Aim high, MoBo.
Why not?
Minnesota Vikingssixth-round pickMoritz Boehringer of Germany, the first player drafted directly into the NFL from a European league, wants a career track like that of America's most notable German pro athlete, Dirk Nowitzki of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.
"My ultimate goal is to be the Dirk Nowitzki of the NFL, but it's a process," he said on Monday, per The Pioneer Press. "I've got to make the team (first)."
Indeed, Boehringer has an awfully long way to go, but at least there won't be any contract dispute at the outset. The wide receiver became the first 2016 draft pick to sign a contract on Monday. He signed a four-year, $2.49 million deal, with a signing bonus in excess of $150,000, per the report. The reason for the brevity of negotiations? To expedite the process of getting Boehringer a work visa.
As for reaching Nowitzki status, Boehringer has his work cut out for him. With more than 29,000 career points, Nowitzki is one of the top 10 scorers in NBA history and has an NBA title to his credit. If the Vikings get such elite production out of a sixth-round choice, they've made one of the best draft picks of all-time.
And they'll eventually be forking over a signing bonus much bigger than $150,000.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
