At first blush, Jared Green isn't so different from any other undrafted free agent hoping to make it with the Carolina Panthers. But as the son of Hall of Fame cornerback Darrell Green, the young man has something NFL teams can't get enough of: his father's speed.
Darrell starred for the Washington Redskins for 20 memorable seasons. Jared, a wide receiver, is hoping to make it through his first. Jared's numbers weren't stunning during stints with Virginia and Southern University (he averaged 13 catches per season), but his 4.38-second time in the 40-yard dash landed him an opportunity with Carolina.
"I got a lot of attention on the back end (of the draft process), but I guess it was too little or too late," Jared told The Charlotte Observer. "But drafted or undrafted, the job is still the same."
Father and son trained together this winter on the grounds of George Mason University, the same place Darrell -- now 52 -- worked out during his playing days. It appears the seven-time Pro Bowl selection still brings the heat.
"My dad ran that hill back in the '80s and '90s, so basically he took me back to his old stomping grounds," Jared said. "He'd be right there running next to me. He's still fast."
It's not only the 40 time. We have enough examples of NFL bloodlines translating on the field. Darrell was a first-round pick by the Washington Redskins in 1983. Jared is on a much shorter leash in Carolina, but if he has any of his father's staying power, he'll find a way to beat the odds.
