How Ireland's Charlie Smyth turned his NFL dream into a reality with the Saints

BakoSaint · 04-03-2024, 09:14 PM

I think every team gets an international player slot. Using that slot on a kicker is the most practical and realistic use for it if you don't already have a 'franchise kicker' like Justin Tucker. If we were really shooting for a one in a million pie in the sky feel good story we would bring in some Rugby Star TE or champion Sumo Wrestling left tackle except when you looked at the fine print their level of stardom in their previous sport would be highly exaggerated, therein why they gave it up for a tryout. Kicker is absolutely the most likely position to find an international gem. Usually when some Rugby 'star' comes to the NFL looking to play RB/WR/TE they are basically the Kevin White or Tim Tebow of Rugby, and their chance of success would be similar to, if not less than, the chances of one of those guys succeeding at Rugby.

AsylumGuido · 04-04-2024, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by BakoSaint

I think every team gets an international player slot. Using that slot on a kicker is the most practical and realistic use for it if you don't already have a 'franchise kicker' like Justin Tucker. If we were really shooting for a one in a million pie in the sky feel good story we would bring in some Rugby Star TE or champion Sumo Wrestling left tackle except when you looked at the fine print their level of stardom in their previous sport would be highly exaggerated, therein why they gave it up for a tryout. Kicker is absolutely the most likely position to find an international gem. Usually when some Rugby 'star' comes to the NFL looking to play RB/WR/TE they are basically the Kevin White or Tim Tebow of Rugby, and their chance of success would be similar to, if not less than, the chances of one of those guys succeeding at Rugby.

Exactly.

Rugby Saint II · 04-08-2024, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by BakoSaint

I think every team gets an international player slot. Using that slot on a kicker is the most practical and realistic use for it if you don't already have a 'franchise kicker' like Justin Tucker. If we were really shooting for a one in a million pie in the sky feel good story we would bring in some Rugby Star TE or champion Sumo Wrestling left tackle except when you looked at the fine print their level of stardom in their previous sport would be highly exaggerated, therein why they gave it up for a tryout. Kicker is absolutely the most likely position to find an international gem. Usually when some Rugby 'star' comes to the NFL looking to play RB/WR/TE they are basically the Kevin White or Tim Tebow of Rugby, and their chance of success would be similar to, if not less than, the chances of one of those guys succeeding at Rugby.

You make a good point about the transfers from the American Football game from rugby. They are two different totally different concepts that don't easily transfer from playing one game to playing a foreign game.

Although, I have coached and trained many ex football players into damn fine rugby players. But it takes time to learn the skills.....mostly, but not always. Ya'll have rules and rugby has laws.

But, back to your point about kickers. The Kickers, on the other hand have a similar system of aero dynamics that are universal with varying degrees of change.

Did you know that football was so dangerous that Teddy Roosevelt got involved after numerous deaths and introduced the forward pass and blocking in 1905 to the new American football game? The Chicago Tribune reported a bloody year on the grid iron. 19 had been killed and 159 serious injuries were reported that year.

Wikipedia has a great read up if you're interested in how football got started.

Ya'll should have just left it alone and then everyone would be playing rugby!

04-03-2024, 09:14 PM	#1
BakoSaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 2,347	Re: How Ireland's Charlie Smyth turned his NFL dream into a reality with the Saints I think every team gets an international player slot. Using that slot on a kicker is the most practical and realistic use for it if you don't already have a 'franchise kicker' like Justin Tucker. If we were really shooting for a one in a million pie in the sky feel good story we would bring in some Rugby Star TE or champion Sumo Wrestling left tackle except when you looked at the fine print their level of stardom in their previous sport would be highly exaggerated, therein why they gave it up for a tryout. Kicker is absolutely the most likely position to find an international gem. Usually when some Rugby 'star' comes to the NFL looking to play RB/WR/TE they are basically the Kevin White or Tim Tebow of Rugby, and their chance of success would be similar to, if not less than, the chances of one of those guys succeeding at Rugby. AsylumGuido likes this.
BakoSaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 2,347

04-04-2024, 12:22 PM	#2
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,573	Re: How Ireland's Charlie Smyth turned his NFL dream into a reality with the Saints Originally Posted by BakoSaint I think every team gets an international player slot. Using that slot on a kicker is the most practical and realistic use for it if you don't already have a 'franchise kicker' like Justin Tucker. If we were really shooting for a one in a million pie in the sky feel good story we would bring in some Rugby Star TE or champion Sumo Wrestling left tackle except when you looked at the fine print their level of stardom in their previous sport would be highly exaggerated, therein why they gave it up for a tryout. Kicker is absolutely the most likely position to find an international gem. Usually when some Rugby 'star' comes to the NFL looking to play RB/WR/TE they are basically the Kevin White or Tim Tebow of Rugby, and their chance of success would be similar to, if not less than, the chances of one of those guys succeeding at Rugby. Exactly. BakoSaint likes this.

04-08-2024, 05:17 PM	#3
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,133	Re: How Ireland's Charlie Smyth turned his NFL dream into a reality with the Saints Originally Posted by BakoSaint I think every team gets an international player slot. Using that slot on a kicker is the most practical and realistic use for it if you don't already have a 'franchise kicker' like Justin Tucker. If we were really shooting for a one in a million pie in the sky feel good story we would bring in some Rugby Star TE or champion Sumo Wrestling left tackle except when you looked at the fine print their level of stardom in their previous sport would be highly exaggerated, therein why they gave it up for a tryout. Kicker is absolutely the most likely position to find an international gem. Usually when some Rugby 'star' comes to the NFL looking to play RB/WR/TE they are basically the Kevin White or Tim Tebow of Rugby, and their chance of success would be similar to, if not less than, the chances of one of those guys succeeding at Rugby. You make a good point about the transfers from the American Football game from rugby. They are two different totally different concepts that don't easily transfer from playing one game to playing a foreign game. Although, I have coached and trained many ex football players into damn fine rugby players. But it takes time to learn the skills.....mostly, but not always. Ya'll have rules and rugby has laws. But, back to your point about kickers. The Kickers, on the other hand have a similar system of aero dynamics that are universal with varying degrees of change. Did you know that football was so dangerous that Teddy Roosevelt got involved after numerous deaths and introduced the forward pass and blocking in 1905 to the new American football game? The Chicago Tribune reported a bloody year on the grid iron. 19 had been killed and 159 serious injuries were reported that year. Wikipedia has a great read up if you're interested in how football got started. Ya'll should have just left it alone and then everyone would be playing rugby! leilung, AsylumGuido and SmashMouth like this.
	There Are Two Kinds Of People In This World Being A Rugby Player Is Better Than Both Of Them