Jim Caldwell, Detroit Lions coach, addresses Jarryd Hayne situation

IF THE Detroit Lions are looking at Jarryd Hayne as a possible recruit, nobody told the NFL team’s head coach Jim Caldwell.

Jarryd Hayne during a training session which included taking some catches with a NFL Gridiron ball at Parramatta .Picture Gregg Porteous

IF THE Detroit Lions are looking at Jarryd Hayne as a possible recruit, nobody told the NFL team’s head coach Jim Caldwell.

Caldwell was quizzed by Detroit media members about Australian reports the Lions were interested in taking a look at the former Parramatta rugby league star.

The positive news for Hayne was Caldwell knew who he was and he didn’t rule out the dual Dally M medallist becoming a Lion and noted similarities between NFL and NRL.

“I can’t tell you much about that,” Caldwell said at his weekly news conference.

“I mean, I know who he is, obviously, but I don’t know what I’m supposed to tell you.

“I have no knowledge of it in that regard.”

Jarryd Hayne is chasing an NFL dream.

The Lions are riding high after a stunning 24-23 comeback victory against the New Orleans Saints on the weekend, giving them a 5-2 win-loss record for the season.

Caldwell said the team’s focus was on making the playoffs, but said someone in the Lions personnel department could be looking into Hayne.

“It could be a personnel issue, but I’m not aware of it,” the coach said.

“Besides that, our focus is pretty narrow this time of the year, so getting out of that realm, it’s hard to do.

“But it could happen.

“Obviously, there are a lot of good athletes around this country, and there are a bunch of them playing other sports, you know, basketball, baseball, rugby, which is similar to our sport, and there is a lot of carryover.

“So, we’ll see.”

Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell.

Pete Carroll, head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, was also a little confused when asked last week about his team showing interest in Hayne.

The good-humoured Carroll described Hayne as “an incredible athlete”, but a Seahawks public relations official later said Carroll didn’t know who the Aussie was.

Hayne made the shock announcement last week that he was quitting the NRL for an against-the-odds bid to play in the NFL.

He arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Originally published as Jim Caldwell, Detroit Lions coach, addresses Jarryd Hayne situation