NFL has position waiting for LeBron

With the Cleveland Cavaliers on the brink of elimination from the NBA playoffs, it's about time for LeBron James to ponder his summer plans. Maybe he'll want to give NFL training camp a try.

James' awesome combination of height, power, speed and good hands could make him one of the league's top tight ends, according to several sources who were quoted in an ESPN.com story.

Mark Murphy, a former safety for the Green Bay Packers, said the concept is not absurd. Murphy was defensive coordinator at St. Vincent-St. Mary High in Akron, Ohio, while James was an all-state wide receiver as a sophomore and junior.

"I've been around a lot of great receivers," Murphy said. "I tell people that I rate my top receivers -- coaching, playing or watching -- as James Lofton, Jerry Rice, Steve Largent and LeBron James. People laugh at me, but it's true.

"I felt like that was one kid who could've gone from high school to the NFL and played."

James is 6 feet 8 inches and 250 pounds with a 44-inch vertical leap, numbers that surely would impress Mel Kiper Jr.

"I think LeBron could come in and do better than Antonio Gates," New England Patriots receiver Randy Moss said.

Gates played college basketball before becoming a Pro Bowl tight end for the San Diego Chargers. James is only 24, so there's time to make the jump to the NFL if he's tempted.

"Football's not something he needs to do," said the voice of reason, Miami Dolphins executive Bill Parcells. "If he asked my advice, I'd tell him to keep playing basketball because he's doing OK. This kid's pretty amazing, though."

James might not be with the Cavaliers for long, whether or not he wins his first NBA championship. In two years, he's more likely to be playing for the New York Knicks than the Giants or Jets.

• NO TWO-SPORT STAR -- Jose Canseco's mixed martial arts debut was a bigger bust than expected. He was knocked out in 77 seconds by 7-2, 330-pound Hong Man Choi on Tuesday morning in Yokohama, Japan.

Canseco, who said it was "scary facing a man that big," attempted a couple of weak punches and kicks before running scared around the ring. Eventually, the giant got Canseco to the mat and hammered on his head.

Canseco pointed to his supposedly injured right knee as an excuse for the poor performance. But his night was not a total loss. He was helped out of the ring by his girlfriend, Heidi Northcott, a poker player who busted out in a positive sense.

Canseco further proved that most baseball players can't fight -- the exceptions being Nolan Ryan, who knocked out Robin Ventura, and Pedro Martinez, who body-slammed Don Zimmer.

• ELWAY WARMING UP -- The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers split the first four games of the Western Conference finals. Turnovers on inbounds passes doomed Denver in the last minute of both losses.

Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post: "So, you figure John Elway is available to throw the Nuggets' next inbounds pass?"

COMPILED BY MATT YOUMANS LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL