In the NFL, you turn over every rock to find talent. The Kansas City Chiefs went into the Rugby Arena and signed Superstar Louis Rees-Zammit as their international signee. He may never see the field and won’t count on the training camp roster, but his athleticism makes him worth a look.
I admit I don’t understand the rules of rugby or understand the sport at any level. However, when I look at an athlete with fantastic speed and tree trunk legs that make Christian Okoye’s legs look like mine, you take a serious look at that player.
On Wednesday evening, the Kansas City Chiefs signed Rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit, per Jordan Schultz at Bleacher Report. According to Jordan, the team plans on using him on special teams as a returner, and there is a genuine belief he could take advantage of the new kick-off rules. He could also line up as a fullback for short-yardage plays. Perhaps Reid might put him under center and do his version of the Tush-Push.
Rees-Zammit had interest from other NFL teams, including the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and the Cleveland Browns. However, the Chiefs gave him a compelling opportunity to play for the Super Bowl Champions.
International signings of this kind generally don’t equate to making the final 53-man roster, but Rees-Zammit is an athlete. He runs in the lower fours and has tremendous power and vision on the rugby field; I can see why the Chiefs took a flyer on him.
It’s nearly impossible for him to master the Reid playbook with zero NFL experience. Yet, he can learn enough plays on offense to become an extra thumper on the field. If they use him on special teams, and he adjusts to the NFL game, he may see action in a regular-season game with a strong showing in training camp and the preseason.
I don’t know all the rules for International signees under the NFL’s program, but the 23-year-old Rugby superstar might be the one who cracks an NFL opening-day roster.
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