LaVar Ball Use To Be A ‘Cocky Nobody’ On The New York Jets

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LaVar Ball has been all over the media the past couple of weeks, claiming he can defeat the greatest basketball player ever, Michael Jordan one-on-one to claiming his son Lonzo Ball is better than Steph Curry.

One thing LaVar has been in the media about is him failing to make it on the New York Jets roster in 1994.

Ball was 25-years old when he first signed with the Jets — May 1, 1994. He played one year of football at Long Beach City College. Prior to that, he bounced around as a basetkball player, going from Washington State to West LA College to Ca State-Los Angeles.

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Ball was signed to play defensive end.

Boomer Esiason, the Jets’ quarterback from 1993 to 1995, said he has “no recollection” of Ball, however, former LB Marvin Jones does:

“I remember LaVar Ball very well, he was a very athletic guy and raw. I remember him very well because he played only one year of college football. I remember a very confident guy and, yes, he voiced his opinion and was cocky, but overall seemed like a great guy.”

At the time, the Jets were stacked at the defensive end spot with Jeff Lageman and Marvin Washington, so Ball shot of making the roster was a longshot. He was released on August 22nd, 1994, but was re-signed the following year on March 7 and assigned to the London Monarchs of the World League.

At the time, it was the Kotite-led Jets, known for taking chances on “unheralded” players like Wayne Chrebet — but apparently the Jets didn’t see the same potential in LaVar Ball even after he changed his position from defensive end to tight end.

LaVar also had a short stint on the Carolina Panthers practice squad during the inaugural season from September to November of 1995 according to the Charlotte Observer.

However, much like Boomer, LaVar’s teammates didn’t know he was their teammate:

“I had no idea! Are you sure LaVar Ball isn’t making this up?” former Panthers WR Mark Carrier told Mark Fowler of Charlotte Observer.

LaVar Ball has turned his attention to his three sons, who have a very bright future in the NBA but he continues to say outlandish things that many believe take away from their sons talent.