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Patriots safety Nate Ebner to try for Olympic rugby team

New England's Nate Ebner, right, tries to bring down Adrien Robinson of the New York Giants on Aug. 28, 2014.
New England’s Nate Ebner, right, tries to bring down Adrien Robinson of the New York Giants on Aug. 28, 2014.
(Jeff Zelevansky / Getty Images)
By David Wharton
Staff WriterFollow
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Another big-time football player has announced his intention to take a shot at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

New England Patriots safety Nate Ebner was granted a leave of absence on Tuesday and plans to join the U.S. rugby team at its Chula Vista training camp.

“We are proud to support @Natebner34 in his effort to earn a place on the United States National Rugby team,” the team tweeted.

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Earlier, Buffalo Bills receiver Marquise Goodwin and USC star Adoree’ Jackson said they would try to qualify for the U.S. track team in the long jump.

At 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, Ebner was an All-American in rugby at Ohio State before being selected in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL draft.

In four seasons with the Patriots, he has become a staple on special teams and was re-signed by the team this week.

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David Wharton

David Wharton has filled an array of roles – covering the courts, entertainment, sports and the second Persian Gulf War – since starting as a Los Angeles Times intern in 1982. His work has been honored by organizations such as the Society for Features Journalism and Associated Press Sports Editors and has been anthologized in “Best American Sports Writing.” He has also been nominated for an Emmy and has written two books, including “Conquest,” an inside look at USC football during the Pete Carroll era.

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