Hayden Smith ~ Rugby Star!! ~ potential TE or OLB

[Wotan_the_Wanderer]

I'd say DE or 34 OLB. Rugby players don't run routes and don't catch passes often, but they know how to get to the ball carrier and they know how to tackle.

Never played rugby so I can't comment on those attributes, but given his background in basketball, I think shooting guards and small forwards should be expected to make great cuts and be able to run solid routes. By no means do I think it'd be cakewalk for the guy to make an NFL team given he's simply not used to the playbook, the power, the playing speed and on and on so I'm totally with you here. In fact, I would say it's a huge longshot but what would it hurt to kick the tires and check him out. If he ends up sticking, he'd become a fan favorite rather quickly I would think.

I personally love stories like this and loved it when we first brought in Stephen Neal.

[Edit: just read the rest of the posts and that this guy was signed by the Jests. As such, replace all of the above with "DUMBEST MOVE EVER!"]

 

[manxman2601]

As a English Patriots fan, there's only one thing worse than an Australian , and thats an Australian playing for the Jets.

Actually just thought of something worse. He might be of Scottish extraction too. God! What a nightmare.

Signing off to go and further nurture my prejudices.

 

[Wilfork#75]

As a English Patriots fan, there's only one thing worse than an Australian , and thats an Australian playing for the Jets.

Actually just thought of something worse. He might be of Scottish extraction too. God! What a nightmare.

Signing off to go and further nurture my prejudices.

You only hate us Aussie's because we are better than you at just about every sport on the planet, and most of them you invented

On a serious note, I'm not too disappointed he signed with the Jets. He's not even an elite level Rugby player so I don't see him even come close to making the roster.

 

[Off The Grid]

What an Atrocity.

If I'm running things, Opportunities like this never go by the boards.

Oh, well...Maybe things will implode over in New York, and we'll get a chance to pluck'm out'f the debris.

Hayden Smith is a ZERO Risk/METEORIC Upside guy ~ a physical and cerebral FREAK.

Getting back to the original topic of this thread, the WSJ has an article on him:

Jets May Have Acquired An Australian 'Gronk' - WSJ.com

Interesting thing is that they list him at 6'7", 240.

Slight difference, seeing as Hernandez is 6'1"ish, 245. . . .

Thanks for the jinx, OTG

If you Jamokes had actually clicked on the Link that I provided you in my Post, it just might've dawned on you that I was informing y'all that he just signed with the Jets, yesterday!!

 

[Off The Grid]

I don't see him even come close to making the roster.

From Your Lips To God's Ears, Brother Wilfork!! :rocker:

 

[patfanken]

I think before OTG slices his wrists because of this guy, he should take a lesson from the Stephen Neal comparison everyone is making. It wasn't until Neal's FOURTH season that saw any significant playing time. And his transition from a wrestler to a OLman is a lot easier than a rugby player to being a TE.

That being said, I remember OTG's original post, and thought he would be a great guy to bring in. Sadly, I think its a great signing by the Jets....just not a very impactful one. To think that he, at 26 and NEVER having played the game on any level, can come in an play it to any degree of competence on the NFL is ridiculous. PS would be a huge accomplishment. Down the road it could prove to be a productive signing. But its certainly not worth the 14 pages JI devoted to it. Man those guys are DESPERATE for anything that even poses as good news.

 

[SeymourTrophies]

He's got nothing on Derek Wolfe or Jake Bequette.

 

[manxman2601]

You only hate us Aussie's because we are better than you at just about every sport on the planet, and most of them you invented

On a serious note, I'm not too disappointed he signed with the Jets. He's not even an elite level Rugby player so I don't see him even come close to making the roster.

Well apart from cricket and cycling most recently. And then there was the Rugby world cup. Just sayin'.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

If you Jamokes had actually clicked on the Link that I provided you in my Post, it just might've dawned on you that I was informing y'all that he just signed with the Jets, yesterday!!

Yes, I read your post. But I was bringing up something that suggests that your original analysis, or the WSJ, was, well, a bit off. . . . by about 25 pounds or so.

 

[supafly]

If you Jamokes had actually clicked on the Link that I provided you in my Post, it just might've dawned on you that I was informing y'all that he just signed with the Jets, yesterday!!

I read it too dude. I'm just busting your chops.