Well that was fast. Now former-NRL star Jarryd Hayne certainly isn’t mucking around in his bid to cross codes and become a professional American Football player in the NFL, with the Detroit Lions reportedly tabling a trial contract to the ex-Eel.
Hayne announced his intentions to make the move just last Wednesday, and departed the country on a Los Angeles-bound plane last night – Hawaiian Airlines were so impressed with the man himself that they’ve already leapt on board as a sponsor. And despite not having much of a plan for his movements once he landed in LA (flights were booked on Friday, and his hotel and car were sorted out en route to the airport in a whirlwind of last minute organisation that makes the nervous traveller in me feel ill) but it seems things have had an odd way of sorting themselves out during the 14-odd hour flight.
Not only does he apparently have arrangements to meet with the NFL’s commissioner, Roger Goodell, but the good word is that he’s already got a contract in front of him.
A train-and-trial deal with the Detroit Lions has reportedly been put forth to the Hayne camp, meaning the star fullback will be able to train for, and learn, the demanding challenges that he faces in pursuing a career in the NFL.
Though the Hayne camp, at least officially, is denying knowledge of the contract for the moment, it makes sense due to Hayne’s close working relationship with Lions running back Reggie Bush, and also due to the Seattle Seahawks‘ (reportedly also interested in Hayne) coach Pete Carroll engaging in a bit of bluffball when questioned, and not having the foggiest idea who he is.
After two consecutive shock losses, and getting utterly bamboozled by a pair of fake punt plays earlier today against the St Louis Rams of all teams, it’s probably time Carroll and the Seahawks did their homework.
For what it’s worth, Hayne plans on spending the next month in Los Angeles training to get his body into NFL condition.
Photo: Mark Kolbe via Getty Images.
