ESPN dropped an article today pondering the hypothetical NFL future of NBA megastar LeBron James. The consensus: he’d probably do pretty well, but it’s laughable to think he’d make the jump.

Probably? Probably? Pretty well? Pretty well? They must be out of their god damn minds. If LeBron James fully committed to the NFL, barring injury, he would become the league’s ultimate hybrid receiving weapon.

And why is it so laughable? LeBron was a first-team All-State wide receiver as a sophomore and junior back in high school. His former coach Mark Murphy, who is in the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame, compares LeBron to Jerry Rice and Steve Largent. Stuck in Cleveland, it now appears that LeBron’s Cavs are not talented enough, and probably never will be, to win an NBA Championship. Even if LeBron does test free agency in 2010, what team could he possibly go to that could offer him a better chance at a championship? The New York Knicks? Yeah, right.

As an NFL free agent, LeBron could bypass the draft and sign with the team of his choice. That means he could sign with a Super Bowl contender like the Giants, Patriots or Steelers right away. Considering the circumstances, it’s obvious that LeBron has a better chance to win a Super Bowl Championship than an NBA one. Besides, he’s only 24 and football was his first love. Michael Jordan played baseball, but I think LeBron is more like Bo Jackson. He would be a two-sport star, not a two-sport wannabe.

I think LeBron would be just as dominant in the NFL as he is in the NBA. Let me repeat that; he would be just as dominant in the NFL as he is in the NBA.

I’m no LeBron apologist either. I’m a die-hard Kobe Bryant and Lakers fan who has grown extremely annoyed with King James’ premature coronation. That being said, you know I thought this bold statement through before I wrote it. I also think that only two other NBA players would be surefire NFL players; Nate Robinson as a cornerback and Ron Artest as an outside pass rusher.

Detractors have cited LeBron’s speed as a potential NFL drawback. Miami Dolphins head honcho Bill Parcells even stated basketball players “can’t run.” I found this criticism laughable. From baseline to baseline, LeBron is the fastest player in the NBA. That’s 94 feet, or just over 31 yards. You mean to tell me the fastest guy in the NBA isn’t fast enough to play receiver or even tight end in the NFL? Considering Nate-Rob, an ex-Washington Huskies cornerback and NFL prospect, plays in the league, that’s crazy talk right there. I mean, is he going to slow down considerably for those final nine yards? No. Not at all.

I’d guess that LeBron runs a sub-4.5 40. In fact, if both he and Larry Fitzgerald had a month to prepare for a 40-yard dash, I’d put a G on King James. Just watch LeBron streak down the court on this dunk. Last night watching it live, it reminded me of The Running Man — I felt like Damon Killian watching Ben Richards’ prison escape footage. “Exceptional. Perfect. I want him.” That’s what NFL GMs would be saying, wiping drool from the corners of their mouths as they did, if  LeBron declared himself an NFL free agent who was done, at least temporarily, with basketball.

As for LeBron’s hands, have you seen him go up and grab alley oops with his 44-inch vertical? His vertical would be one of the 10 best the NFL has ever seen. Fitzgerald took over the NFL postseason with his jump ball dominance. Fitzgerald is five inches shorter and 40 pounds lighter than LeBron. He’s also probably neither as fast nor as strong. Granted, Fitz spent his whole life training to be a football player, but it’s not like LeBron never played. Besides, look at the transition ex-college basketball player Antonio Gates made after playing zero college football while at Kent State. Athletically, LeBron is Jessica Simpson to Gates’ Brooke Hogan. If Gates could make the hoops-to-helmets transition, then LBJ could do it in his sleep.

All that leaves is  size, toughness and durability. This “too tall” business is absolute nonsense. John Henderson is taller than some NBA power forwards and he plays defensive tackle. WR Randy Moss is about 6-foot-5. TE Kevin Boss is 6-foot-7. LeBron’s got great feet and lateral quickness. His height would be a plus at the wide receiver position — not a minus.

That leaves toughness. Big-time NFL receivers have to go across the middle. After getting beat up so much he’d think he was dating Chris Brown, would LeBron develop alligator arms? I’m not as worried about his durability. He’s never really been hurt, even though he seems to get little bumps, bruises and cuts quite often. In fact, a lot of the time the NBA defender who tries to foul him ends up taking the brunt of the collision.

So, really, the only question with LeBron James is whether or not he is tough enough for the NFL. Could the kid get his head knocked off by James Harrison after making a catch over the middle, get up, shake it off and head back to the huddle? That’s the only unanswered question if you ask me. If LeBron could handle the hits, then the NFL wouldn’t be able to handle him.

(Adam Best is the senior editor of the FanSided.com Sports Network and the twisted mind behind Fan Addict. Follow him on Twitter.)