Trio of Chinese kickers among special teams players bidding for NFL Europa roster spots
March 12, 2007 - National Football League Europa (NFLE) News Release
Chinese kickers DING LONG, SHEN YALEI and GAO WEI are among 27 special teams players working out in Tampa, Florida this week for the right to earn a preseason roster spot on an NFL Europa League team.
The four-day kicking camp - being held at Tampa's Ed Radice Sports Complex - concludes on Wednesday, March 14. The standout players will then be assigned to one of the six NFL Europa teams.
The trio of Chinese kickers has been tracked down and nurtured by NFL Europa scouts in a bid to develop the sport of football in China, where the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will play an exhibition game on August 9.
Also taking part in the kicking camp is NICK NOVAK, who kicked in 16 regular season games for the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Redskins in 2005-06, converting 13 of 20 field goals, with a long of 47 yards, and all 25 PAT attempts for a total of 64 points. British kicker RHYS LLOYD, who hails from Dover, England and starred at the collegiate level with Minnesota, is also battling for a roster spot in Florida. The league's leading punter from 2006 - Amsterdam's GLENN PAKULAK - returns for a second year after being allocated by the Tennessee Titans.
List of special teams players participating in NFL Europa kicking camp:
Name Pos College NFL Team
Anderson, Adam P Western Michigan Atlanta Falcons
Andrus, Shane K Murray State Indianapolis Colts
Basler, Kyle P Washington State Cleveland Browns
Baugher, Danny P Arizona New England Patriots
Brazen, Josh P Kent State Buffalo Bills
Brubaker, Mark K E. Stroudsburg State Free Agent
Fitzpatrick, D.J. K Notre Dame Free Agent
Guardia, Matt LS San Diego Free Agent
Hickok, Mark K Connecticut Free Agent
Hughes, Connor K Virginia Pittsburgh Steelers
Jacas, Andrew K Fort Valley State Free Agent
Johnson, Jaret K Idaho State Free Agent
Jordan, Brian LS Georgia Free Agent
Lloyd, Rhys K Minnesota Free Agent
Long, Ding K None Free Agent/China
Malone, Tom P Southern California New England Patriots
Muro, Cameron P Hampton Houston Texans
Novak, Nick K Maryland Chicago Bears
Olmsted, Thomas P Troy Free Agent
Pakulak, Glenn P Kentucky Tennessee Titans
Rice, Jacob LS Oklahoma Free Agent
Smith, Kurt K Virginia New Orleans Saints
Stelly, Joel P Louisiana-Monroe Chicago Bears
Tack, Chuck P Nebraska Free Agent
Wei, Gao K None Free Agent/China
Williams, Jeff P Adams State Free Agent
Yalei, Shen K None Free Agent/China
National Football League Europa Stories from March 12, 2007
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