Stephen Neal never really forgot about football, he just took a little break.    For four years, the 6-4, 290 pounder was an All-American wrestler at Cal-State Bakersfield with his eye on the Olympics. He won the World Freestyle Championship. He won the USA Freestyle Championship. He won the NCAA Championship.    But despite these accolades on the mat, Neal never gave up his dream to play on the field.    Now, that dream is a reality, as the former wrestler attempts to make his mark on the Eagles practice squad.    "It's always been a dream of mine ever since I was a little kid," said Neal. "Even before I knew what wrestling was, I wanted to be a football player." Neal didn't play a down of football in college. Sure, he played in high school, but so did half of America. His focus in college was wrestling. While winning championships left and right, Neal racked up a 156-10 record. The phenom closed out his collegiate career with 83 straight victories.    But football was an afterthought.    So when he called up an agent and professed his interest in playing the game professionally, it was a long shot. But that long shot panned out.    The agent set Neal up with New England Patriots coach Bill Bellicheck. He took part in a workout and was invited to training camp this summer. Neal lasted longer than many expected, but was eventually released.    That is when the Eagles swooped down.    "Stephen has been a world class wrestler. The thing we see there is an athlete who has tremendous strength and size," said head coach Andy Reid. "We saw quick feet. He'd been in a training camp and we were able to evaluate him on film. For a guy who has not played football since high school he really played well. He held his own and I think there's a tremendous upside there.    "With wrestlers you never question their toughness, it's one of the toughest sports that there is. You're getting qualities that could make a very good offensive lineman in the future. That's a position you can develop. As you look at practice squads throughout the league that's  one of the positions you can develop players and move them up through your team."    Reid had actually attempted to contact Neal before he surfaced in the Patriots camp. Former Eagles linebacker Chuck Bednarik, an avid wrestling fan, had his eye on Neal and gave Reid a list of phone numbers. The coach was unable to establish contact, however.    "I didn't know he was trying to contact me," said Neal. "That's news to me. I was wrestling at the time."    Given his physical size and wrestling accolades, it is obvious that Neal is an incredible athlete. There is no telling, however, whether he will become an incredible football player. There is, however, a chance.    Despite the rejuvenation of his gridiron dreams, Neal will always have his mind on the mat. He aspires to one day be an Olympian. He would not rule out the possibility of participating in both sports, but he does know that they are completely different activities.    "Mentally I think [football] is a little more draining but physically Ithink [training for] wrestling is tougher just because you are liftingweights and you are running," said Neal. "And when I say running, I mean running - one or two miles at a time. You are working out for about two hours, it's pretty intense. I think wrestling is more physically draining, but football is more mentally draining."