Chiefs sign a rugby player

[RunKC]

Interesting

Rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit will be signing with the #Chiefs on Friday, per sources.

After working out and impressing Kansas City’s staff earlier this week, they have agreed on terms. I’m told Rees-Zammit will be playing RB/WR. pic.twitter.com/o6ftzwhC6F

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 27, 2024

[Dante84]

Screen monster

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

Andy isn't going to start running the tush push.


Like I said, gadget stuff and STs. That's what he's going to do, if anything because we're assuming he'll actually suit up in 2024, which is still completely up in the air right now.

He can return kicks. If that’s all he does, that’s okay because it’s a free roster spot.

Andy is hurting the team by not allowing Mahomes to do a QB sneak. He needs to do something different this year.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Couch-Potato

So we essentially get to have an extra athlete on the practice squad if we sign a foreigner from this exchange program? So no reason not to take a shot I guess.

he can be on the game roster. On the practice squad. Be on the practice squad and get promoted to the active roster with all those scenarios don’t take up a spot.

Thats why he can return kicks and not play any other special teams in the game.

[In58men]

All of a sudden I’m on board thinking he’s the next McCaffrey, sometimes I hate it here.

I’ll prolly buy his jersey next week

[Holladay]

Isn't there a special drop kick type of play? Not used that much, but he seems to be able to do that. Not sure if this is relevant or not...

[Dante84]

Options will be fun

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

he can be on the game roster. On the practice squad. Be on the practice squad and get promoted to the active roster with all those scenarios don’t take up a spot.

Thats why he can return kicks and not play any other special teams in the game.

A player can only be elevated from the practice squad a certain number of times, I think 3. Plus if he's any good somebody will probably try and sign him.

I would guess if he makes the team this year it'll be because he's a 4-phase special teamer. I know somebody said earlier that tackling wasn't his strong suit in rugby, but does have the experience doing it. With his athleticism he could be useful on kick coverage teams.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Jamie

A player can only be elevated from the practice squad a certain number of times, I think 3. Plus if he's any good somebody will probably try and sign him.

I would guess if he makes the team this year it'll be because he's a 4-phase special teamer. I know somebody said earlier that tackling wasn't his strong suit in rugby, but does have the experience doing it. With his athleticism he could be useful on kick coverage teams.

for regular players. Not for this exception. That’s the whole reason for the exception. They want these guys making it on teams. Part of the whole NFL strategy to take the game global.

They can do whatever they want with him without consideration of roster spots.

[kevrunner]

Chiefs Kingdom let’s get to work ⚡️🙏🏽🔥 @Chiefs pic.twitter.com/PZifoCOlPc

— Louis Rees-Zammit ⚡️ (@LouisReesZammit) March 29, 2024

[Cosmos]

There’s a reason he’s signing with the World Champions, and Andy Reed.

NFL wants publicity and more international markets, and Andy will scheme a few special thing up for him to be sure he leads Sports Center in preseason…at a minimum.

It’s all about winning and repeating for us fans, so this is going to get fun, one way or another.

Wonder if the Chiefs will be offered Hard Knocks…

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

for regular players. Not for this exception. That’s the whole reason for the exception. They want these guys making it on teams. Part of the whole NFL strategy to take the game global.

They can do whatever they want with him without consideration of roster spots.

I'm not sure what this is based on, everything I've seen is that the exception is just an extra practice squad spot. The normal rules still apply otherwise.

https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-to-expa...rnational-play

[Stewie]

I've watched a few reports from the UK sports press about LRZ and am impressed with their knowledge of the Chiefs. It's pretty cool that our success has translated into an international following.

[Monticore]

I read somewhere where he had run practice 40s in the 4.3s and he hasn’t probably had the same time of track training /coaching most of the college kids get specifically to run at at the combine , not playing football might only be the issue but it sounds like his dad played some American football , if he was a fan and watch the game /played madden etc.. some natural feel for space it could see him transitioning. Would be a cool story

[MVChiefFan]

Originally Posted by Monticore

I read somewhere where he had run practice 40s in the 4.3s and he hasn’t probably had the same time of track training /coaching most of the college kids get specifically to run at at the combine , not playing football might only be the issue but it sounds like his dad played some American football , if he was a fan and watch the game /played madden etc.. some natural feel for space it could see him transitioning. Would be a cool story

I’ve read that somewhere, too. He was disappointed in his 4.43-4.45 time. The guy is FAST! I know most rugby players don’t have the elite speed that NFL players have. But, the way he would literally be behind someone ten yards and then blow past them and beat them to the ball is just crazy!

[Hayneplane]

Originally Posted by Monticore

I read somewhere where he had run practice 40s in the 4.3s and he hasn’t probably had the same time of track training /coaching most of the college kids get specifically to run at at the combine , not playing football might only be the issue but it sounds like his dad played some American football , if he was a fan and watch the game /played madden etc.. some natural feel for space it could see him transitioning. Would be a cool story

I would also expect his short burst speed to improve now that training will be geared towards single play explosiveness rather than 80 minutes stamina endurance as in rugby union. He will also likely bulk up as well adding muscle mass.

Of course he is going to be naive in learning the playcalls and running crisp routes but Andy Reid is smart enough to know that you don’t bring someone in because they can do things you don’t normally see and then try to force them to conform to all the norms of a player in their position. Trying to do that would be like acknowledging that Mahomes is the all time greatest scramble drill improviser in the game yet deciding that because Quarterbacks are traditionally pocket passers you are going to chain him to the pocket.