
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