Yes, I know... Another Jarryd Hayne NFL blog when most seem to be sick of the mention of his name.
But this one is different.
Ive been a fan of the NFL for about 15 years now. The St Louis Rams are my team. At the moment they're about as good as the Eels. They have a good win and follow it up with a loss or two or three or four. They're note expected to achieve much this year and they're taking a punt on another new QB. They live in the hope of finding the next Kurt Warner (the last QB to win a Super Bowl for them). They have a new coach, a bloke in his second year at the club, and they're hoping his sweeping changes will bring them long term success.
As an NFL fan I have been interested to see the progress of Jarryd Hayne. I enjoyed the pre-season but I think it's pretty clear that Jarryd doesn't belong. And it's not because he isn't good enough!
The NFL is a game of inches and yards. It's all about individual plays and trying to get that extra yard and a first down. Every now and then you will see a great catch or a big run or a big hit (or with Jarryd a big run that ends with a big hit). You even see a guy (whose job is to punt the ball 5 times in a game) get 45 yards on a punt and land it on a dime. That guy goes on to make the headlines.
But you don't get to see all of these things take place consecutively or at the same time.
Look at Jarryd's highlights reel and you see that he can do every one of these things at least as well as anyone else. And as soon as he does it, he's up and ready to do it all again.
Not in the NFL. It's often one or two significant plays and then a rest.
Jarryd has all the skills needed in the NFL. At the moment he lacks experience but you can see he has what it takes.
What I want to know though, is does Jarryd have the patience to run 20 yards each week and find out that he did a sensational job as part of the team? Or is he going to be content with a couple of fair catches or touchbacks (when the ball goes over the kickoff returner's head and then play is resumed at the 20 yard line). He may have the potential to earn all the money in the world but is he going to feel content playing NFL?
I think we'll see Jarryd play out this year and maybe even give next year a go but I really feel that he is going to make the call to come back and play in the NRL again. He is a guy who can catch the ball in the in-goal and run it into the other team's half. And then two or three plays later he can throw a big cut-out pass to put his winger over, or put in a perfectly weighted chip to hit his outside back on the chest just before he dives over, or step 5 or 6 players to score himself.
I like the NFL. I enjoy watching it. I enjoy the strategy and the significant 1 yard gains. And I love to see a 75 yard play that results in an amazing touchdown. I'm hoping that the Rams can one day come good again and challenge for a title. But this is not where Jarryd belongs.
Replies
I agree, but he has to realise that and I think he eventually will.
He will be back in a couple of years. I'm thinking 2017.
Here's a question; whats the worst player you would take with him as a package deal to get him back? I would take Inu back in a package with him right now if it come to it. Billy Rogers anyone?
what a waste of talent in a game like that crap! I would go as far as saying its worse than union.
I don't think he will come back. That lad will get better and better. The yanks are in love with him and his jumper, #38, the 5th highest selling jumper in NFL at the moment. Why would he wanna give up the chance of earning real dough, be a superstar in his own rights? Why would he wanna come back to NRL, which by the way sucks at the moment, where he left for NFL cos he was bored? He'll be sitting $10m in the next year or two instead of $1m. Nah he'll stay and do well.
After a couple of years when he starts to loose that extra burst of speed and explosiveness he might struggle to make a roster. When that happens he will be back. I dare say he has made a bit of a handshake agreement with the club to come back for his last years. Whether this is 2017 or when he's sitting at 33 in 2020, I reckon he will be back and still good value.
As a fan it's hard to watch him only have a couple of short runs knowing what freedom he had in the NRL.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JJObvPA8dB8
-
1
-
2
-
3
of 3 Next