DOWN GAA YOUNGSTER MOVES CLOSER TO SECURING NFL DEAL AFTER IMPRESSING AT COMBINE

Charlie Smyth is edging closer to bagging a deal with an American NFL team.

At just 22, the Down GAA star has agreed to a try out with the New Orleans Saints, as reported by Pro Football Ireland. If he plays impresses, he could become the first of four lads from Ireland to secure a deal.

Smyth, Monaghan goalie Rory Beggan, former Connacht rugby star Darragh Leader and Mark Jackson from Wicklow are all part of the NFL International Player Pathway Program (IPP). Speaking after the Combine in Indianapolis Leader's brother Tadhg, who is helping the quartet during their American adventure, said: "All 32 NFL teams were there and the team co-ordinators were there who are the head guys and the general consensus was like, 'Wow, ye guys competed against the best of the best and ye didn't look out of place on that field.", reports the Irish Mirror.

Read next: Ulster Rugby's new interim CEO wants to 'lay the foundations for future success'

"A couple of NFL teams came over to me afterwards and said that they were quite interested in our guys so initially the plan was to fly them back to Ireland on Wednesday, but as a result of all the interest we got, we decided that we were going to keep them down in Florida for another three weeks.

"The expectations are that teams are going to file them into their facilities for medicals, for interviews, for work-outs and, so, a pretty mad thing to say, but I think a couple of the lads are going to be getting signed to contracts in the next maybe two to six weeks; potentially sooner, but that is the usual timeline for these things."

Leader added that the NFL interest in the players had "gotten very real" since the combine. He said: "Talking about lads from Monaghan, Down, Wicklow and Galway dealing directly with NFL teams is mad.

"Rory Beggan looked extremely composed and Charlie Smyth and Mark took a kick or two to find their rhythm but once they found it they were very impressive which, again, was pointed out by the NFL staff to me."

Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox

2024-03-27T16:01:34Z dg43tfdfdgfd