| There won’t be cheerleaders in hot tubs or governors in
the broadcast booth, but NFL Europe opens its ninth season with more players allocated
from the NFL than ever. This group contains something the XFL covets, potentially the best
group of quarterbacks NFL Europe has ever seen. Jonathan Quinn (Jaguars) and Spergon
Wynn (Browns) started games as rookies in the NFL. Michael Bishop (Patriots) backed up
Drew Bledsoe last season, while Jarious Jackson (Broncos), Giovanni Carmazzi (49ers) and
Clint Stoerner (Cowboys) all have been on NFL rosters.
But make no mistake. The 227 players allocated to the league, approximately 50 percent
more than ever before, are mostly "street" free agents. Only 11 were actually
picked in the 2000 draft.
The XFL grabbed many veteran stars who would’ve filled the six-man protected
lists. But higher-profile players, such as Tony Simmons (Patriots) and Jon Harris
(Raiders), are Europe-bound, attempting to kick-start their careers.
Actually, the XFL’s biggest impact came in signing three of the league’s six
head coaches. With Frankfurt’s Dick Curl leaving to join the Chiefs’ personnel
department, four teams will have new leadership.
In Rhein, defensive coordinator Pete Kuharchek replaces Galen Hall, while Amsterdam now
looks to Bart Andrus, Hall’s offensive coordinator in last year’s World Bowl
win. In Scotland, Gene Dahlquist, formerly the offensive coordinator at UNLV, takes over
for Jim Criner, while Frankfurt is led by Doug Graber, former defensive coordinator at
Tampa Bay and head coach at Rutgers and Montana State.
Dozens of scouts will flock to the new preseason site in Tampa, Fla., in search of
capable NFL starters, but mostly they’ll be after legitimate reserves. Given the
constraints of the salary cap, an experienced backup at a bargain price is a valuable
commodity in the NFL. Four players in last year’s Pro Bowl (Warner, La’Roi
Glover, Darren Bennett and Scott Player) are veterans of NFL Europe.
What follows are capsules on each NFLE team (in alphabetical order), written as the
skill-position camps finished and the full squads reported.
Amsterdam Admirals
New head coach Bart Andrus had great success with Danny Wuerffel in Rhein last year,
and he will be hoping Spergon Wynn’s experience in Cleveland can bring the same
results. If not, Sean Keenan (Cardinals) could be another Jon Kitna — a small-college
product ready to blossom after a year on the practice squad. The Admirals will have an
impressive group of receivers, led by Chris Coleman, who played well on special teams for
the Titans, and Drew O’Conner (Browns). For speed, they’ve got Redskins projects
Jammie Deese and Ethan Howell, whose identical twin, Evan (Ravens), will play cornerback.
Tight end Kirk McMullen (Bengals) rounds out the attack. There may be questions on the
offensive line, where huge OG Corey Hulsey (Bills) and Joe Wong (Eagles) would’ve fit
right into former head coach Al Luginbill’s system. The defense boasts returning DE
Frank Ferrara (Giants) and former Dragon Winfield Garnett (Vikings). Dwan Epps (Seahawks)
is converting from defensive end to linebacker. LB Donnie Spragan could be a sleeper.
Barcelona Dragons
Jack Bicknell starts his ninth season with the Dragons the same way he did last year,
shorthanded on the defensive front (after losing three players before camp opened) but
with an abundance of WRs. Tony Simmons is the biggest name of the bunch, but Trevor Insley
(Colts) and Chris Daniels (Bucs) caught 243 passes between them in college in 1999.
Bicknell’s two nationals, Marco Martos and Carlos Rosado, add depth, making some
quality pass-catchers available for trade. Jarious Jackson will battle small-college
passers Roderick Robinson (Colts) and Neo Aoga (Lions) for the QB job. Aoga, who is built
like Daunte Culpepper, is raw but has a cannon. Offensive coordinator/OL coach Vince
Martino has groomed Broncos starters Matt Lepsis and Lennie Friedman. This year Denver
sends OGs Steve Herndon and Donnie Young and OT John Feugill. Like Lepsis, Feugill is a
converted tight end. With O’Lester Pope back and John Merandi (Colts) battling C
Jason Watts (Raiders), the offensive line could be the Dragons’ strong point. With
three defensive players missing after the first day, the Dragons may again struggle with
their pass rush. Rameel Connor (Dolphins) will be counted on to provide pressure from the
DE spot. Speedy LB Corey Atkins (Falcons) will help in coverage, where S Ryan Sutter and
French national CB Sammy Hamoudi return. DeAunte Brown (Broncos) and JoJuan Armour
(Bengals) should help in the secondary, and Sean Morey (Patriots) returns, switching from
wide receiver to defensive back.
Berlin Thunder
Head coach Pete Vaas, in his second season, would love to establish a running game, and
with Madre Hill (Browns), Rodnick Phillips (Seahawks) and Marques Brigham (Raiders), Vaas
thinks he might be able to. He returns four veteran offensive linemen, led by T.J.
Washington (Panthers) and John Zatechka, and adds C Ryan Kalich (Redskins) and free-agent
OT Steve Estes. Vaas also has a big blocking tight end in Scott Osborne (Seahawks) to go
with pass catcher Carlos Nuno (Eagles). Jonathan Quinn will battle Leon Murray (Giants)
for the starting QB job. Quinn has the edge because of his experience. Defensively, the
key could be Harris, who never played to his potential in the NFL. Vaas thinks Europe will
be the opportunity Harris needs. Vaas likes his linebackers, including veteran Joe Phipps,
Marc Megna (Patriots), who starred for the Dragons last year, and Joe O’Neill
(Lions). CB Dee Moronkola (49ers) heads the secondary. German national CB Richard Yancy is
bigger and faster than last season, when he proved to be a capable starter.
Frankfurt Galaxy
If escapability is the key to success for quarterbacks in Europe, then Michael Bishop
should be a star. He’ll compete with Kevin Thompson (Browns) and free agent Dan
Robinson, both predominantly pocket passers. Mario Bailey may be gone, but Andy McCullough
(Raiders), MVP of World Bowl ’99, is back, along with a promising group of runners,
led by Kevin McLeod (Falcons). Veterans Robert Barr and Jay Hagood anchor the offensive
line, with Josh Tucker (Raiders) and Josh Rawlings (Patriots), a converted defender,
joining them. DE Dwight Johnson (Eagles) could blossom on the defensive line, where German
national Marcus Richter adds depth. Gary Stills (Chiefs) is an excellent LB prospect,
while Kelvin Moses (Jets) is fighting his way back from two knee injuries. Head coach Doug
Graber has five allocated cornerbacks and S Tony George (Patriots), a former third-round
draft pick, in the secondary. German kicker Ralf Kleinmann, the league’s all-time
leading scorer, retired and will need to be replaced.
Rhein Fire
Pete Kuharchek isn’t likely to make many changes, as Rhein has been the
league’s most successful team. But he brought in the wily gray fox, Joe Clark, as his
offensive coordinator after Clark had stints in Frankfurt and Amsterdam. Giovanni Carmazzi
and Phil Stambaugh (Saints) will battle for the QB job, reminiscent of their shootout in
the 1999 NCAA playoffs when they played for Hofstra and Lehigh, respectively. Pepe
Pearson, last year’s leading rusher for the Fire, returns, while Andre Cooper
(Cardinals) leads a group of new receivers. The key to Kuharchek’s defense is active
linebackers. Scott Zimmerman (Rams) is a Zach Thomas-type, while Jamel Smith (Rams) should
man the strong side. Mike Sands (Steelers), Paris Johnson (Dolphins) and German national
Anthony Doghmi will figure in the mix. DeShone Mallard returns to the secondary, where CBs
Jordan Younger (Cardinals) and Corey Harris (Saints) could blossom in the Fire’s zone
coverage. S Steve Gleason (Saints) is a converted linebacker and special-teams demon. Up
front, Gaylon Hyder (Rams) could see considerable NFL playing time, while DE Mark Word
(Rams) was a top undrafted player who made the Chiefs two years ago. German kicker Manny
Burgsmuller, 50, has already passed George Blanda as pro football’s oldest player. If
he keeps kicking extra points and short field goals at his current pace, he’ll pass
Blanda’s points mark by age 109.
Scottish Claymores
The Claymores will offer a familiar look on defense, returning four members of the
league’s best defensive line, "the Hounds." Antonio Dingle (Panthers),
Jabbar Threats, Chris Ward and Englishman Tom Tovo combined for 22½ sacks last year. Also
returning are DBs Central McClellion and Marcus Ray (Raiders). Joining them are LB Dusty
Renfro (Panthers), who played for Rhein last year when it beat Scotland in the World Bowl.
With Keith Miller (Rams) and London Dunlap (Packers), who’s converting from defensive
end, the Scottish defense should be strong again. Clint Stoerner, who looked good in one
appearance with the Cowboys, will fight Gus Ornstein (Chiefs) for the QB job. A strong
group of running backs, including Omar Bacon (Giants), Vaughn Sanders (Dolphins), CFL
veteran Mark Nohra, and Anthony Gray (Eagles), who set a Division II record with an
average of 222 rushing yards per game in college, means the Claymores could continue their
traditional ground-oriented game. But watch for TE James Whalen (Cowboys), the NCAA’s
record-holder for catches by a tight end.
Most Valuable Player: QB Michael Bishop / Frankfurt Galaxy
Coach of the Year: Bart Andrus / Amsterdam Admirals
World Bowl runner-up: Frankfurt Galaxy
World Bowl champion: Amsterdam Admirals |
