High profile code hopper Louis Rees-Zammit has revealed the brutal nature to his recent departure from back-to-back Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs.
Rees-Zammit caught rugby union fans by surprise in January when he revealed he was heading to the United States to join the NFL International Player Pathway program (IPP), which gives elite athletes from around the world the chance to earn a spot on an NFL roster and increase the number of international players in the league.
The former Wales and Gloucester speedster impressed during his stint at the IPP and there was plenty of hype when he joined the Kansas City Chiefs on a three-year contract in March.
However, the 23-year-old failed to make their 53-man NFL roster but received a lifeline when he was picked up by the Jacksonville Jaguars to join their practice squad at the end of August.
Changed positions since joining Jacksonville Jaguars
Rees-Zammit, who has also changed positions from running back to wide receiver since joining the Florida-based outfit, has now revealed how merciless the environment at an NFL club is when they have to axe players from their squad.
“The thing with American football compared to pretty much any other sport is when you sign that contract, you have guaranteed money in that contract,” he said on Walk the Talk with Jim Hamilton.
“If you don’t have guaranteed money, they can cut you at any point.
“That’s what happened to me. I went for a training camp and then there’s a day when everyone is in the building and they just start cutting players as they have to make a 53-man squad.
“It’s cut-throat. They’ve got a whole group of player personnel and scouts. They’ve got so many people for so many different positions so you just get a text message.
Louis Rees-Zammit reveals complexity of getting to grips with key aspect of NFL
“It’s honestly just brutal. You’re all in the building and you get a text to basically say can you bring your iPad and meet them in a certain room. That’s when you know.
“If you don’t get the message, you’re in the team. If you do like I did, I got the message, went upstairs and spoke to player personnel. Had some positive chats with them.
“But at the end of the day, I wanted to play receiver. They’ve got a strong receiving group at Kansas City. The Jags allowed me to be on their practice squad which is amazing.
“I got calls from Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs head coach) and the general manager Brett Veach asking me to join the Chiefs. I had that from 10 other teams. I didn’t hear anything after I got cut but that’s just the business.
“I knew how cut-throat it was. And now I’ve experienced how cut-throat it is. You just get on with it. I’m not going to beg them to say so it’s just onto the next job. I’m as happy as ever at the Jags.”
Received plenty of criticism since leaving rugby union
Rees-Zammit’s decision to quit rugby union for American football has led to him receiving plenty of criticism and he revealed that his phone number was leaked which led to unknown people sending him messages and calling him.
“There was a lot more s**t than there was positivity,” he added. “A load of DMs.
“My number getting leaked. People messaging me and Facetiming me. I’m just trying to chase my dream. People can say what they want, but at the end of the day, this is my dream to be in the NFL and make this happen.
“I’m chasing it. I’m not thinking what other people are thinking about me. I know I have the ability to do this but it’s just about doing it. The more you listen to the hate, the more it can get in your head. I just leave it to one side and focus on what I can control.”
