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 National Football League Europa

Nationals move step closer to NFL by earning practice squad places

June 7, 2004 - National Football League Europa (NFLE) News Release


THE NFL Europe League's national players have seen their chances of making an impact in the NFL boosted by the announcement of new opportunities during the 2004 NFL season.

Not only will NFL teams continue to receive training camp roster exemptions for each NFLEL national player they invite to camp, but now additional practice squad places have been set aside for four national players for the duration of the season.

The four players selected as part of the inaugural NFL International Development Practice Squad program are offensive lineman PETER HEYER and defensive back RICHARD YANCY from the Rhein Fire and defensive end CHRISTIAN MOHR and Mexican offensive lineman ROLANDO CANTU from the Berlin Thunder.

The players' NFL teams will be announced in the near future. A live draw on FOX during yesterday's (Sunday's) national telecast of the game between the Frankfurt Galaxy and the Berlin Thunder determined that they will be assigned to teams in the NFC West Division.

NFL Europe League Senior Director of Football Operations NICK POLK said: "Every year we see the continued development of our national player program and you just have to look around the league to see the great impact these players are having. For example, this season, for the first time ever, we saw a national player, SCOTT McCREADY of the Scottish Claymores, leading the league in major non-kicking category with his 59 receptions. We also saw a national quarterback, KENTARO NAMIKI of Cologne, completing passes.

"This initiative is another major step forward for our program. The idea is for these players to be involved with an NFL team for an entire season, beginning in training camp. It is an opportunity for them to experience the speed of the NFL, to develop their skills, to be challenged physically and mentally, whether it is in the weight room or in learning new offensive or defensive systems.

"Our goal is to have national players participating in NFL games in years to come and this is a significant move towards achieving that goal."

The four players will receive the same benefits as other NFL practice squad players, although they will not be eligible to be claimed by other teams or placed on their team's active roster.

Yancy, completing his fifth professional season, is the most experienced of the selected players, having spent three seasons with the Thunder and two with the Fire. He has played in three World Bowls and this season posted 28 tackles and 1 interception. Team-mate Heyer has completed his third season with the Fire and spent the last NFL preseason with the New Orleans Saints.

Mohr, from Aachen, Germany, is in his first season with the Thunder, who face the Frankfurt Galaxy in World Bowl XII in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday. He has posted 7 tackles, 1 forced fumble and 0.5 sacks. Tackle Cantu is also in his rookie NFLEL season, having won Mexican college championships with ITESM Monterey.

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