# Well, seems like my new co-worker is one of those "I was a pro athlete" Munchausen types **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 24, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-seems-like-my-new-co-worker-is-one-of-those-i-was-a-pro-athlete-munchausen-types/613842 "2012-02-24T14:57:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-seems-like-my-new-co-worker-is-one-of-those-i-was-a-pro-athlete-munchausen-types/613842/1 "2012-02-24T14:57:45Z")
I know Munchausen specifically refers to feigning illness to get attention, not feigning a career as a pro athlete, but a 5 minute perusal of Wikipedia failed to find anything better than Pseudologia fantastica (which fits I guess). Anyhoo, I was training this person yesterday, and at the end he announced that he was a player for an NFL team, briefly, back in the late 60’s/early 70’s. Since one of my other coworkers is a huge fan of said team (but her shift hadn’t started yet), I wrote down his name for the express purpose of telling her. Well turns out she was a little kid at the time (natch) and wasn’t into the team just yet, and hence didn’t recognize the name; later when my shift ended, on a whim I went to NFL Reference and decided to look him up. Long story short there was no record of a man with his name playing for that team at that time, nor was there any record of him playing for any team (given the two plausible spellings in question). Now, all I really care is that he can do his job adequately, and at this point I am inclined to give him the benefit of a doubt. But I’ll throw this on here and see what the cognoscenti thinks; it is quite possible that if he is lying about this then he could be lying about other things, and my boss might need to know. If this needs to go to IMHO that’s fine. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-seems-like-my-new-co-worker-is-one-of-those-i-was-a-pro-athlete-munchausen-types/613842/2 "2012-02-24T15:07:23Z")
Or he could have been on the practice squad and never saw any playing time, or suited up for an actual game. Did he say he ever saw any action? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-seems-like-my-new-co-worker-is-one-of-those-i-was-a-pro-athlete-munchausen-types/613842/3 "2012-02-24T15:15:36Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Or he could have been on the practice squad and never saw any playing time, or suited up for an actual game. Did he say he ever saw any action? Or, it may also be that he went to training camp, but did not make a final roster. An example of this is the actor Dean Cain. He was a safety on the Princeton football team, and signed with the Buffalo Bills. He blew out his knee in training camp, and never was on the final active roster. If you look on sites like Pro Football Reference, which are pretty complete in listing players, Cain doesn’t show up. (On the other hand, yes, this guy may just be a liar. But, it is _possible_ that he’s not.) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-seems-like-my-new-co-worker-is-one-of-those-i-was-a-pro-athlete-munchausen-types/613842/4 "2012-02-24T15:56:26Z")
If he was a pro football player, he would have played college football. Ask where he graduated and see what comes up with a search. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-seems-like-my-new-co-worker-is-one-of-those-i-was-a-pro-athlete-munchausen-types/613842/5 "2012-02-24T16:26:47Z")
I know a guy who says he was in the NFL, yet his name shows nowhere and he isn’t a liar. He played high-school football, flunked out of college, then signed with Baltimore as a walk-on. He blew an ACL during his first practice, and never played. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-seems-like-my-new-co-worker-is-one-of-those-i-was-a-pro-athlete-munchausen-types/613842/6 "2012-02-24T18:30:25Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Now, all I really care is that he can do his job adequately, and at this point I am inclined to give him the benefit of a doubt. But I’ll throw this on here and see what the cognoscenti thinks; it is quite possible that if he is lying about this then he could be lying about other things, and my boss might need to know. If this needs to go to IMHO that’s fine. Whether this guy is lying or not, I don’t think it’s a good idea to bring it up to the boss just yet unless it’s affecting his work. Give him the chance to do a good job before you do anything that might get him fired. Lots of people tell tall tales and greatly embellish stories about themselves, but as long as it’s harmless it’s not worth losing a job over. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-seems-like-my-new-co-worker-is-one-of-those-i-was-a-pro-athlete-munchausen-types/613842/7 "2012-02-24T19:10:09Z")
Like I said guys, I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt, for the moment (yes I did consider the training camp possibility). I doubt I will pry any further unless changing circumstances warrant. Thanks tho. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-seems-like-my-new-co-worker-is-one-of-those-i-was-a-pro-athlete-munchausen-types/613842/8 "2012-02-24T20:23:16Z")
NFL in the 60s or 70s? Dude’s gotta be pretty old. Even if he is lying just let him. Once people get past a certain age it’s not worth going at them. Nothing to be gained and would probably just make the guy feel like a piece of shit in the process. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-seems-like-my-new-co-worker-is-one-of-those-i-was-a-pro-athlete-munchausen-types/613842/9 "2012-02-25T01:51:54Z")
It’s not impossible. One of our local sportscasters was signed by the Cowboys, cut during training camp, signed again late in the season, but injured before he was activated. He was never officially on the roster but his biography mentions a “brief career” in pro football. When he talks about it (not often) he points out that he never actually played in the NFL. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-seems-like-my-new-co-worker-is-one-of-those-i-was-a-pro-athlete-munchausen-types/613842/10 "2012-02-25T01:53:59Z")
Or you could have some fun and play dumb. At next large meeting: “Hey, by the way everyone, Fred here used to play for the NFL, awesome…what position did you play? Did you know XYZ player? Which game was your favorite?” ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-seems-like-my-new-co-worker-is-one-of-those-i-was-a-pro-athlete-munchausen-types/613842/11 "2012-02-25T02:24:27Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > Or you could have some fun and play dumb. > > At next large meeting: “Hey, by the way everyone, Fred here used to play for the NFL, awesome…what position did you play? Did you know XYZ player? Which game was your favorite?” I probably wouldn’t do it at a large meeting, but casually asking those questions with genuine interest would be a quick way to find out the truth. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-seems-like-my-new-co-worker-is-one-of-those-i-was-a-pro-athlete-munchausen-types/613842/12 "2012-02-25T03:47:29Z")
Another interesting one: Ed O’Neill (Al Bundy) was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers but was cut in training camp. Ask him if he ever scored four touchdowns in one game. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kitten\_Mitten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b782af/32.png) [@Kitten\_Mitten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitten_Mitten)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-seems-like-my-new-co-worker-is-one-of-those-i-was-a-pro-athlete-munchausen-types/613842/13 "2012-02-25T14:51:28Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > NFL in the 60s or 70s? Dude’s gotta be pretty old. Even if he is lying just let him. Once people get past a certain age it’s not worth going at them. Nothing to be gained and would probably just make the guy feel like a piece of shit in the process. This is what I was going to say. There is no reason to bring it up to the boss. I think it says something about you, OP, that you would have considered it. ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-seems-like-my-new-co-worker-is-one-of-those-i-was-a-pro-athlete-munchausen-types/613842/14 "2012-02-25T14:56:39Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I probably wouldn’t do it at a large meeting, but casually asking those questions with genuine interest would be a quick way to find out the truth. If it was genuine interest, then yes. Otherwise it is just being a jerk. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-seems-like-my-new-co-worker-is-one-of-those-i-was-a-pro-athlete-munchausen-types/613842/15 "2012-02-25T20:05:39Z")
> [@Kitten\_Mitten](#): > > This is what I was going to say. > > There is no reason to bring it up to the boss. > > I think it says something about you, OP, that you would have considered it. I wanted to run this by you guys and see what you thought, and you have done so (and, again, I’ll be dropping the issue unless circumstances change). Telling my boss was indeed an option, one which I had to mention in the OP to get responses, but not one I would have taken lightly and casually. If you wish to read anything more into that, go right ahead. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-seems-like-my-new-co-worker-is-one-of-those-i-was-a-pro-athlete-munchausen-types/613842/16 "2012-02-25T20:44:50Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I probably wouldn’t do it at a large meeting, but casually asking those questions with genuine interest would be a quick way to find out the truth. Of course, it was just a funny thought. A person would have to be on the extreme end of the jerk scale for me to do that in a group.