Age a 'big issue' as Beggan admits NFL dream is over

Rory Beggan said his technique could have been better, he pointed to his age as 'definitely a big issue'.

DREAM OVER: Rory Beggan (Scotstown, Monaghan) pictured at the launch of this year’s AIB Club Championships. Pic: Dan Sheridan/Inpho

Rory Beggan says his NFL dream is over and reckons that his advancing age was a 'red flag' when it came to teams thinking about signing him.

The Monaghan goalkeeper missed the entire National League campaign as he was taking part in the International Player Pathway programme having earlier impressed at the NFL combine.

Scotstown man Beggan came back and started all of Monaghan's Championship games though did return to the US in May to train with the Carolina Panthers.

His quest to land a kicker's contract ultimately came to nought and while Beggan said his technique could have been better, he pointed to his age as 'definitely a big issue'.

Down man Charlie Smyth, meanwhile, at just 22 was deemed a solid investment and was handed a three-year deal by the New Orleans Saints.

Speaking at the launch of the AIB club championships, Beggan, who turned 32 in April, said 'there's a line drawn under' his NFL experiment now.

"There might not have been a line drawn under it if I was about 10 years younger, to be honest," said Beggan. "I just think that at 32 years of age, and some of the feedback that I felt was aimed towards age, I just felt that I didn't think this was an opportunity that I was willing to try again. 

"I wasn't willing to go back through the pathway route because I don't...like, I'm not getting any younger. I just felt that maybe it was a case that age would stop me from achieving that.

"I remember the interview process in the combine, a lot of the talk was, 'What tape have you got from your previous time playing?' 

"You're telling them you've only been kicking a ball for six months and then they're asking you what age you are and you're telling them you're 31 years of age. 

"It just brought up...it was a bit like a red flag for them really because I'm looking at myself, and I'm looking at Charlie who is 22 years of age, and he has the same amount of training that I have.

"But he's got so much time for them to invest into him, to prime him for American football and I just probably didn't have that."

NFL kickers often compete at the top level well into their 30s and Beggan said he personally felt that he could have got to the required level over time.

"It's just disappointing that I think if I had been given more time to maybe practice over there with American coaches, in an American environment, I definitely feel like I could have added something," he said. "But look, it is what it is, it's over now."