From LV to NFL: Burton's Dream May Become Reality This Week

When do dreams become reality? For Michael Burton, that could be this week.

The next time the football player straps on his helmet and pads, it will likely be for an NFL team.

The biggest day of the Long Valley native’s life is here, but he doesn’t know which day it will be, or how it will end. No one does. Not even his future employer.

Burton, the Rutgers Scarlet Knight fullback and co-captain for the 2014 season has a great opportunity ahead of him, potentially being drafted by a National Football League team before the annual draft process ends on Saturday, May 2.

Burton, who played football in Long Valley from an early age, helped the West Morris Central Wolfpack win a state championship in 2009, and helped anchor the Rutgers backfield over the last few years, is as ready as ever for what may be a life-changing event.

“It’s a very exciting time and experience,” Burton told Patch Wednesday. “(Agent) Pat Capra has been great in preparing me for the process, and I’ve had a great support system helping me this entire time.”

Since the invite-only NFL Combine in February, where Burton was one of just two fullbacks working out for all 32 team scouts and coaches, it’s been a whirlwind of meeting with teams and preparing both physically and mentally.

Burton has met with the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns, and had a private workout with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also attended pro days – additional workouts – for both the New York Giants and New York Jets. He’s also met with a handful of other teams that have asked not to be mentioned before the draft.

“The combine was awesome experience, and it’s been crazy ever since,” he said. “You’re randomly being called, hopping on a flight to here, going there. It’s been an exciting time.”

Even if the potential pro wasn’t on any team’s draft radar, he’d be watching the NFL’s biggest off-field event from Thursday through Saturday, because he loves the game.

He’ll be watching the draft, probably every last bit of it, at his Long Valley home surrounded by close family and friends. It’ll be a “low-key” event, he said, but you can bet the town will party hard if – and more likely when – Michael Burton’s name is called before week’s end.

Long Valley has watched and cheered for Burton on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons over the past decade. Hopefully the community will be able to do the same on Sundays for years to come.

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