National Football League
Impact Player: Joseph Fauria
National Football League

Impact Player: Joseph Fauria

Published Oct. 15, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

The NFL continued to pump out countless amazing performances in Week 6.

Whether it was Tamba Hali’s 3.5 sacks for a Chiefs defense that totaled 10 sacks on an athletic and highly mobile Terelle Pryor, or rookie sensation linebacker Keko Alonzo and his 22 tackles for the Bills in their overtime loss to the Bengals, it is never easy selecting an Impact Player of the Week.

I am going with another rookie on the other side of the ball who is making a name for himself, not only because of his play on the field ,but also because of his outrageous dances in the end zone after he scores touchdowns.

Joseph Fauria has seven receptions for 66 yards on the season. You might ask what is so impressive? Five have gone for touchdowns.

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On Sunday, Faurira was 3 for 3, pulling in the hat trick, with each reception resulting in a touchdown.

One of the most impressive details about Fauria is that he is young and hungry.

The former UCLA Bruin went undrafted. I was also a Bruin and a former rookie free-agent myself. I know the grind that it takes to be successful when you have to work your way up from the bottom.

A huge disadvantage for UCLA athletes trying to make it in the NFL is that we miss a good chunk of the off-season training program. Per NFL rules rookies can’t join their respective teams until classroom instruction ends or you graduate from school, whichever happens first.

When you miss four to five weeks of a 10-week offseason program, it puts you behind the ball from the first day of your pro career. If you are a high draft pick. you do have some security but players selected from the fourth round and later typically will not have any luxury.

Veteran linebacker Rocky McIntosh said this about his teammate: “Dude is awesome you can def tell he is from Cali. From his jokes to his dances he keeps things live and fun!! As far as his ability dude is a mismatch for anybody in the red zone. Who are you going to double CJ (Calvin Johnson) on the outside, Fauria on a LB or DB, or Reggie Bush coming through the line on a option in space?”

Not only has Fauria caught the attention of his teammates and coaches his prowess as a R&B dancer caught the attention of Jimmy Fallon and N Sync. Fallon donated 50k to a charity of Fauria’s choice after performing the Bye Bye Bye N Sync dance after a Week 3 TD against Washington.

This prompted Joey Fatone from N Sync to converse with Fauria on twitter.

Joseph Fauria is the nephew of former NFLer and two-time world champ with the New England Patriots ('04,'05) Christian Fauria. For now, Fauria is the second-best tight end in the family. He might move up off this blistering pace. Christian’s best season resulted in seven TD receptions; Joseph is on a pace for 13 scores.
 

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