The journey to the NFL is not always a smooth one; some players must resort to playing in other professional leagues to prove themselves. The Canadian Football League has acted as a haven for unpolished or troubled college players for many years, with players like Warren Moon and Cameron Wake being past and present examples of newfound success.
Even if a CFL player lands a spot on an NFL roster, it is no guarantee of success, however. These players are often at the bottom of rosters, shuffling between the inactive list and practice squad. Special teams becomes a necessity to maintaining a roster spot.