Australian punter Brad Wing may have torpedoed his chances of playing with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles after failing a basic conditioning test.
"We're talking about passing a minimum standard here, we're not talking about qualifying for the US Olympic team," a disappointed Eagles head coach Chip Kelly told reporters on Tuesday.
It is the latest blow for the talented Melbourne-born 22-year-old, who was praised for his big, accurate boot but earned a bad boy image while playing for Louisiana State University (LSU).
Wing is in a head-to-head competition for the Eagles' punting job with NFL veteran Donnie Jones, who has played for the Seattle Seahawks, St Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans the past nine years.
The loser will likely be cut from the Eagles in September before the start of the NFL regular season.
Wing and another rookie who failed the test, running back Matthew Tucker, are banned from taking part in Eagles' practices until they undergo another test on Thursday.
Wing was considered the top punter out of last year's college class, but he wasn't selected at April's NFL Draft with his off-the-field behaviour at LSU a concern for clubs.
The Eagles signed him as an undrafted free agent.
In 2011 Wing was arrested for battery after a scuffle and he was suspended before LSU's final game last year for an undisclosed reason.
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