Louis Rees-Zammit’s NFL dream still alive
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A LEGENDARY American sports agent believes Louis Rees-Zammit has a good chance of playing in the NFL this season despite being cut by Kansas City Chiefs.
Rees-Zammit was picked up by Jacksonville Jaguars this week and joins their practice squad.
This is after he missed out on the Chiefs’ 53-man NFL roster.
The former Gloucester winger had been signed as a running back by back-to-back Super Bowl champions Kansas City on a three-year deal after coming through the NFL’s International Player Pathway program (IPP).
But he has now been listed at Jacksonville as a wide receiver.
The dream remains
Leigh Steinberg, 75, is a renowned figure in NFL agency having represented the No.1 pick in the NFL draft a record eight times.
He believes Rees-Zammit’s American dream is still very much alive.
He told The Rugby Paper: “Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl the last couple of years, so their 54th player is probably better than the 30th player on another team.
“Louis got picked up by Jacksonville after being cut because he’s a waiver and can be signed to a practice squad.
“The practice squad players practise with the team. They just don’t play in the games.
“When they are on a practice squad, any other team during the season can pick and sign them.
“They aren’t obligated to stay with Jacksonville in Rees-Zammit’s case.
“There may be an injury, so practice squad players could get elevated to the regular squad.
“Running back happens to be a position which is fraught with injuries, so the chance Jacksonville’s four running backs will make it through the season unscathed is unfortunately unlikely.
“If a running back doesn’t run out of bounds or score a touchdown, they are usually thrown to the turf.
“It wouldn’t be a big surprise if some point during the season, Rees-Zammit gets picked up.
“The Chiefs saw something in him, as have Jacksonville, so you’ve already had two teams validate that at least he’s an intriguing prospect.”
Physicality factor
Steinberg is a rugby advocate after attending University of California, Berkeley which has a significant rugby presence.
He also sits on the board of new startup competition, the National Rugby Football League in the US.
He feels the physical natures of both sports is the reason you see players jump between the two.
“For a running back there’s not much difference to rugby,” said Steinberg.
“You still have to find the hole where other people aren’t.
“This position is especially adaptable for someone like Rees-Zammit.
“Rugby players are terrific athletes.
“Their skill set is running hard and tackling but they do it with less equipment.”
READ MORE: Q&A: Leigh Steinberg on Louis Rees-Zammit’s NFL chances
