April 2nd, 2012 
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Breaking: Per source, the #Jets are on the verge of signing Australian rugby star Hayden Smith (6-7, 240). They want him to be a TE. #nyj
about 4 hours ago via webRetweetFavorite
UPDATE: Hearing Smith is officially a Jet. He’s signed his deal.. waiting on others to confirm..
79 Responses to Jets Close to Signing Hayden Smith
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joeyboy79 says:
Thats a big dude. If he can harness some skills, could be a good move.Another long shot, but you never know, nothing to lose.
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BurbankJetsFan says:
Rugby player other than punter? How good is he at catching the football with a helmet and pads on?
FO knows better than I. That’s no shrimp, ay mate?
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Sanchize says:
Draft day trade with Keller involved!
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karl hungus says:
He has to have better hands than Mulligan, a no arm statue has better hands than Mulligan.
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Wolf says:
I love this guy.
He’ll be a beast in the NFL.
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ramble914 says:
Rugby star! Hope he played some TE in his spare time.
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“The first thing I saw was a kid 6-6, 265 pounds,” Brewster said. “He’s no longer 6-6, 220. I was really amazed at a couple of things. First, his ability to assimilate all the information I was throwing at him. He gets it. Football makes sense to the kid. Second, his work ethic off the charts. He’s a way above average athlete for the position. I think the kid has an outstanding future in the National Football League.”
Brewster was with the Chargers when they brought Gates in as an undrafted free agent from Kent State in 2003. Eight Pro Bowl appearances later, he looks like a future Hall of Famer. No one is comparing Smith to Gates—and no one should—but Brewster likes what he sees in the Aussie.
“Different kind of guy,” Brewster said. “Gates is 6-2, 260 pounds. Just a different kind of guy. The thing about Hayden is he is going to be a true, three-down player in the National Football League. The tight end position now has become so down and distance specific. Your first and second down tight ends, your third down tight end and this kid at 6-6, 265 pounds, he’s going to do a great job blocking the line of scrimmage on run down situations and then he’s going to also have the ability to stretch the field and do some things in the passing game that are really unique. And he has outstanding hands.”
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Lou says:
He played basketball too, according to the stuff I just read by googling his name.
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I couldnt find anything on him ever touching a football. He exceled at rugby and was a captain in college of the mens basketball team. he also has a degree in finance, so has some grey matter in the attic.
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Lou beats me to the punch!
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Bent says: I’m just going to re-post my previous comment from when we discussed this before. Nothing to lose, right?
While this is a long-term project at best, so I believe it has no bearing whatsoever on Dustin Keller’s short term future (he’s just the latest Corey Lamkin), I do have some insight into Smith, who I’ve seen play in person several times.
You wouldn’t traditionally have thought of a second row forward as a possible football convert, as most of the others have been backs and have been either punters or placekickers (usually playing the fly half or fullback position in rugby) or kick returners (that would usually be wingers – the fastest guys on the field).
In rugby, backs are the guys who on offense will get the ball in space and try to beat guys in the open field to create an opening and on defense they’d have to make open field tackles.
Forwards – which Smith is – tend to grind out tough yardage and drive the other team back whether on offense or defense. Second row forwards in particular are often the tallest players on the team and are usually tough tacklers that have a key role in terms of leaping for a line-out, which is where they throw the ball in from the sideline and the teams try to outjump each other to get the ball. However, that’s not exactly transferable to catching an NFL pass, even though the ball will be thrown as a spiral, it tends to be floated and the player not only jumps for it, but can be supported and held up in the air by his teammates. It’s not often that they would have the ball in the open field unless they broke out of the pack with it.
I’d have thought that a prototypical second row forward wasn’t an ideal type of athlete that would have an obvious NFL position, but Martin Johnson, the former England captain (and coach), is a big football fan and went to try out with the Niners a few years ago in his late thirties. Johnson is also a second row forward and not considered an elite athlete like some backs are, but the Niners coaches said without hesitation that he could have played in the NFL if he’d taken up football sooner and that he’d be ideal for the tight end position.
Smith is likely better athletically (and obviously younger) than Johnson and presumably has some experience of the game having gone to school and lived in the USA.
As a blocker, he’d be raw in terms of technique, but second row forwards do have to drive back the other team, so he likely has good functional strength and understanding of the leverage required to be successful. That’s a skill that might be transferable.
Going up to catch the ball happens to an extent and we’ve already seen that basketball players often have good timing and can grasp this pretty quickly. Smith’s rugby training would add a layer of physicality to that.
This is the longest of long shots, but the Johnson thing surprised me and makes me think it’s not impossible they could mould him into something.
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Whats the saying with the lotto, “you have to be in it,to win it.” I agree, nothing to lose. Sounds like the raw physical skils are there, but turning them into an NFL TE,is the key and question.
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jdb says:
Base on your fourth paragraph it sounds like he will be playing special teams. “Sound tackler” means he’ll likely start at a one or two spot on kickoff coverage and hell be a third level blocker on returns
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An article with a little history on this guy http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Emerging-rugby-star-Hayden-Smith-hoping-to-make-jump-to-NFL-1627.html
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Revis Christ says:
Antonio Gates 2.0!!!!!
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boozer says:
This is going to be the best season of Hard Knocks EVER!
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1st/time/long/time says:
I like the move
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Marvel says:
Just another good low risk move. *shrug
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Mo’s old coach says:
6-7 240?? that’s a big dude!
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Can he rush the paser?
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How about step in at RT?
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*cough* the draft *cough*
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Wahoo McDaniel says:
This is starting to get fun, a muscle machine in Landry, areligious nut in Tebow, and now a huge Aussie Tight end. When do we hire the midget to start at tailback. I think Bill Veeck is running this team, but I like it!
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LMAO! I heard the flight crew is learning how to walk the tight rope for the circus acts now.
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Because Tebow is the only player to believe in god Landry is the only ripped player in the NFL.
Smh. Sheep
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blackwood says:
A religious nut huh?
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Richard says:
Bassett, do you think the jets would trade for RB Johnathan Stewart from the panthers? Maybe package this years 5th and next years 4th
Your thoughts ??
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Brendan says:
The Panthers keep saying they plan to keep their RBs, but teams have been known to lie about their interests before, so…
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Bent says:
I think it would take a higher pick than that, but he’s a good player.
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I Would love to see the jets draft Decastro in the 1st
Trade up for Notre Dame’s Harrison or Alshon Jefferys in the 2ndGround and Pound!! It starts up front with the OL
I also hear Vlad is lookin good this offseason and will be the opening day starter.. Fingers crossed he doesn’t get Mark Killed
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Vlad, lol.
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You has me nodding my head in agreement getting hype….up until the Vlad stuff.. Lol
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Vlad and Hayden Smith on the right side clearing the way, just picture it, you know you want to.
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Oh yeah, what a sight for sore eyes that one would be! Stranger things have happened though.
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hank/naples says:
Brendan:
What does Tannebaum’ favorite, ” Low risk high reward’ or is it “under every rock”????
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The rocks in his head? “I expect him back”
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I wonder if Tanny knows that many laugh at his same lines? Knowing him, he might just think we are all stupid.
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^
source? -
johnl says:
LOOK OUT MR. GRONKMYSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Vlad the Impaler! Sticking it to Defensive Ends. I love it!
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Can I hear a J-E-T-S, JETSJETSJETS!!!
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Lead the League in Fcking Wins says:
sure, why not. maybe he’ll be a jimmy graham.
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The religious guy? Oh thats billy.
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http://turnonthejets.com/2012/03/new-york-jets-tannenbaum-might-still-have-faith-in-ducasse/
Why haven’t the jets looked at Safety Bell from the dolphins?? He would come at a fairly cheap price and he is a very underrated safety. Plus he is a Sparano guy
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Bent says:
He’s a strong safety. They need a free safety more. That’s probably the main reason. He is pretty good though.
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mikebe1 says:
Another site says vlad is working out with someone special but won’t say who.
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Another unconfirmed source?
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Jets1974 says:
I heard it from Incarcerated Bob.
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Jacob says:
Done deal
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Harold says:
Hopefully we can finally get lucky and find a true diamond in the rough who becomes a pro bowl caliber player. At worst maybe become a true 3 down TE and let Keller go after this year. I don’t think I would want to pay Keller what he would want on the open market.
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@Steiny31
Regardless, weird that sources are saying unlikely to take Upshaw at #16. Rex has said he loves him. Still seems like a #SmokeScreen!—
Good, still don’t know what’s so special about him, other than the school. -
Can vlad rush the passer? I’m sorry I’m but no way the jets should draft a gard in the 1st round !!!
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Dawg1331 says:
i concur
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I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing him make a tackle on a kickoff.
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Costa Rica Information says:
I like the possible up side on this This dude looks BEASTLY
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Keller isn’t a problem, Our needs are OL, OLB, S, and WR. We also we have alot of contracts coming off the books next yr. If we sign Braylon and Bell it would allow us to be very aggressive in the draft.
Draft Decastro in the 1st or trade up for Melvin
This is a huge draft for us. I hope our scouts are doing there HW!!!-
how many guards go in the first round? we can get a quality olineman later in the draft. i want an impact pass rusher in round one. if one isnt there, then i say we trade down.
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I read that for 2013 we have already on the books 130M but the cap will be only low 120S and this doesnt include the draft picks to sign.We also have many FAs that year but many are experienced credible starters and will have to be replaced,Pace,keller,slausson,Moore,devito, green,cumberland, Dixon, mauga payne and some others I cant recall. I also read that around 11 of our players account for close to 100 Million! Traslation: Our next two drafts better be lights out!
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Translation.
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The Jets can cut Pace, Scott, Hunter and Smith to save a little more than $27 million with only $4.5 million in dead money.
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THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE JUST LET HIM TRAIN WITH D’BRICK
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Lmao
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Very true, but everyone is saying Decastro athleticism is off the charts, great pulling guard. Definitely something were missing. I would love to get Melvin from SC, but I think he will be gone. Coples from NC intrigues me,
I’m guessing this now takes us out of the running for Coby Fleener in the 2nd.
What abt kentucky’s WR Randell in the 5th. Kid is explosive -
No joeyboy I read it on a site called draftinsiders they have a jets area and it cae from a guy named tony who is the steiny or bb of that site.he seems to have a few jets insiders maybe bb has heard on him.but apparently vlad has been working out with someone special to prepare to start this year but the team wants it quiet from sum strange reason.i believe vlad was on twitter till the offseason started now he is not. Maybe he is with lomas brown like brick was idk.
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Gotcha. If Vlad ever got it together it would be huge. I am hoping that he just takes a little longer to develop due to his language barrier, or just needing more time and a full trsining camp and to focus on just one position. All we can do is hope.I am sure if he doesnt cut it, he wont start.The problem is we need some depth and a RT and it could be too late if we put all eggs in the Vlad basket.
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CWPOST1993 says:
Joey
Give my man Vlad a break ! Watch the major improvement this year. Especially with Spring / Summer in Cortland, NY. Vlad is going to be a beast watch ! He plays with an attitude … Gotta love it !
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Trust me dude, I hope you are right!
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i think vlad is going to be a monster. maybe not this season, but evetually. the dude is a specimen.
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If DeCastro falls to us. I think it’s a great value pick. 10 year starter. Its Tanny’s make or break draft!
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RT @nfldraftscout: After watching Nick Perry, Whitney Mercilus, Andre Branch and Melvin Ingram last night/this morning… I still like Perry the best. By far.
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This becomes real once Steiny tells us he’s coming for a visit. Get ready Brendan–
Also reading good things about Branch…(anybody but Upshaw) -
Mike p. says:
here we go Gronk 2.0
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Smith is officially a Jet
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kenny says:
source?
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jon R says:
Love this signing. If Brewster trained A.Gates, and thinks that Smith is a different kind of monster , then sign me off. I really do hope we get on Hard Knocks just to get some glimpse of the team.
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juunit says:
That’s awesome, because it eliminates the need to draft a TE, opening up the possibility to draft for other needs. Assuming this guy turns out to be good that is.
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on another note is the head coach position union or management? if management then not ONE PLAYER should get disciplined on the saints because they were PRESSURED by management!
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