Australian rugby star Jarryd Hayne recently retired so that he could attempt to catch on with an American football team. Detroit Lions' running back Reggie Bush has already given Hayne an endorsement.
"He actually looks like an NFL running back," Bush said. "Looks like he could come play with us tomorrow. He's fast, strong and...wow. Look at that hit. That's an NFL football hit. I like this guy."
Hayne has "six NFL clubs chasing" him, including the Detroit Lions, according to the Daily Telegraph.
"On the back of Bush's glowing appraisal of Hayne, the former Parramatta Eels ace has been offered a train-and-trial deal with NFL heavyweights Detroit," wrote David Riccio of the Daily Telegraph.
I've never heard of a "train-and-trial deal," nor would I consider Detroit NFL "heavyweights." However, the fact that this rumor hasn't been completely shot down hints that some level of mutual interest does exist.
Lions' coach Jim Caldwell seemed to think it wasn't out of the realm of possibility for Hayne to catch on with Detroit.
"I can't tell you much about that," Caldwell said. "I mean, I know who he is, obviously, but I don't know what I'm supposed to tell you. I have no knowledge of it in that regard. To be honest with you, it could be. It could be a personnel issue, but I'm not aware of it. Besides that, our focus is pretty narrow this time of the year, so getting out of that realm, it's hard to do. But it could happen."
Hayne would undoubtedly have to undergo extensive physical training and skills development before making a 53-man roster. Still, it would be interesting to see how a rugby player approaches American football.
