'They'll Kill You!' Cowboys 'Prospect' LeBron James Mocked by Charles Barkley

'They'll Kill You!' Dallas Cowboys 'Prospect' LeBron James Mocked by Charles Barkley During Super Bowl Week

LAS VEGAS - We have never meant it as an insult, just a conclusion based on logic: As brilliant as NBA athletes are, there is a reason that once upon a time they chose basketball over football - and that reason generally precludes their boastful dreams of "what might've been'' from being reality.

So, no, we have never believed that even LeBron James - who has often bragged (not entirely factually) about how close he once was to joining the Dallas Cowboys - could easily make the transition.

But our polite suggestion to LeBron has now been trumped by Charles Barkley, who in no uncertain terms is shutting down the silliness.

"They'll kill you!" Barkley said, with comments directed toward the Los Angeles Lakers all-time superstar LeBron. "I love these basketball players saying, ‘Well, I was good back then.’ I'm like ‘Dude, you can't play football.' These are grown men out there!"

Appearing on Inside the NFL, Barkley - who himself played at the highest NBA level with a sometimes-football-sized body - essentially wagged his finger at LeBron and other NBA players who continue to portray themselves as NFL material.

He believes that NFL players are too big, thick, strong and powerful for even James, who stands 6-9 and 250, but who is also 39 years old ... and that LeBron would get busted up badly when subject to NFL contact.

Dallas Cowboys Offered LeBron James A Contract During 2011 NBA Lockout

We've long suggested that while there are some historic exceptions, most NFL players of that height also way well over 300 pounds. ... and that somebody with James' frame would be an easy and vulnerable tackle target who would get "broken in half,'' for lack of a better phrase.

And yes, as you see above, we know all about that "contract'' that Dallas owner Jerry Jones once offered LeBron ... as a generous publicity stunt - which LeBron, who over the years has claimed to be a Cowboys fans - surely recognizes.

LeBron James is an athletic phenom, and we hesitate to put a ceiling on what he might be able to accomplish - especially had he decided as an Ohio all-state high school receiver to keep pursuing that sport.

Charles Barkley called out LeBron and other basketball players who think it's easy to waltz right into the NFL 😂 pic.twitter.com/Zh8qrd24VB

— Inside the NFL (@insidetheNFL) February 7, 2024

But LeBron chose basketball for a reason ... maybe in part because he has a way to be physically dominant on the court in a way he would not be on a football field.

So mostly, we chalk this up to how rock stars want to be athletes and how athletes want to be actors and how actors want to be rock stars; it's all a fun fantasy, and Charles Barkley isn't having it.