Look at what hines Ward has been able to do and you can’t tell me he is much bigger that this guy. No, I am not saying the talent is equal so don’t go there. I’m just saying the size thing is not an issue. Hell, half the corners these days are barely over 6’ anyways.

Otherwise I will root for him, if for no other reason than to be our next long term kick returner. The numbers from NFL Europa are good enough to warrant it, plus it alleviates us from making that decision to put a key skill position player back there, i.e. Norwood or heaven forbid Turner. If one of them gets hurt returning a kick, we will have lost a major load of talent. If this guy gets hurt, well, we throw some other fifth string DB back there and we won’t have lost much.

If he had the innate talent to compete, wouldn’t he have already been on an American NFL roster by age 25? Realistically, his NFL USA prospects have got to be next to nothing.

You’ve got to like the kid though. I wish him well, but hope he has Career Plan B ready.

hey guys, i am living in japan and playing semi-pro football here, and i know a thing or two about what is going on with noriaki. one thing you have got to take into consideration, is that until he played in NFL europe he played all of his ball in japan, where the coaching isnt at the level that he is now being exposed to in america. so though he is already 25, he is still trying to catch up in a sense technically, and combine that with his already apparent physical abilities. in an article here in japan, he expressed just that. he said he knows he is talented enough, but he needs to improve his skills as a receiver, and being a practice squad player will give him a chance to do that. sure, he had american coaches in europe, but that isnt the NFL. he also needs to improve his english as well, because unlike baseball where ichiro and matsui have gotten by with limited english, as a football player kinoshita needs to communicate at a much higher level. most of what i am saying is coming from coaches and kinoshita himself, and when considering it, it is understandable why taking 2008 just to practice will do him a lot of good to prepare for next year rather than try out this year before he is really ready to make a good run at making a team.

i hope he does well also. he has made it his goal in life to play in the NFL since the age of 5. gotta admire that.

i also just read on the espn site that kinoshita along with all IPS (international practice squad) players will be able to play with the falcons during the preseason games, so that is really good news. i wonder if that means he still could have a shot at making the team this year… that would be cool to look forward to.

I saw him at camp wearing the #1 jersey. Can’t say that I thought he looked outstanding but I do recall liking the fact that it seemed like he really wanted to be there and hustled every chance he got.