Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquise Goodwin set a new personal best in the long jump over the weekend, further bolstering his hopes of eventually making the 2016 United States Olympic team.
Jumping at a regional event in Guadeloupe, Goodwin paced the field with a jump of 8.45 meters. The jump was more than 10 centimeters longer than his nearest competitor.
According to BuffaloBills.com, Goodwin has been given permission by the team to train and compete for the Olympics, which would take him away from a portion of the team's training camp this summer should he make it all the way to the Summer Games in August. While some might question his commitment to the Bills and football, he had a giant NFL shield tattooed on his leg earlier this month, which would seem to indicate it has some significance to him.
Goodwin spent a majority of the 2015 season on Injured Reserve with broken ribs. For his career, the oft-injured Goodwin has 20 receptions for 349 yards and three touchdowns in 24 games. He's much more decorated in track and field, winning silver in the 2015 Pan-Am Games and being a member of the 2012 Olympic team while still at the University of Texas.