Report: Jets sign American rugby star Hayden Smith

BY SEAN DONOVAN

The Jets have signed American rugby star Hayden Smith, according to the New York Daily News. The signing has not been formally announced by the organization and was first announced by his personal coach Tim Brewster via Twitter.

The 6-foot-8, 240-pound Australian is expected to play tight end, perhaps in the Rob Gronkowski mold. Originally a basketball player for Metropolitan State in Denver, Smith picked up rugby in 2008 and earned a spot playing for the United States in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Smith, 26, would not be guaranteed a roster spot, but could be a low-risk, high-reward pickup.

2011 was a renaissance year for the tight end position, and teams are looking for a tall, athletic player to create mismatches in the defense. Both Jimmy Graham and Gronkowski broke Tony Gonzalez's seven-year-old tight end receiving yardage record last season, and Gronkowski led the NFL with 17 receiving touchdowns.

A long line of modern tight ends have the basketball background, such as Graham, Gonzalez and Antonio Gates. Players too fast for a linebacker and too big for a defensive back are changing how defensive coaches draw up schemes and evaluate talent. Having one of these tight ends can open up a lot for an offense because of the attention they demand. Smith's rugby toughness would be a kicker if he can find a spot on the Jets' roster.

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