"We were getting kicked": Team USA's flag football QB does not want NFL players' dominance at 2028 Olympic
Team USA flag football star Darrell Doucette challenges NFL players, insisting Olympic spots must be earned, not assumed, for 2028 Games. (Getty Images)
The NFL recently gave the green light for its players to participate in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its official debut. This groundbreaking decision has sparked excitement and speculation, especially around the potential involvement of NFL superstars in the Team USA lineup.
However, not everyone in the flag football community is celebrating just yet.
Olympic dreams clash as flag football star tells NFL players to prove they belong in 2028
Darrell Doucette III, the seasoned quarterback of the U.S. men's national flag football team and two-time IFAF world champion, has stepped up as the voice of a community that's long fought to legitimize the sport. Despite the glamour and global appeal NFL players bring, Doucette is standing firm in his belief that flag football athletes have already earned their spot on the Olympic stage.
'This is a sport that we've played for a long time, and we feel like we are the best at it… We don't need other guys,' Doucette told The Washington Post, signaling a quiet storm brewing beneath the surface of this celebratory announcement.
The U.S. men's national team has not just competed, but dominated, with five consecutive world championships to their name. That record didn't come with million-dollar contracts or massive fanbases—it came through grit, chemistry, and relentless effort.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Portoviejo: Descubre cómo Amazon CFD puede ayudarte a invertir como un pro
Empezar ahora
Subscríbete
Undo
Doucette's statements aren't about resisting competition; they're about respect.
'We felt like we worked hard to get the sport to where it's at, and then when the NFL guys spoke about it, it was like we were getting kicked to the side,' he added. 'The flag guys deserve their opportunity. That's all we want.'
To his credit, Doucette isn't drawing a hard line. He's well aware of the talent NFL athletes bring and even welcomes the challenge.
'We're definitely open to all competition. If those guys come in and ball out and they're better than us, hats off to them. Go win that gold medal for our country.' It's not an anti-NFL stance—it's a call for fair competition.
What makes this dialogue even more compelling is Doucette's confident comparison to one of the league's greatest. 'At the end of the day, I feel like I'm better than Patrick Mahomes because of my IQ of the game,' he told TMZ Sports last year.
'I know he's right now the best in the league, I know he's more accurate, I know he has all these intangibles – but when it comes to flag football, I feel like I know more than him.'
That statement might raise eyebrows, but it underscores the uniqueness of flag football—a game where precision, agility, and football intellect are often more valuable than raw power. Doucette isn't claiming superiority over Mahomes as a quarterback in the NFL, but in the flag format, where the rules and pace shift dramatically, he believes his experience gives him the edge.
As per the rules approved by the NFL, only one player per NFL team, including designated international players, can represent their country in the Olympic flag football event. That limitation alone suggests a fierce selection process lies ahead—one where national pride and personal legacy will collide.
With Los Angeles set to host the 2028 Olympics, all eyes will be on how this roster takes shape. Will NFL names headline the event, or will veterans like Doucette continue leading the charge? Either way, one thing is clear—the battle for Team USA's flag football roster is about more than medals. It's about identity, recognition, and preserving the spirit of a sport that has finally found its global spotlight.
Also Read:
Tua Tagovailoa's concussion history may end his NFL career sooner than fans expect
Get
IPL 2025
match
schedules
,
squads
,
points table
, and live scores for
CSK
,
MI
,
RCB
,
KKR
,
SRH
,
LSG
,
DC
,
GT
,
PBKS
, and
RR
. Check the latest
IPL Orange Cap
and
Purple Cap
standings.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
Stanley Cup final spotlight: Can Stuart Skinner outperform Sergei Bobrovsky in the net?
Image Via Twitter The Stanley Cup Final is not just about power forward matchups or blue line strategies this year, as all the spotlight is on goaltending. While the Oilers and Panthers prepare for their second consecutive championship face-off, goaltenders Sergei Bobrovsky and Stuart Skinner are at the heart of this bitter battle. With glories, reputations, redemption, and the Cup at stake, this goaltending matchup has the potential to become the deciding factor in this year's NHL showdown. Sergei Bobrovsky's legacy vs Stuart Skinner's potential: A clash of two paths With a series to his name, Bobrovsky has a mountain of accomplishments and a legacy that speaks volumes in support of him. A two-time Vezina Trophy winner, Stanley Cup champion, and multiple-time All-Star, Bob's career has been built on consistent excellence and clutch playoff performances. Long-standing .914 save percentage in the NHL for him reflects not just talent but longevity at the highest level. He is not just a seasoned vet; he is a performer whose performance counts at crucial moments. Stuart Skinner is perhaps still carving his path. The young goaltender showed much potential in his rookie year and had a brief, strong push for the Calder Trophy. Yet, since the road has been rocky, the most interesting aspect about his trajectory has been the change. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cruceros todo incluido casi gratis (Ver ofertas) Ofertas de Cruceros | Anuncios Publicitarios Undo His save percentage has sloped downwards to its current state of .896. It has, however, been through these valleys that Skinner would shine on occasion with a backbone forged likened unto the character needed in a team whose path to finally breaking the championship drought seems quite far away. In terms of postseason pedigree, Bobrovsky has the advantage. He has posted a 0.911 save percentage in the playoffs since 2023 while leading all active goaltenders in shutouts in the same span, establishing himself as the goaltender who performs well in the big games. The young netminder Skinner, on the other hand, having dealt with benchings and inconsistencies throughout his postseason journey, also managed to grow deeper into the playoffs in ways that only made his presence indispensable in Edmonton's push. The recent form from both sides has made this an intriguing battle. As Bobrovsky had been dominant through the Eastern Conference Final, Skinner bounced back in a huge way in the Western series. Both goalies enter the Final with momentum, which will certainly be one of the most exciting subplots of the series. Also Read: "Never leave Stu': Stuart Skinner wins fans over with emotional post-game moment after Oilers' Game 4 victory While Stuart Skinner's emergence makes for some intrigue, Sergei Bobrovsky's elite experience and postseason credentials tilt the scales in his favor. In a championship where outcomes are decided on inches, Bobrovsky's poise could very well be the difference-maker.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Titleholder Swiatek to face No. 1 Sabalenka in semis after 26th straight win at Roland-Garros
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Four-time champion Iga Swiatek 's 26th successive win at Roland-Garros on Tuesday set up a semifinal clash against top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in what will be their first French Open defeated Elina Svitolina 6-1, 7-5 to extend her impressive run. The consecutive wins record on the Parisian red clay is Chris Evert's ousted Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in straight sets to reach the Paris semifinals for the second been searching for her best form in recent months, Swiatek, who struggled in the previous round, was in total control in the opening was made to work harder by her 13th-seeded Ukrainian rival in the second set, dropping her serve in the fourth game after hitting two straight unforced errors into the net. But Swiatek broke back immediately and took advantage of Svitolina's poor service game to break again with a thunderous forehand return and move up 6-5. Swiatek sealed the win with a final has won five of the six matches she's played on clay against Sabalenka, including a thrilling three-setter in Spain last year."The Madrid final against her is one of the best and most exciting finals that I have played," said Swiatek, who has not won a title or reached a final since her victory at Roland-Garros last year. "It is always a challenge against Aryna."Sabalenka is trying to reach her sixth Grand Slam final, and first at Roland-Garros."I'm super excited to go out there and to fight and to do everything I need to get the win," Sabalenka consistency Sabalenka overcame a shaky start and windy conditions to prevail against Zheng 7-6 (3), 6-3 and extend her record against the Chinese star to score did not fully reflect the closeness of the quarterfinal, though, with so little separating the rivals. But Sabalenka demonstrated why she was No. 1, making the difference on big points, while Zheng struggled with her serve in tense had lost her most recent match against Zheng last month in Rome, having previously dominated their first six encounters. She said that loss was actually a good thing in the middle of an already exhausting season."I was actually glad I lost that match, because I needed a little break before Roland-Garros," Sabalenka said. "Today, I was just more fresh. I was ready to battle, I was ready to leave everything I had on court to get this win."Sabalenka, a three-time major champion, has yet to drop a set in else happened at the French Open on Tuesday? Lorenzo Musetti reached his first semifinal at the French Open and second at a Grand Slam tournament. The 23-year-old Italian beat Frances Tiafoe of the United States 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in the same stadium where he won a bronze medal at last year's eighth-seeded Musetti improved to 19-3 this season on red clay. He'll face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or Tommy Paul on Friday for a berth in the championship match. Musetti and No. 1 Jannik Sinner gave Italy two male quarterfinalists at Roland-Garros for the first time since 1973. Sinner faces unseeded Alexander Bublik in the quarterfinals Wednesday.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Cardi B's post had a hidden nod to how deep her relationship is with Stefon Diggs and fans are panicking about it
Stefon Diggs and Cardi B are dating for a few months now.(Image via Elsa/Getty) Cardi B and Stefon Diggs are now publicly in a relationship with each other after the famous rapper filed for divorce from her ex husband, Offset, a few months ago. Cardi B posted several pictures on her Instagram to announce her relationship with the NFL player recently but it seems like many fans had missed out on one detail. Some fans have discovered the hidden detail and it has sparked a frenzy among fans. Cardi B's picture included a hidden detail about how deep her relationship is with Stefon Diggs Out of all the pictures that Cardi B posted to announce her relationship with Stefon Diggs, the carousel had one picture of the famous rapper sitting on a couch as she posed in a furlike cape. While many fans had missed this picture, some fans have pointed out that Cardi B was spotted wearing the same furlike cape which Stefon Diggs wore at MET Gala 2025 last month. Both Cardi B and Stefon Diggs had attended the MET Gala but did not make any joint appearance. The NFL player was spotted looked handsome at the MET Gala 2025 as he wore a Bianca Saunders black suit, a furlike cap and red shoes. As soon as some fans pointed out that Cardi B wore the same cape as Stefon Diggs, it quickly sparked a frenzy among fans. A fan commented, 'I'm glad someone else caught that !!!!!! Yeaaaaaa Bardi 😅😜😜😜😜', while another fan wrote, 'I LOVE IT! She can do no wrong… when she's doing HER. Well done mami cita 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽' A third fan posted, 'Cardi just tryna live and be happy he might not be THE one. Oh well, she ain sleeping with a cheater anymore so if she like it I love it.' Another fan wrote, 'Too many people are worried about how long it's going to last, I think the real point is that she's happy without it, whether 2days or forever., and if this relationship fails, she'll remain so', while a fifth fan noted, 'The game, ladies and gentlemen, is always Chess; never Checkers.' Another user posted, 'She's having so much fun. Love this for her. ☺️' Stefon Diggs has not yet made any statements about his relationship with Cardi B or his yacht video Recently, former NFL player, Scott Zolak commented on Stefon Diggs' yacht video and said, 'That it is being thought of. And it's not just the boat. It's not just the boat. There are some other things that I've heard that put some things in question. Are you all-in here?' Also Read: "She literally had two more kids after this": Cardi B mocked over old Offset divorce video as she goes public with Stefon Diggs
