Chiefs Hail NFL Europe Link
THE Kansas City Chiefs have shown their appreciation for their NFL Europe League and Scottish Claymores players on the club's official website.NFL Europe Alumni Come Through in Clutch for Chiefs
Courtesy of kcchiefs.com
By Patrick Herb
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| Lawrence Tynes in action for Kansas City |
Since its inception in '91 (when it was known as the World League of American Football), the NFL Europe League has served as a minor league of sorts for the NFL. Every spring NFLEL rosters are filled largely with NFL prospects, often specifically allocated by teams like the Chiefs.
Perhaps more so than any other team in the NFL, Kansas City has utilized this training ground as a means to continue developing players for its roster. The Chiefs current 53-man roster proudly boasts a total of eight players with NFLEL experience, including starting G Brian Waters and even a pair of special teams Pro Bowlers (WR Dante Hall and DE Gary Stills).
Spearheading Kansas City's efforts in utilizing the NFL Europe League as a proving ground for players is Chiefs President Carl Peterson, who serves on the NFL Europe League Working Executives Committee. Peterson has been a proponent of NFL Europe since its inception and the Chiefs track record of plucking productive players from the NFL's developmental league over that timeframe is certainly impressive. Many notable Chiefs alums owe a great portion of the NFL success to their involvement with the World League when it was still in its infancy. That list includes players such as LB Tracy Simien (Montreal '91), WR Willie Davis (Orlando '92) and P Louie Aguiar (Barelona '91), just to name a few.
Over the past few weeks the Chiefs have been reminded just how valuable players with NFL Europe resumes can be. When injuries to WRs Marc Boerigter, Samie Parker and Eddie Kennison left Kansas City depleted at the wide receiver position, they called upon former Amsterdam Admirals WR Chris Horn to pick up the slack. Ask and you shall receive.
Although Horn had never seen duty in an NFL game, the first-year pro has stepped in like a 10-year veteran in games vs. Houston and Baltimore. Serving as the Chiefs third receiver, Horn caught a key touchdown pass against the Texans, then eight days later hauled in a career-best five catches for 60 yards on Monday vs. the Ravens.
While playing for Amsterdam in 2003, Horn started 10 games for the Admirals and caught 34 passes for 593 yards (17.4 avg.) with one TD. The Rocky Mountain College alum's receiving totals were good enough to rank second in the league in receiving yards and seventh in total yards from scrimmage. Another NFLEL alum now shining with the Chiefs is K Lawrence Tynes. Also a first-year pro, Tynes beat out 23-year veteran Morten Andersen in training camp and has emerged as one of the top young kickers in the league. An NFLEL standout with the Scottish Claymores in 2002, Tynes has hit on four of six field goal tries and all 11 of his extra points for the Chiefs this year.
At Baltimore Tynes popped field goals of 38 and 42 yards in the 27-24 win. All told, the Chiefs all-time roster includes a total of 42 players who have cut their teeth in the NFL Europe League.
Although the Chiefs may get the most mileage out of NFLEL, they certainly aren't the only team to develop players overseas. Players like former NFL MVP QB Kurt Warner, Panthers QB Jake Delhomme, Patriots K Adam Vinatieri and Cowboys DT La-Roi Glover are just a few who made their mark on foreign soil before taking the NFL by storm.
So if you're looking for the next young splash in the NFL, or even a fantasy football sleeper, check the rosters for players with NFL Europe experience. The Chiefs sure have.
13 Oct, 04 | 7:08 pm