FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Former rugby league star Valentine Holmes had been practicing with the New York Jets for two months, learning football on the fly, when it finally hit him. It was June 3, media day at One Jets Drive. He slipped into full uniform for the first time and walked into a massive photo shoot with the rest of his teammates. In that moment, the impact of his NFL adventure -- which didn't sit well with many fans in his native Australia -- was palpable.
"To wear the full suit -- the tight pants, the jersey, the pads and the helmet -- it was pretty cool," said Holmes, who, in his previous line of work, had no use for pads.