Scouts impressed with UK talent
NFL Europe League scouts were impressed with the talent on display in England and Scotland last weekend as they kicked off their search for home-grown players to compete in the 2005 season.Running the rule over the cream of British talent were NFL Europe Director of Game Development TONY ALLEN and Manager of Game and Player Development JEFF REINEBOLD, who boasts extensive coaching experience on the collegiate and professional level in the United States, Canada and Europe and Claymores National Coach STEPHEN McCUSKER.
The testing dates took place at Grangemouth Stadium in Scotland on Saturday October 9 and at London's Crystal Palace National Sports Centre on Sunday October 10.
Among those taking part were Scottish Claymores national players from the 2004 NFL Europe League campaign in Scottish tight end JEFF NICOLSON, running back WARREN KEEN and linebacker ADEN DURDE, both of England. Athletes were tested in shuttle runs, 40-yard sprints, vertical leaps, bench presses and other drills before moving onto the football field to show their worth in game-type situations.
Allen said: "We saw two very good young groups both in England and Scotland and we were impressed with the athletes we worked out. There was a lot of raw, young talent and that bodes well for the future of the National Player Programme. We also saw some good veterans who will help us in the coming NFL Europe League season and they will move on to the next stage of testing in Germany. Both testing dates went well and were the fruition of good grassroots programmes in the United Kingdom."
Athletes who impressed in the UK testing sessions will advance to the National Player Combine being held in Cologne, Germany, from November 9-12. From there, the elite prospects from Europe, Japan and Mexico will advance to National Player Mini Camp, which will take place in St. Petersburg, Florida, from February 21-24, 2005.
The top 48 players from that camp will then be assigned to the rosters of the six NFL Europe League teams - eight per club - in time to begin preparations for the 2005 NFL Europe League season, which kicks off in April.
National players performed key roles for their NFL Europe League teams in 2004, completing 5 of 6 passes for 38 yards, rushing for 45 yards and catching 104 passes for 1,057 yards and 6 touchdowns. Defensively, national players racked up 201 tackles, 4 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and an interception. In the kicking game, nationals combined to score 212 points.
Four players from NFL Europe's National Player Development Programme are currently on NFL practice squads in the United States - Berlin Thunder DE CHRISTIAN MOHR (Seattle Seahawks), Berlin Mexican offensive lineman ROLANDO CANTU (Arizona Cardinals), Rhein Fire offensive lineman PETER HEYER (St. Louis Rams) and Fire safety RICHARD YANCY (San Francisco 49ers).
The current NFL season has also seen Swedish kicker OLA KIMRIN spend time on the Washington Redskins practice squad, while German defensive end CONSTANTIN RITZMANN is on the 53-man roster of the Buffalo Bills.
11 Oct, 04 | 9:28 am