We're three days into training camp, so we can't pretend to be able to project how good of an NFL player rookie defensive back Blake Countess is going to be. We don't really know much about the 22-year-old at all. What we can report, however, is the sixth-round draft pick might be a half decent bowler.
Countess was asked about his previously hidden talent after Wednesday's practice, and it turns out bowling is not only a serious hobby for the Auburn product, but another outlet for his competitive streak.
"It actually started my last spring in Michigan (before transferring to Auburn)," Countess detailed. "Me and a bunch of the guys went one Thursday and it was two dollar games, and we had such a good time. We started going every Thursday during that spring, and it kind of just carried on."
"Everybody really got a lot better throughout that spring. We were going every week, we would get three or four games and it would be like eight dollars. That's a deal you can't beat, right after Thursday practice."
"It starts getting competitive, then we start doing teams, four-on-four, whoever has the highest total score wins. It got really competitive, and it's just fun."
"Now I've got my own ball, got shoes, everything."
Countess certainly talks a good game, adding that his personal high score is 249 — not bad at all, especially considering he only picked up the sport about a year ago. It sure sounds like he knows what he's doing anyway when explaining the finer points to a complete amateur such as myself.
Philadelphia Eagles
Complete coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles and their NFL rivals from NBC Sports Philadelphia.
"It's really your setup, because if the ball leaves your hand the same way every time, you kind of know where it's going to spin, you know where it's going to hit," lectured Countess. "But if you maybe take a step too far to the left or you let go a little too late, you might get a split, you might even get a gutter ball depending on how aggressive you're spinning it. It's really about your setup and where the ball is leaving."
Where Countess eventually falls on the spectrum of sports bowlers remains to be seen. There's long-time Steelers running back Jerome Bettis, who is both in the Pro Football and Celebrities Bowling Hall of Fame. Then there's former Sixers center Andrew Bynum of the NBA, who notoriously aggravated an injury while bowling and never even played for the team after a blockbuster trade.
As of right now, Countess could share the same fate as either Bettis or Bynum, though a path in between is probably more likely. He's currently battling for a roster spot as a backup safety, and notes that he's lined up at nickel cornerback as well.
