Since Tuesday Moritz Böhringer has another NFL team – the German wide receiver is under contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. Immediately afterwards he spoke exclusively to SPOX about his training, the new position and the next steps.
Böhringer is listed as tight end at the Cincinnati Bengals, the German has specifically prepared the change of position in recent weeks. Böhringer is optimistic about his NFL chances in the new position when talking to SPOX.
SPOX: Mr. Böhringer, it’s been almost exactly a year since we last spoke – what happened to you right after your release in Minnesota?
Moritz Böhringer: I first stayed in Minnesota and trained there, for myself. Afterwards I went to Houston for a few weeks and trained there. In early January I finally came here to Florida, to IMG, and have been here ever since.
SPOX: So you’ve been in the US all season?
Böhringer: Shortly after Christmas I was at home, over the holidays and for the New Year. Otherwise, yes.
SPOX: So immediately after the end in Minnesota, was it clear to you that you wanted to continue trying in the NFL?
Böhringer: Yes, definitely. As long as any team’s interested, it wouldn’t make sense to quit. And I was actually relatively sure that I would get another chance somewhere.
SPOX: Since when have you been specifically involved in the International Pathway Program of the NFL? Has all the training been part of it since the beginning of January in Florida? And how can one imagine the recruitment process of the league?
Böhringer: That’s right, it started in January and I’ve been in the program ever since. The NFL asked me if I wanted to join the program – and I quickly agreed. There are no real disadvantages for me. Afterwards I flew directly to the training in Florida and about a month ago I was at the Pro Day in Tampa.
SPOX: How fast did it all go? How quickly did you have to make a decision?
Böhringer: About a month earlier, all this had developed, and the contact was established around the end of November. It was immediately clear that I would have to start in January, but I quickly agreed.
SPOX: You and the other prospects within the program were accompanied by a camera team, is that correct? What’s this all about?
Böhringer: Yes, that’s right. The NFL filmed everything on location, and a documentary is to be made of it. However, I don’t know when exactly this will be published.
SPOX: How did the training go in the past weeks? Were you specifically prepared for something in terms of content or were these more general workouts?
Böhringer: We always had speed and agility training in the morning, so that was already specific preparation for the Pro Day. Afterwards we had a football session where we trained position specific things – for example walking routes, footwork and blocking. Special teams and tackling were also trained, in a way the whole package, in order to develop further as a football player.
SPOX: So where do you see yourself right now, compared to when you joined the league? I remember you told me back then that you didn’t even know what to expect with the carnival and also with the playfulness. Against this background, where do you see yourself now?
Böhringer: In any case, I am on a much higher level, also as far as the whole understanding of the game is concerned. We always watched tape together to improve and understand the tactical aspects and coverage. It was basically a three-month football boot camp. That definitely helped me a lot.
SPOX: Cincinnati Bengals now list you as a tight end, not a wide receiver. How did the decision for the change of position come about?
Böhringer: Mainly because of the matchups. I was a big, heavy receiver anyway, so it wasn’t that difficult for me to put some weight on it. As tight end there are better matchups in passing, against linebackers and safeties, I can cope better with my speed and size.
SPOX: Blocking is of course a much bigger aspect – I suspect you have worked on this specifically in the last few months?
Böhringer: Exactly, I trained specifically with the Offensive Linemen and worked a lot on blocking. In the GFL I didn’t really have to do that, especially not on the line, so as an in-line blocker – if more as a receiver outside. But blocking in general is also more a question of will and how aggressive you are. The technique is relatively fast.
SPOX: And would you say that you feel comfortable as a blocker now?
Böhringer: Yes, and in any case much more than at the beginning.
SPOX: Since when did you know that you were “assigned” to a team within the Pathway Program? Did you know that from the beginning or did it come out later?
Böhringer: We knew at some point in the course of the training that we would come to a team. There were more of us at first, I think there were six boys. Then at some point it became clear who would join a team and we also knew the division. But we only had the concrete team on Monday… (deliberately) No, I’ll find out on Tuesday.
SPOX: So when the public found out too!
Böhringer: Exactly! (laughs)
SPOX: We discussed in the editorial office how the rules look in concrete terms – you can be appointed to the 53-man squad within the programme, right?
Böhringer: Exactly. Only if I came into the Practice Squad, the Bengals would get an additional Practice Squad place from the league and then I would be listed there.
SPOX: When will you join the team? When are you leaving for Cincinnati?
Böhringer: The rookie minicamp starts next week on Thursday, I’ll probably go to Cincinnati on Tuesday or Wednesday. Then OTAs, then Training Camp – the full program!
SPOX: And you can play quite regularly in the preseason?
Böhringer: Yes. The beginning over the coming weeks and months is quite normal, as with any player, as if the program would not exist.
SPOX: Are you moving directly to Cincinnati?
Böhringer: In Minnesota it was the case that at the beginning we were given accommodation until the training camp. Then you had to find something for yourself. I think that will be similar in Cincinnati. So I will do it like this, maybe there will be a short trip to Germany in between, when I have time. (laughs)
SPOX: Was there already contact with the new team? Has one of the coaches already contacted you?
Böhringer: Yes, the head coach called me on Tuesday, so we had a little chat. Besides, I was already in Cincinnati before: With the Vikings we had a training session with the Bengals and when I was released from the Vikings I was back in Cincinnati for a workout. So I already know the coaches a little bit.
SPOX: But there hasn’t been any contact with the players yet?
Böhringer: No, not yet – but that will happen very quickly when I’m in the minicamp.
SPOX: Finally: How do you assess your chances today? Of course it’s difficult to predict, I know – but do you see your chances now as a tight end, for example?
Böhringer: Yes, I think so. I think my athletic skills are better suited to the position and make me one of the potentially most athletic tight ends in the league. Although I gained weight, I was at the same level as before in the tests, in the values – roughly in speed. So I think that I have a better chance to run free and, in the end, to play as well.