Venezuela's victory over the United States in the World Baseball Classic should be a wake-up call. The NFL and Team USA cannot mess around. They have an opportunity to create a football Dream Team at the 2028 Olympics. But flag football is a different game and selecting the team could get complicated. This weekend's Fanatics Flag Football Classic could be the kickoff to this process and provide clues for how to approach the roster.
Beneath the glitz of the event – which was moved from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to Los Angeles – hopefully we'll witness an eye-opening competition. Pro Bowlers, legends and a few non-football celebrities will go up against Team USA's regular flag-football team.
Here are nine questions about the event, alomg with a suggestion for a potential 2028 Dream Team:
1. How will the current and former NFL players match up against Team USA?
The U.S. Men's Flag National Team has won five consecutive IFAF world championships. The players know the intricacies of the game. "I feel like I'm better than Patrick Mahomes because of my IQ of the game," Team USA quarterback Darrell Doucette II told TMZ. "I know he's right now the best in the [NFL]… but when it comes to flag football, I feel like I know more than him."
Doucette is right. Flag football is closer to halfcourt basketball. The spacing and motion is different than the NFL game. Even the positions are different, with the quarterback often handing the ball off and turning into a receiver. While Team USA can't compete athletically, it's already mastered an intricate gameplan and could cause problems for the superstars.
Saturday's event features a round robin with Team USA playing two NFL teams. If the experienced flag football players win three in a row, will Olympic organizers start to doubt whether professional players belong in this competition?
2. Will the NFL players be into it?
Last May when the NFL voted 32-0 to let its players compete in the Olympics, Tyreek Hill and other stars immediately expressed interest in being on the team. This weekend's tournament is an early litmus test on whether they want to follow up on that promise. Will they match the current flag football team's effort?
Tom Brady, the primary ambassador for this weekend's event, told Logan Paul that players will be engaged.
"Honestly, this is like real football," Brady said. "This is real competition." Brady also told us the Las Vegas Raiders were building something last year, so we'll see.
NFL players adhere to a strict calendar and might not want to go too hard in mid-March. Doucette is counting on them going through the motions. "You guys better give 100 percent," he told the Associated Press. "Because we're going to give 100 percent."
3. Will the old guys show their age?
Retired players like Rob Gronkowski and Luke Kuechly are competing, as well as several players who could be wrapping up their careers by '28 – like DeAndre Hopkins, Davante Adams, Odell Beckham Jr., Alvin Kamara and Jalen Ramsey. One model for this team could be a group of retired players.
Beckham seems like the perfect flag football player, but he'll be 35 when the Olympics start. Adams could be unstoppable, but he'll be 35, too. And Kamara, the ultimate dual threat running back, will turn 33 during the Games.
If the Olympic team is a collection of recently retired players to avoid conflicting with training camp, are they good enough to win gold?
4. Which type of NFL players excel?
Are slot receivers like Beckham or red-zone threats like Adams and Hopkins more effective? Do the shutdown corners like Jalen Ramsey and Patrick Peterson make a difference or will Team USA's gimmicky offense neutralize them? Do Saquon Barkley and Ashton Jeanty's running back skills translate?
Obviously, Team USA players don't look like NFL players. Olympic organizers have a lot to learn about how to shape a team consisting of pros when size and strength don't matter.
5. What about the coaches?
Sean Payton and Kyle Shanahan will coach the two NFL teams and Robert Saleh will run both defenses. Do their considerable NFL play-calling skills translate? A current coach could be out of the question for the Olympic team because they would be preparing for the upcoming season. Pete Carroll will be part of the festivities, but his defensive prowess doesn't translate.
Andy Reid, who turned 69 this week and could be retired by 2028, might be the answer. Trick plays he's run with the Kansas City Chiefs are the closest thing to flag football in the NFL. Coaching in the NFL two more seasons and then taking over Team USA would be a fun way to end his Hall of Fame career.
Perhaps the U.S. will simply tab current coach Jorge Cascudo to lead the team. Cascudo has a chance to make a statement by running circles around the NFL players with his gadget-oriented attack.
Whatever the U.S. does, please no Bill Belichick. He would be amazing, because he's a genius … but he would be too serious and suck the fun out of the whole event.
6. Does everyone stay healthy?
After Robert Edwards tore up his knee at the 1999 Pro Bowl, the NFL shut down beach football forever. Even though flag football doesn't have tackling, players make sharp cuts and accelerate on a dime. Would an injury this weekend make teams nervous and encourage them to keep their players home?
Some of these guys are getting older and if the competition gets serious, a hamstring pull feels inevitable.
7. Will people watch?
Fox brought out the big guns to call the game – Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen. Fanatics tabbed Kevin Hart and Druski for the international YouTube feed. They are going up against the NCAA Tournament, but offseason football events typically get impressive ratings.
In addition to TV and streaming audiences, watch social media. If this event gets a lot of buzz, companies are going to want in. The original Dream Team felt more like a marketing event than a sports competition. Shoe companies and others might encourage their top players to get involved.
8. What is Tom Brady's role?
In an interview with "Good Morning America," Brady said, "I would never say never" to the possibility of playing, although he said it's unlikely. He's already Fox Sport's top color analyst, running the Raiders and heavily involved with multiple companies. But he seems intent on involving himself in this team. As what – an honorary captain, a coach, a team-builder? Most likely Brady will not have an official role, but he has been really into this weekend's event and might try to invent a role.
9. Or is this weekend more about entertainment than football?
All this serious analysis goes out the window if Logan Paul gets more snaps than Derwin James. There is a real possibility it feels like the Pro Bowl. But at some point, the NFL will have to think seriously about how to build this team. This event seems like a good starting point.
Projected LA28 Flag Football Dream Team
Based on the official positions, here is how I would fill out the 10-person Olympic squad if all NFL players were available:
QB: Lamar Jackson: When you watch flag highlights, the QB's running ability jumps out immediately. Jackson, 29, is probably just young enough to make the cut.
QB/WR: Caleb Williams: Two quarterbacks are ideal. Team USA often deploys two passers. Josh Allen's physicality would be useless in flag football. Joe Burrow is too injury prone. Patrick Mahomes has already hinted that he probably would not be interested. No one on this list moves like the 24-year-old Williams.
RB: Jahmyr Gibbs: The Lions star is only 23 and will still be at his peak in '28. He is a solid receiver and the shiftiest player in the game. He barely holds off Bijan Robinson and Jeremiyah Love.
WR: Ja'Marr Chase: Choosing just two receivers is impossible. Chase gets the edge over his LSU teammate Justin Jefferson because of his straight-line speed.
C: Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Someone has to snap the ball and as much as I want to tab Jason Kelce, the tush-push is unnecessary. Flag football is perfect for a slightly under-sized receiver. Maybe this is recency bias, but no is performing better in small areas right now than JSN.
Rusher: Micah Parsons: The only way to keep Parsons from driving everyone crazy by talking about the Olympics is to put him on the team. And he'd be perfect in this role because he can run a sub-4.40 40 and knows how to chase QBs. He also was a star running back at Harrisburg High School and will contribute on offense.
DB: Patrick Surtain II: Not overthinking this position. Shut down one side with the 25-year-old Surtain, and on the other side ...
DB: Derek Stingley Jr.: Even though teams try not to throw toward him, the 24-year-old Stingley has 14 picks over the last three seasons.
DB: Marcus Jones: The New England Patriots cornerback is also an All-Pro punt returner and will provide points on the defensive side of the ball. He edges out special teams ace KaVontae Turpin.
S: Travis Hunter: Despite a disappointing rookie season, a healthy Hunter would be the perfect player for this team.
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