International Rugby Players Within the NFL

 

Damond Talbot

January 30, 2024

The sports world buzzed with excitement at the news of Louis Rees-Zammit, the Welsh rugby phenomenon, making the audacious switch to the NFL. This transition shines a spotlight on the intriguing journey from rugby to football, a path less traveled, but rich with success stories. As Rees-Zammit prepares to don the pads and helmet, we delve into the legacy of rugby players who have carved out careers in the NFL, setting the stage for this latest crossover.

Notable Rugby-to-NFL Success Stories

Christian Scotland-Williamson

A former rugby union player who played for Worcester Warriors in England, Scotland-Williamson switched to football, joining the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2018 as a tight end through the International Player Pathway Program. He’s an English talent that will be sorely missed in England’s match against Scotlandin the upcoming Six Nations tournament.

 

Nate Ebner

Formerly an Olympic rugby sevens player for the United States, Ebner made his mark with the New England Patriots, showcasing his special teams prowess and contributing to multiple Super Bowl victories. Ebner’s successful transition is a testament to the complementary skills between all codes of rugby and NFL play.

Christian Wade

The English rugby union standout made headlines with his switch to the Buffalo Bills. Despite facing steep learning curves, Wade’s explosive speed and agility have made him a player to watch, demonstrating the potential for rugby talents in the NFL.

Jarryd Hayne

The Australian rugby league star’s stint with the San Francisco 49ers was met with great anticipation. Hayne’s versatility and athleticism allowed him to make an impact, albeit in a brief NFL career, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of such a transition.

Alex Gray

A former England rugby union sevens player and captain, Gray transitioned to American football, signing with the Atlanta Falcons in 2017 as a tight end through the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. He spent multiple seasons on the Falcons’ practice squad.

Conclusion

Louis Rees-Zammit’s move to the NFL is more than just a career change; it’s a continuation of the intriguing narrative of rugby players making their mark in football. As he joins the ranks of those who have ventured before him, Rees-Zammit carries the torch for the next generation of athletes looking to make a similar leap. His journey underscores the growing interconnectedness of global sports, promising exciting developments for fans and future players alike.

 

Giants 2024 UFA Primer: LS Casey Kreiter

 

Casey Kreiter has been a steady performer for the Giants in an underrated position.

OLIVIER DUMONT

JAN 25, 2024 10:00 AM EST

 

Casey Kreiter, LS

Height: 6 foot 1
Weight: 250 lbs.
Age: 33
NFL Exp.: 8 seasons
College: Iowa

Casey Kreiter was signed by the New York Giants in 2020 to a one-year deal worth $1,047,500. Kreiter was acquired to replace long-time Giants long-snapper Zak DeOssie. Following a promising preseason showcase and the retirement of DeOssie that year, Kreiter earned his spot as the starting long snapper.

Before becoming a Giant, Kreiter signed with the Dallas Cowboys to a three-year deal as an undrafted free agent following the 2014 NFL Draft. The Cowboys would cut Kreiter that August, only to re-sign him in March 2015. Though he was given a second chance at becoming the Cowboys’ long snapper, Kreiter lost out to L.P. Ladouceur and was released before the start of the 2015 regular season.

After signing in April of that year, Kreiter finally got his turn to shine in 2016 with the Denver Broncos. Kreiter started in the first ten games before sustaining a calf injury that sidelined him for the rest of the 2016 campaign.

Kreiter played another three seasons for the Broncos as their starting long snapper, finishing his four-year stint with five combined tackles (four solo) and a Pro Bowl appearance in 2018 (the only one of his career).

Since arriving in New York, Kreiter has yet to miss a single game due to injury. Kreiter, who began his Giants tenure as No. 58, switched to No. 59 last year, yielding his former jersey number to new inside linebacker Bobby Okereke.

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2023 Recap

There’s a saying in football that ‘the best ability is availability.’ And when it comes to Kreiter, he’s been as available as it gets, never missing a game due to injury since becoming a Giant. Executing clean snaps week in and week out, Kreiter managed to post a career-high in tackles (4) over 2023 as well, all of which were solo.

Why Giants Should Re-Sign Him

When you have a specific positional player that has delivered nothing but efficient and consistent results, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t keep them, particularly if they can be re-signed to an affordable deal.

Kreiter has grown into his role on this Giants' special teams unit and delivered a standout performance in 2023 for someone who’s never had more than two tackles in a single season.

In addition, Kreiter, who signed a one-year $1,317,500 deal with the Giants for 2023, will most likely stay with a one-year deal, which the Giants should be able to fit comfortably under their salary cap.

Why Giants Shouldn’t Re-Sign Him

For as good as Kreiter has been, he is set to turn 34 this August. While there is no evidence to suggest his game has fallen off, that's something to consider as he continues his career.

But more importantly, there is the money aspect. As already noted, Kreiter had his best season as a Giant last year. So would another one-year deal be enough, or might he want a little something more? And could the Giants maybe look to get younger at the position by bringing in someone whose veteran minimum would be less than Kreiter would need to receive?

The Giants have cap space and are expected to gain more with some anticipated moves. But at what point might the team want to start looking for a snapper to develop for when the time comes to pass the baton?

Keep or Pass?

Until the Giants find a long snapper able to deliver at the same if not better level, they might as well stay with Kreiter, who has chemistry working with Gillan and Gano, for at least another one-year deal. From punts to field goals to extra point attempts, Kreiter got the job done on special teams and delivered crisp snaps to his intended targets every game week this season.

Unless he asks for an outrageous type of contract, the Giants have no reason to move on from Kreiter. Kreiter comes with plenty of veteran experience. Seeing how well he played, especially last year, the Giants could do worse than to keep Kreiter around for another season.

Tyler Linderbaum

 

https://x.com/PFF_Ravens/status/1745086371214106873?s=20