Freestyle skier considers run at NFL after 2006 Olympics

BOULDER, Colo. -- World Cup freestyle skiing champion Jeremy Bloom, who gave up college football so he could keep his ski sponsors, says he's considering a career in the NFL.

"I think it's a definite possibility for me; the dream's still alive," Bloom said Thursday.

Bloom played two seasons as a kick-return specialist at Colorado but lost a long legal battle with the NCAA over ski sponsors.

He did not play last season but said he might work out for NFL scouts after the 2006 Olympics in Turin next February.

"I don't want to come out and say, 'Yes, I'm doing it,' and then a year from now say 'I don't really want to do that anymore.' I change my mind a lot," he said.

"But I can tell you right now, if the Olympics were behind us, I would go. I would dedicate the next four or five months to get ready to go to camp."

The 5-foot-9 Bloom trimmed down when he stopped playing football and said he would have to bulk up again for the NFL. "I would have to do some serious training and put back on the 15-20 pounds I lost," he said.