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oldmanram
The player that I 1sd for a while but never was specialt thought of that answers this question was Ron Brown wr. Olympic sprinter , started for a few yrs. but never lived up to expectations
The NFL rarely gets those. They get guys who ran track in high school, and may have won a regional race or two. But it's extremely rare that they get elite sprinters, and the difference is quantifiable.
Gurley, for instance, won some regional track meets. But, if memory serves, his personal best in the 100 meters was 10.6. Ron Brown was in the 10-flat range, as were Willie Gault, Darrell Green and Nehemiah -- the latter was once called the world's fastest man, but primarily based on his hurdles' time.
Bob Hayes was an elite, world-class sprinter, who ran sub-10-flat times, and the 100 yard dash in 9.1.
Surprisingly, Eric Couch ran a 10.4 in school. He would have beaten Gurley's best time.
Someone mentioned Byrd, the TE, above. I never thought of him as particularly athletic. He ran a 4.8 forty at roughly 250 pounds. Never liked that they drafted him after already taking Klop.