Top NRL player this season quits to try NFL (Seattle ?) (1 Viewer)

The Military Workshop

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This is going to be interesting. Top NRL player this season quitting to try to make it in NFL. I understand there are a couple of Aussie kickers playing in NFL but this is a little different as Hayne just won award for best player (equal first) in the NRL (has won it before). I believe he will be trying out as a "kick returner", but has no contract signed.

For non USA readers : In American and Canadian football, a Kick Returner (KR) is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the air and determine if it would be beneficial to his team for a return. If he decides that it is not, he can make a touchback by kneeling down in the end zone after catching the ball, which gives his team the ball at their own 20-yard line to start the drive.

He is usually one of the faster players on the team, often a wide receiver, defensive back, or running back. While starters on offense or defense sometimes assume this role, it is usually given to backup in order to prevent them from spending more time on the field and taking extra hits.

A kick returner might also double as a punt returner as well.

Sometimes players who make big plays at the punt or kick returner positions become well known "return specialist" players.

For USA readers this guy plays fullback in NRL which is the position that receives the most kicks. He is fast and evasive and good to watch. Going to be fascinating to see how he goes as certainly been regarded as one of best League players in the world for the past few years.

From the news :

Jarryd Hayne has dropped a bombshell on the NRL, confirming he is quitting rugby league to pursue a career in American football.

Hayne has not signed a contract with an NFL franchise, but believes he has the talent and speed to make it in the game.

Hayne only recently returned from a trip to Seattle where he looked over the set-up at the city's NFL champions, the Seahawks.

The dual Dally M medallist told a media conference that rugby league was no longer providing the challenge that he yearned as an athlete.

“I didn’t feel that rugby league was challenging me to the point where I am going to be challenged,” Hayne said.

“Realistically I should have made it (the decision) 12 months ago but I didn’t have the courage.”

Hayne also spoke of the difficulty he had telling his Parramatta Eels teammates and coach Brad Arthur.

“Telling them was really hard but they know my passion and my desire to always challenge myself,” Hayne said.

“The hardest conversation I thought was going to be with Brad (Eels coach Brad Arthur) and for him to understand and accept that the reason I'm going is something that will be incredible.”

The Parramatta and NSW fullback, who won the NRL's highest individual accolade this season along with Johnathan Thurston, had earlier released a statement saying it had been a dream of his to play in the NFL.

He's agreed a lifetime deal with Parramatta so that, should he return, it will be to the Eels.

"For the past 24 months I've been thinking about having a crack in the NFL, and over the last 12 months I've been seriously considering it," Hayne wrote in an open letter to Eels fans on the club website on Wednesday.

"Today I can officially announce that I will be heading to the United States to pursue an opportunity to play American football.

"I will be withdrawing from the Kangaroos' Four Nations side immediately, and accepting a conditional release from the Eels to make the move overseas.

Hayne indicated he has actually stalled his move to the US by one season already.

"The reason I didn't make this decision any earlier was because of the part I played in getting (Eels coach) Brad (Arthur) to the club and the way we finished the season.

"I felt I owed the club one more year and I gave it everything I could.

"It's always been a dream of mine to play in the NFL, and at my age, this is my one and only chance at having a crack at playing there."

Describing it as the hardest decision of his life, Hayne added: "I'm excited about the potential opportunities that lie ahead. I've known the deadline has been looming for me to make this call, and I believe the right time is now.

"I'm so passionate about the challenge that lies ahead for me, not only as an athlete but more so as a person.

"It hasn't been an easy decision for me to leave the Eels, the club's been my home and family since I was 13.

The hardest thing about leaving the club is there's stability for the first time in a long time, but I know where my heart lies and I'm following that.

"I'm always telling people to chase their dreams and follow their hearts, if I don't live by that I'm not being honest with myself.

"I'm leaving knowing that I have signed a lifetime agreement with the Eels, so if I return to the NRL, it will be to Parramatta."
 
Be real interesting Brett its a big punt but better than to die wondering good luck to him,NSW is gonna miss him next origin.
 
Been interesting to read/hear all the commentary about this move.

Seems his chances of making it in NFL not rated that highly due to the number trying same thing in USA. One columnist said a US commentator had said to him it reminded him of a scene from Dumb and Dumber where one of the guys asks a girl if he has a chance of a date. She replies he has a one in a million chance. His response is that he still has a chance. A bit harsh relative to Haynes skills.

Seems his normal NRL position quite suited to the kick receiver position.

Apparently the Seahawks coach even been asked about it so seems being mentioned over in USA.

Would be great to see him make it and play normal season games etc.
 
Update as he signs with 49ers but still got to get into 53 man roster. Good luck to him as given up pretty good money here on a longshot dream.

From the Australian today.

JARRYD Hayne has joined iconic NFL outfit the San Francisco 49ers on a futures contract.

Hayne quit the NRL in October last year to chase his dream of playing top flight football in the United States and that ambition has moved a step closer to reality.

But the 27-year-old still has a lot of work to do.

Futures contracts are no guarantee of a spot on an NFL roster, they are merely a foot in the door for players not on active rosters.

They give fringe players, such as Hayne, the chance to crack a team’s 53-man roster for the upcoming NFL season.

The former representative rugby league star announced his deal at a media conference in Sydney on Tuesday, five months after he quit the NRL to chase his dream of playing American football in the NFL.

The contract is a big step forward in Hayne’s bid to crack the NFL, but is no guarantee.

Hayne will need to further impress in the lead up to the next NFL season, when the 49ers cut their roster to 53 players in August.

Hayne attracted interest from two other NFL clubs, the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks.

He said he thought until very recently that he would be going to the Lions - “It was very close but it wasn’t to be.” He was attracted to the 49ers because their new head coach Jim Tomsula had a good knowledge of rugby from his time coaching in the NFL’s European feeder competition and so understood the transition he had to make.

“For me this (deal) is a small step in the right direction,” said Hayne.

“The hard stuff starts now.”
 

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