Lane Olson still hoping for a shot in an NFL camp

Tuesday morning NFL teams were allowed to sign undrafted free agents to contracts for the first time since the NFL Lockout ended Monday.

UW-Whitewater linebacker Lane Olson spent much of the Tuesday with friends playing golf at H.F. Johnson Park Golf Course in hometown of Racine while waiting for a call from his agent Mitch Chargo that an NFL team wanted to sign him to a free agent contract.

Olson told Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal-Times that he admittedly was a basket case waiting for word that an NFL team wanted his services.

To read the entire Journal-Times story CLICK HERE

Here is my take on Lane playing at the NFL level.

His Pro Day workout last March at the McClain Facility in Madison was simply amazing.

Woelfel wrote the day following Olson's Pro Day workout in front of NFL scouts...

Invited to Wisconsin's "Pro Day" in March, Olson raised the eyebrows of NFL officials in attendance, including Packers general manager Ted Thompson.

Olson fashioned some staggering numbers during his audition - numbers that rank among the best for draft-eligible safeties: a 4.3-second 40, 29 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press and an NBA-like 38½ inch vertical jump.

Olson, who played outside linebacker at Whitewater but will need to play strong safety at the pro level, knew it was imperative to wow the NFL scouts, who likely had preconceived opinions on him.

Much like Woelfel, I've reported from a number of NFL training camps over the past several years including producing and hosting the then Goetz Radio Netowrk Titletown Report for several years.

A matter-of-fact, I'll be at Green Bay Packers training camp this coming Monday.

I also attended the St. Louis Rams training camp when for Warhawk Derek Stanley was returning kicks and playing wide reciever for the Rams.

I travelled to Washington D.C. to watch former UWW tight end Pete Schmitt after he signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Redskins. From all reports, Pete was on a fast track to make the Skins' regular season roster before suffering a shoulder injury late in training camp.

I'm still mystified that Justin Beaver was not signed to an undrafted free agent contract after impressing NFL scouts, coaches and general managers at his Pro Day workout in 2008 in Madison.

Justin was invited to the Green Bay Packers rookie camp following the 2008 NFL draft and the prevailing opinion was that the Packers would sign him. They didn't and that was a head sratcher for me.

I travelled to Regina, Saskatchewan (Canada) to report on Beaver's attempt to earn a regular season roster spot with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL.

All the talk I heard from Roughrider sources during my training camp trip was how talented Beaver was. The football played in the CFL is much different than football "American style." Only three downs in a pass-happy league.

To his credit, Justin spent the year on the Roughrider's practice squad.

I remember him telling me during my training camp visit that "if it doesn't work out for me here in Canada I will be very happy to return home to get on with my teaching career.

He did just that and is making the same impact in his teaching and coaching position at Jefferson High School as he did on the football field as a UW-Whitewater Warhawk.

It is a "meat wagon" mentality when NFL teams put together a roster. It will never chance.

Here's hoping Lane gets that call today!