It’s the moment Jarryd Hayne has been waiting for ever since he announced his hare-brained plan to walk away from rugby league to try and crack it in the NFL last October.
San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Tomsula will announce his squad for the 2015 season on Sunday morning (AEST).
Most American experts are tipping ‘The Hayne Plane’ will survive the cut from 69 to the final 53 following eye-catching performances in the 49ers four pre-season trials.
But the NFL is a fickle beast so Hayne, and his growing army of fans both in Australia and Stateside, should be ready for anything.
Here’s everything you, and Jarryd, need to know!
Q: When will Tomsula announce his 53-man squad for 2015?
A: All 32 NFL teams are required to announce their final 53-man rosters for the 2015 by this Sunday, September 6 at 6 am (AEST). There are whispers Tomsula will name his team an hour before the deadline at 5am.
Q: When will Hayne find out if he has made the team?
A: Despite one Australian journo declaring Hayne had already be given the nod last Monday, players typically don’t find out until the squad is made public.
Q: What if he makes it?
A: We suggest celebrating for a few minutes before knuckling down for the season opener against the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday, September 16 (AEST) in San Francisco.
Don’t get us wrong, making the roster after having never played the game before will be one of the great achievements in the history of Australian sport. But NFL clubs are a merciless bunch and players, especially those near the bottom of the roster like Hayne, are frequently cut loose at a moment’s notice, without any explanation.
Plus, only 45 players suit up on game day so there is still work to be done!
Q: What if he doesn’t make it?
A: Any player who doesn’t make the 53-man squad is placed on waivers. That essentially means for 24 hours any rival club can submit a request to the NFL to claim Hayne and any other player who has been in the NFL for less than four seasons.
Q: Who are the teams most likely to pick him up if the 49ers pass on him?
A: Detroit have been mentioned after Hayne was originally tipped to sign with the Lions, while he has also had dealings with Seattle, but both of those teams have low priority.
Q: If multiple teams want the Hayne Plane, who gets him?
A: There is a priority system based on each teams’ 2014 win-loss record. That means the Tampa Bay Buccaneers essentially have first crack, followed by the Tennessee Titans.
Q: What if no one claims him?
A: There will be several teams interested but if not he becomes a free agent and could sign with anyone in theory. He could also become a practice squad player for either the 49ers or any other club.
Q: What does it mean to be a practice squad player?
A: Each team carries a 10-man practice squad throughout the entire season. Basically it’s an insurance policy against injuries, with players eligible to be signed to the 53-man squad at any time. They can also be signed by a rival club but equally can be cut from the practice squad at any time. Practice players are paid weekly and have little to no security.
Q: How long can you be on a practice squad?
A: Two years.