Bartlett plays the waiting game

Any other year, and former Lakeland High standout Bubba Bartlett would be preparing to attend some NFL team's minicamp this weekend as an undrafted free agent.

But because this year's on-again, off-again NFL lockout is back on again, Bartlett has to wait until the lockout is over to resume communications with NFL teams.

Bartlett, a senior tight end at NAIA champion Carroll College, went undrafted in the seven-round NFL draft, which concluded Saturday.

"I'm pretty confident when the lockout is settled and everything gets back to normal, I have confidence things will work out," Bartlett said from Helena, where he continues to train and attend classes at Carroll, and is preparing to graduate on Saturday.

In the days leading up to the draft, Bartlett said he heard from the New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers.

He said the word he was getting was he would either be drafted in the seventh round, or contacted afterward about signing as a free agent. He had some family and friends over on Saturday, but it wasn't like it was a draft-viewing party. Sure, they tuned into the draft coverage, but they also watched classic movies like Caddyshack.

"I went into it with the expectation that I'd have to wait until it (the draft) was over," said Bartlett, who worked out at a "pro day" in Missoula in March.

NFL teams are looking at the 6-foot-1, 237-pound Bartlett as a fullback. He played mostly tight end at Carroll, though he lined up at fullback a few times in the national title game, and he played some fullback as a senior at Lakeland.

Bartlett caught 67 passes for 694 yards and six touchdowns this year, and played on a national title team for the second time in his four years at Carroll. As a junior, he caught 85 passes for 951 yards and seven touchdowns, and was named first-team AFCA All-American.

He said the Canadian Football League, which starts in June, is not really an option, as there is little use for a fullback in the CFL's wide-open style of offense, and with the league's restrictions on "imports" (six Canadians must be on the field at all times), teams are more likely to bring in imports as quarterbacks and receivers, etc.

So Bartlett, who has hired an agent, trains and studies and waits for the players and the owners to come to an agreement, so he can take the next step toward a possible career in the NFL.

"I'm just thankful I even get to think about playing at the next level," Bartlett said.