Redskins hopeful Vinny Papale follows in his fathers Invincible footsteps originally appeared on nbcsportswashington.com REDSKINS PARK - Vinny Papale knows the question is coming. The University of Delaware wide receiver was an undrafted college free agent at Redskins' rookie minicamp this weekend on a tryout basis. The odds are stacked against him making even the 90-man roster for OTAs, minicamp and training camp let alone the practice squad or 53-man roster before next season. But then that seems to run in the family. Papale's father, Vincent, was a college track star who parlayed a minor-league football stint into a tryout with his hometown Philadelphia Eagles - an opportunity not unlike the one Vinny has right now. "It's awesome just to get an opportunity to play in the NFL," Vinny Papale said after Saturday's final rookie minicamp practice. "A lot of guys they watched through the draft and didn't even get an opportunity. So just to be one of those guys to get another opportunity to showcase my skills and actually get a chance to play at the next level is awesome." Vincent Papale not only made the Eagles, he was one of the oldest rookies in NFL history at age 30 and contributed for three seasons primarily on special teams. He became a cult favorite among Eagles fans in the late 1970s and his remarkable story is told in the popular Disney movie Invincible starring Mark Wahlberg. The elder Papale knows better than anyone the limited chance even a tryout provides. He made the most of his with the Eagles. But Vinny had only a couple of 90-minute practices to prove he belongs on Washington's 90-man roster. And given the number of young wide receivers the Redskins have drafted and signed the past two seasons, it's hard to see any immediate path for the younger Papale. But his dad is living proof anything is possible. The Redskins coaches definitely noticed Vinny Papale. Story continues "He's a tough guy. He runs everything hard and plays with a lot of passion without a doubt," coach Jay Gruden said. "Very similar to the movie, right? So I was impressed with him. There were a lot of guys that came out here on a tryout type basis that were very impressive. Unfortunately we don't have a lot of spots right now at this time." The staff will rewatch the tape from this weekend's practices and at least a few of the undrafted rookies will get signed. Maybe Papale will be one of them. He caught two "touchdown" passes from quarterback Dwayne Haskins on Saturday in one-on-one drills. Vinny Papale has overcome plenty of adversity of his own to even get here. He sustained a broken leg during his freshman season at Delaware and as a sophomore he started six games before tearing the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his knee. Then the coaching staff at Delaware was fired and he had to start over impressing a new staff that didn't recruit him. But he returned to the field as a junior and at least played in all 11 games. And then the 6-foot-1, 205-pounder drew attention from NFL scouts as a senior with 36 catches for 618 yards and six touchdowns. "I was hurt for my first two years there. It was a slow start, definitely was frustrating," Vinny Papale said. "But once I got on that field I think I made a name for myself. Honestly…I wasn't even thinking about [the NFL] right now. It's always been a dream since I was a kid and for a second there I thought they were shattered. But it all worked out and I'm here." Vinny Papale, 22, has always aspired to be his own man. Proud of his father, but fine with not telling people the whole story over and over again he keeps that part of his family life quiet unless someone asks. He joked that some Delaware teammates thought Vincent Papale, now 73, is actually his grandfather. When he was a kid, Vinny went to all the screenings of Invincible. He estimates he's seen the movie upwards of 30 times, but not in a few years. "I was a little worn out," Vinny Papale joked. "But I might flip it on one of these days, though." It wasn't until he got to college that Vinny Papale actually appreciated what his dad accomplished. Realizing how hard it is even to see the field at the college level, a man making the Eagles at age 30 without playing college football was eye opening. It put the movie in a new perspective. In the Philadelphia area – Delaware's campus is only 45 minutes away in Newark – Vinny Papale's family story wasn't a big deal. That changes some when you get to the NFL and people aren't as familiar. But he's fine with it. "It's been a wild ride these past few weeks," Vinny Papale said. "Every time you get on the field or get a rep you better make the most of that opportunity. Every time you get one you've got to make yourself known on film. This film is going to be watched for sure." MORE REDSKINS NEWS:<doc-sep>The story of Vince Papale is one of the best tales in NFL history. In 1976, he became the oldest non-kicker to make the NFL without playing college ball. The wide receiver went on to serve as a special teams captain for the Philadelphia Eagles, and inspired the movie Invincible. Now, 43 years later, his son is trying to land a roster spot of his own — with his dad's rival team. Former University of Delaware wide receiver Vinny Papale is trying to create an NFL career of his own with the Washington Redskins, who invited him to tryout at their rookie minicamp. While his father is the rags-to-riches NFL story, Papale just recognizes him as his biggest supporter. “I mean, I got to experience a lot of cool things growing up, but at the end of the day, he’s just my dad,” Papale told Redskins.com after Friday's workout. “A lot of guys recognize him as the Invincible guy, but he’s just my dad and my coach. I love having him, he’s my No. 1 fan and it’s awesome.” The Papale name is about making the best of opportunities, and Vinny is trying to do just that. It's been a bit of a tough road so far however. He has suffered two major injuries which ended seasons at Delaware, and also has had to deal with coaching changes and having to prove your worth to unfamiliar faces. “That was tough because with the new coaching staff coming in, I blew out my knee and I didn’t play spring ball, so I had limited time to prove myself to them for the upcoming season,” Papale said. “It was a long road, but I made my name in training camp because I wasn’t able to play in spring ball so that was definitely tough.” Papale was able to excel in his senior season however, recording 36 catches for 618 yards and six touchdowns. Now fully healthy and with the stakes at their highest, Papale is looking to do exactly what his father did. Make an NFL roster. The Washington Redskins host their rookie minicamp this weekend, which will give Jay Gruden and Co. their first look at the new crop of players they will have for 2019. While the camp will feature the new guys on roster everyone is excited about like quarterback Dwayne Haskins and pass rusher Montez Sweat, the majority of players in attendance will be those invited for a tryout, like Papale, working hard to try to continue their football careers. “We just want to see them go out there and do what they do, let them shine,” head coach Jay Gruden said via Redskins.com. “We have to give them an opportunity and see what they can do and how they can help this football team become better."<doc-sep>
AP ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Vinny Papale knows his father's story and has watched the Mark Wahlberg movie "Invincible" about 30 times. Only when he got to college at Delaware did Vinny fully appreciate the inspirational tale of Vince Papale earning a spot with the Philadelphia Eagles at age 30 despite never playing football before. The younger Papale was amazed his dad made it to the NFL, and now he's trying to follow in those footsteps. More than four decades after Vince Papale went from part-time bartender, nightclub doorman and substitute teacher to Eagles receiver, Vinny got rookie camp tryouts with the Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins and is trying to make a name for himself in the league. "I'm a little younger — he was 30," Papale said this weekend after a Redskins rookie minicamp practice. "But it's definitely cool just to have another opportunity to play at the next level." Papale almost didn't get this opportunity. He broke his left leg his freshman season at Delaware and tore ligaments in his right knee the next year, so it was a battle just to get on the field. As a senior, Papale had 36 catches for 618 yards and six touchdowns and was so good on third down that his father said the team had an expression, "Third and Vinny." "Those setbacks, they just ruin people, but he came back stronger," Vince said in a phone interview on Monday. "I'm just so proud of how hard he works and the adversity he's battled through to get there." Vince is proud that his son doesn't harbor any resentment toward him for living under the shadow of "Invincible" and having to answer the same questions over and over. But Vince sees parallels because Redskins President Bruce Allen's father, George, was a mentor of longtime coach Dick Vermeil, who gave him his shot off a tryout in 1976. Vinny has received some fatherly advice from his dad about the game. "He just said there's limited opportunities," Vinny said. "Every time I went on the field or was in a play, just make the most of that opportunity and make sure I was noticed on film. That's what he told me." At Washington's rookie camp, Papale had his name written in magic marker on a piece of tape on his helmet but didn't get too much flak from other players because they didn't know much about him. Vinny said most people think the movie is about his grandfather, anyway, but the attention didn't bother him. Papale wanted attention for his play on the field and Redskins coach Jay Gruden came away impressed. "He's a tough guy," Gruden said after Saturday's workout. "He runs everything hard and plays with a lot of passion without a doubt. Very similar to the movie." Even though Papale wasn't among the six players the Redskins signed out of rookie camp, that doesn't mean he won't catch on somewhere. "Invincible II" could be a real-life sequel if either Jay or brother Jon — who coaches the Raiders — decides to sign this Papale. His father said the important thing is that "Vinny is his own man" who would get a job on his own merits. "He's got talent, and I'm just hoping that somebody out there like Jay or like Jon sees what he's got and gives him a shot," Vince said. Vinny Papale was invited to the Eagles' pre-draft pro day, but his father said it doesn't matter what color the uniform is as long as the NFL dream materializes. If that's Redskins burgundy and gold, Vince is on board with that, even though he'll always have a connection to the Eagles. Vince said his son wants to go into special forces if the NFL doesn't happen. But with two tryouts down, his family is optimistic. "I'm very confident that he's going to get that opportunity," Vince said. "God bless that person or team that gives him the shot because they won't be disappointed."