Sign Language: Football Hopeful Going to Extreme for NFL Job

Originally published May 24, 2016.

FOXBOROUGH, MA - For over a month, he's stood outside of Gillette Stadium, waiting and hoping that someone inside One Patriot Place will give him a shot at playing professional football.

Despite the long odds, Attleboro native Abiola Aborishade remains positive as he stands near the ramp to Route 1 North with a sign promoting his talents at as a football player. It is certainly a different tactic for Aborishade, who said that he has to stand out if he is to play in the NFL.

“That's kinda the point. It had to be different or no one would care,” Aborishade said during a Monday afternoon standout on the edge of the Gillette Stadium property.

In the morning, Aborishade works at a rental car company up the road on Route 1, but in the afternoon, Aborishade can often be seen near the home of the New England Patriots. Sometimes he's on the ramp, other times he near the stadium entrance and exit to Route 1 South. It is something he's been doing since April 21.

At first, he stood outside at the same time every day, but he later learned what time players and staff arrived, allowing him to adjust his schedule. That means early mornings to catch the coaches and later days to see the players.

Football has been a part of Aborishade’s life. A member of the Attleboro High School football team, he said he didn’t stand out as a wide receiver in a Wing-T offense which relies heavily on deception. In college, Aborishade excelled at UMass Dartmouth, breaking the team’s single-season reception record and per game reception average during the 2014 season.

Aborishade describes himself as similar to Emanuel Sanders or Julian Edelman - someone who can quickly get open or run a wheel route. He says he’s a hybrid player that can play in the slot or wide.

No longer playing for a team, Aborishade took a page from Joe Anderson, who played the same waiting game during the 2015 season outside of NRG Stadium in Houston. Six weeks later, he was signed by the New York Jets. Aborishade, however, is preparing to stand outside longer than Anderson.

“I figured if I am going to do it, it's going to take longer and I expect to be out here for a long time,” he said, mentioning that there is no timeline or cutoff date.

Friends, family, and co-workers have been nothing but supportive of Aborishade, encouraging him in his unusually attempt to join an NFL team, practically one of the best in the league.

“They are supportive of it, they are sharing the posts. I spoke to them about it. I was going to do it no matter what but they've been supportive,” Aborishade said.

His brother, who also plays college football, has full confidence in this endeavor, telling Aborishade in a text, “I'll support you no matter what you so and I'll believe in you.”

On May 23, UMass Dartmouth got behind their former football star who majored in political science, Tweeting at the Patriots to give him a chance.

It’s about 3 p.m. when some of the players begin to leave. A stadium employee Aborishade said he knows cheers him on as he passes by. Also driving towards Route 1 is Tom Brady, the man Aborishade hopes to one day catch footballs from.

“That's something I can relate too. Hard-working, persistent and never giving up. Those are the things I admire from Tom Brady,” he said.

But for now, that is a dream and until then, it’s back to being a football player with a sign, who just wants a chance to show he can play.

Image Credit: Dan Libon