How the Elton John Show almost led Dan Carter to join NFL powerhouse
After watching the Elton John Show at the world-famous Madison Square Garden, legendary All Black Dan Carter was given an opportunity to realise a “childhood dream.”
No, Carter wasn’t given the chance to become a ‘Rocket Man’ and to venture into the great unknown – but for a man from Southbridge New Zealand, what followed was just as surreal.
The two-time Rugby World Cup-winning flyhalf was approached by the now six-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, and was asked whether he’d like to see their facilities.
Carter thought he was going to Patriot Place for a tour when he made the trip north to Foxborough, Massachusetts, and it’s true that the 112-Test All Black got to do just that.
But that was just the tip of the iceberg.
Carter ended up meeting Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and was left stunned when the billionaire asked him, “What are you going to bring to the team?”
“I was in New York, Madison Square Garden, watching the Elton John Show,” Carter said on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby Australia.
“They’re like, ‘Hey, do you want to come to the Patriots and have a look at their facilities?’ “I said, ‘Oh yeah, love to.’ Thought I was going to have a tour (but) they’d obviously done some research and seen I could kick a ball.
“So I rock up there and they go, ‘Right, we want to see if you can kick an American Football.’ I said, ‘Oh I’ve just injured my Achilles, I can’t.’
“They go, ‘Oh the owner wants to talk to you.’ I was like, ‘Oh that’s nice, Robert Kraft is going to welcome me to the facilities, that’s nice of him, I’m sure he’s a busy man.’
“Walk into his office, ‘How long have you wanted to play in the NFL? What are you going to bring to the team?’
“I’m like, ‘Woah s***, childhood dream, bit of an outside of the box story and I just b********** this, if felt like an interview.
He goes, ‘Right, the head of scouting wants to have a word with you.’ We talked about different kickers in the competition, the importance of technique and good kickers and bad kickers in the game.
“Eventually I got my tour, amazing facilities, and then I left – they gave me a ball. They’re like, ‘We want to see some video footage of you kicking this and if we think you’ve got potential you come to try-outs next year.’
“I always used to joke with my mates (that a) goal kicker in American Football, that’s my retirement plan… I tried to kick an American Football and I was hopeless.”
In a way, Dan Carter’s NFL dream was over before it really began. The All Black didn’t end up trialing with the Patriots, and instead took his talents to France.
Carter remained in rugby, and added to his decorated legacy during a successful stint with Paris-based club Racing 92.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
35 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to comments