Valentine Holmes is set to play his first NFL game next week when the New York Jets take on cross-town rivals the New York Giants in their opening pre-season game.
The Jets are likely to rest or give limited game time to their stars in the four pre-season games to reduce the chances of injuries, providing the former Cronulla Sharks ace and other fringe players opportunities to force their way into the 53-man roster for the regular season that starts on September 8.
Jarryd Hayne forced the San Francisco 49ers to include him in their 53-man squad in 2015 after some startling pre-season games.
“I’m trying to get on the field as much as I can and show the coaches and everyone what I can do,” Holmes, describing his mindset, told the New York Post.
“That’s what I’m always thinking about at the moment.”
NFL teams must slash their pre-season rosters from around 90 players to 53 for the regular season.
Holmes has been training as a running back and on special teams, identical to Hayne, who became the 49ers’ punt/kick returner and third or fourth-string running back.
With teams restricted to just 46 players on game days in the regular season, Hayne became an asset because he could play special teams and be used as a running back when injuries struck the 49ers’ top options.
“I want to play as many positions as I can on the field on special teams,” Holmes said.
Holmes has the added luxury of not having an axe hanging over his head like the Jets’ other fringe players.
As a member of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, the Jets can keep him on their practice squad for the season without having to cut another player.
Holmes will make $US129,000 ($A187,000) on the practice squad, a long way from the new $A5 million Cronulla contract he walked away from last year.
Speculation Holmes is using the NFL stint as a gap year before returning to the NRL and possibly a huge contract with the North Queensland Cowboys has followed him to New York.
Holmes dismissed it.
“Obviously, I am trying to make this a long-term thing,” Holmes said.
“That’s why I came over and gave up what I had.”
BLACKTOWN
Roar Rookie
Wait now they got the USA pizza making competition
BLACKTOWN
Roar Rookie
No N.F.L preseason on ESPN FOXTEL.This channel is starting to suck.They put on Dodgeball movie the other day..WTF
TAZZ
Roar Rookie
what difference did ti make, they all sucked
U
Roar Rookie
That’s the 12 Rounds series of movies with Cena and the Miz. The Marine had Cena in the first and Ted DiBiase in the second
TAZZ
Roar Rookie
This is like the WWE Movie franchise “The Marine” The first one was a barely passable and borderline unsuccesful movie staring John Cena (similar to Hayne’s NFL transition) big media coverage yet not a great success. And the straight to DVD sequel starring that Miz clown, is like Holmes, no one is going to care about it.
U
Roar Rookie
I’ve seen this movie already when it started Jarryd Hayne
Emcie
Roar Guru
Using the NFL as a gap year has got to be the dumbest angle for a story the NRL media has come up with yet...
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Gap year? Most people would go to North Queensland for a gap year and then try and forge a career in a big city like New York, not the other way round.... Well the Cowboys just signed a bloke they obviously hope will be their fullback for the next 10 years, so they mustn't have anything planned with Holmes.
Paul
Roar Guru
If Holmes IS using this experience as 12 months off, it's a bloody expensive gap year. with the amount he's losing from not playing League.