Former NFL All-Pro tight end Tony Gonzalez said that NBA players are too soft to play in the NFL, according to a Sun Times report.

Gonzalez made the comment after seeing a video of Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton outsprinting Los Angeles Clippers Chris Paul and catching the ball with one hand down for a touchdown.

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The video was taken during an offseason training session.

It should be noted that Payton is nine years younger and four inches taller than Paul.

Gonzalez pointed out that two NBA players weren't wearing pads which completely changes the game.

He added that while NBA players are athletically gifted enough to play in the NFL, they are not used to getting hit.

Gonzalez said that in getting hit, he expects basketball players to struggle because they are soft.

He said that if most NBA players experience getting shot in the ribs, they would think twice about going over the middle.

It wasn't clear if Gonzalez, who played college basketball at University of California, would also give the same assessment about college basketball players.

However, Gonzalez thinks Cavaliers star LeBron James could play in the NFL because he is 6-foot-8, 250-pounds. He did not elaaborate.

There is yet no NBA player who was able to cross over to the NFL.

The one with the most potential was  Charlie Ward who was the starting at point guard with the New York Knicks and played 11 seasons in the NBA, according to Athlon Sports.

Ward was a Heisman Trophy winner and was a quarterback for the 1993 national champion Florida State.

Furthermore, athletes who were able to play two sports both in major professional leagues of the country's top four sports (football, basketball, baseball and hockey), usually did it by combining baseball and basketball or baseball and football.

Those who played in both the NFL and MLB were Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders and Brian Jordan.

Meanwhile, those who showed action in both MLB and NBA were Gene Conley and Danny Ainge.

TagsNBA players, NFL, Tony Gonzalez, Elfrid Payton, chris paul, orlando magic, Los Angeles Clippers