Not that it wasn’t the consensus view already, but confirmed Sunday were the three most dramatic words in an NFL huddle are when Russell Wilson says to DK Metcalf, “Y’all go deep.”
The global track world may not be impressed with Metcalf’s 10.36-second time in the 100-meters Sunday at the Mt. San Antonio College Golden Games in Walnut, CA. But everyone who wears an NFL uniform has renewed respect for a 230-pound man hanging with world-class pro sprinters.
The time was barely last in his nine-man heat and 14th in the 17-man field. Anyone who thought he would embarrass himself in this field was wrong.
Great start for @Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf.
He ended up finishing his 100m heat in 9th with a time of 10.36.@usatf // #JourneyToGold pic.twitter.com/OSPrrMZFVe
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) May 9, 2021
But Metcalf thinking he might have a shot at the U.S. track trials in Eugene next month ahead of the Tokyo Olympics in July was also wrong.
“Man, just happy to be here,” he told NBC after the race. “I just thank God for the opportunity to just come out here and run against world-class athletes like this. Just working out. Just to test my speed up against world-class athletes like this . . . just having the opportunity to run against these guys was just a blessing.”
Did he learn anything?
“Oh, yes, sir,” Metcalf said. “These are world-class athletes. They do (this) for a living. It’s very different from football speed, from what I just realized.”
“To test my speed up against world class athletes like this… Like I said, just having the opportunity to run against these guys was just a blessing.”@Seahawks wide receiver @dkm14 on the opportunity to race against elite track & field athletes.@usatf // #JourneyToGold pic.twitter.com/Ob1Zr8g34s
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) May 9, 2021
Metcalf burst from the blocks in good shape, always the hard technical chore for less-experienced sprinters. The field gradually pulled away in the final 25 meters.
Pre-race, when the camera panned the field, Metcalf’s size set him apart from the smaller, sleeker sprinters. The distinction was acknowledged by NBC analyst Ato Boldon, himself a former world-class sprinter.
“He did a phenomenal job — 10.36 for a man that size?” he said.
None in the field posted a time that matched or bested the standard of 10.05 to qualify automatically for the U.S. trials. Isiah Young, an Ole Miss alum as is Metcalf, won the first heat in 10.09 seconds. Cravon Gillespie won the second heat with Metcalf in 10.11 seconds.
Beyond the particulars of the race, the audacity behind the decision to compete was more impressive.
Yes, it was a hype orchestrated by USA Track & Field and NBC to draw attention to the Olympics later this summer. But the fact that Metcalf risked potential embarrassment and/or injury in accepting a challenge that would cause shudders and flop sweats among 99.99 percent of professional athletes says a lot about his character.
The intrigue began after Metcalf’s immortal rundown of Budda Baker after his interception in the Seahawks-Cardinals game the past fall. The track federation USATF put out a tweet asking Metcalf and “football players” if they wanted to try out for a relay position at the Olympics.
“See you there,” replied Metcalf.
The world saw something a little special Sunday. Even the quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs had to agree.
10.36 is crazy tho at that size!! Mad respect! @dkm14
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) May 9, 2021
From a perspective of track history, Metcalf’s time in 1936 would have put him right with American legend Jesse Owens, who won Olympic gold at the Berlin Olympics at 10.3 seconds under the glower of Adolph Hitler. Here’s a cool four-minute video summary of the event, colorized and in the original German.
Hooking up with that kind of sports and world history by itself made the Sunday feat of Metcalf worthwhile.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2249016 https://sportspressnw.wpengine.com/?p=2249016">22 Comments
I agree with you Art, this did take a lot of guts on DK’s part to get out there on that track and his 10.36 in the 100 equates to a 4.14 40 time. That’s blazing speed and for a man his size is incredible! In Waldron’s offense there’s the potential for DK in 2021 to put up huge numbers for catches, yards and touchdowns.
No shame in coming up a little short in pursuit of a challenge, a dream, a desire. He prepared and did his best.
I liked everything about this: from The Carroll mantra of “always compete” to the clear advantage that studying and training for world-class level sprinting could add to DK’s football skill set. It’s a rare treat to see such a specimen of athleticism put it to such a public test. And then be so gracious and humble in relative defeat. Call it audacious; call it cajones. He will never have to look back later in life and speculate.
DK Metcalf is building something, and we may be witnessing a legend in the making.
Glad you made the point about humility. That’s not easy for the highly talented.
Indeed, it’s hard to argue with that result. If DK wanted to be a sprinter–with different training and physique and all–he’d most likely be right up there with the best. Pretty cool that instead he’s a Seahawk, and that he seems like such a decent guy.
Premier athletes know what a feat it was for a big man. The humility probably surprised them.
DK Metcalf: 6′ 4″ 229 lbs ==> 10.36 seconds
Usain Bolt: 6′ 5″ 207 lbs ==> 9.58 seconds
Kind of fun to wonder if DK could cut 20+ lbs of upper body muscle if he were a sprinter… and how many hundredths of second he could shave off…!
I wrote about Bolt in the previous column. A once in a lifetime athlete. I was privileged to see him deal in Beijing.
Metcalf proved he could hang with the best. I think his best race would be the one he tried in HS — 110 HH. The next Edwin Moses.
Truly a legend in the earliest phase of its own creation! Seahawks! The incubator of NFL heroes, giving flesh and blood to the future myths of League sports! Go Hawks!!!
Maybe, but I think the Seahawks probably tried to discourage it because of the injury risk. But they didn’t stop him.
I’m sure they were concerned, but, this is just one type of demonstration that even though the NFL is a business, sports teams are composed of athletic personalities, and focusing on turning athletes into businessmen isn’t going to yield winning seasons.
If they had put Budda Baker half way down the track with a recovered fumble, I think Metcalf could have won the whole thing.
Desperate for attention, the Olympics may try that as a demonstration sport.
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I just wish the Muslim running had worn a large star and crescent around his neck and hanging from his ears.
Did he have a name, and identify as Muslim?
I think he was making a really inane comment about DK wearing a cross, and how he for some reason appears to have a problem with it. I guess he wants people to self censor their religion for some reason, because people having visible pride in their beliefs I guess offends him?
I didn’t realize that ANOTHER black American, Ralph Metcalfe, finished second behind Owens in the 100 meter race in the 1936 Olympics. Hitler must have had nightmares for weeks!
Did DK have a national commercial debut today? I saw a commercial for Nestle Nesquik today featuring him that I had never seen before until today.
Interesting to look at Metcalf coming out of the blocks compared to the others. He is HUGE in comparison. The winner is around 6 feet and 160.