Cowboys' Hutchinson among 17 NFL quarterbacks heading to Europe
Published on February 5, 2004 under National Football League Europa (NFLE) News Release
CHAD HUTCHINSON, a starter in nine games for the Dallas Cowboys in 2002, is among 17 NFL quarterbacks earmarked for a season in NFL Europe this spring.
Hutchinson will aim to follow in the footsteps of Super Bowl-starting quarterbacks with NFLEL experience such as JAKE DELHOMME, BRAD JOHNSON and KURT WARNER as he continues his transition from baseball to football. He remains the only Major League baseball pitcher (St. Louis Cardinals) to start in the NFL and has played in 10 games for the Cowboys over the past two seasons, starting nine times.
The former football and baseball star at Stanford University saw the bulk of his playing time with the Cowboys in 2002 and has completed 128 of 252 passes for 1,563 yards, 7 touchdowns and 8 interceptions during his two-year NFL career.
While Hutchinson will make his debut in NFL Europe in April, former World Bowl winner TODD HUSAK (Berlin Thunder 2002) will be back for a second spell overseas after being allocated by the Cleveland Browns.
While leading the Thunder to a second league crown in a row, Husak completed an NFLEL single season record 208 passes from 356 attempts for 2,386 yards and 14 touchdowns. During Berlin's World Bowl X defeat of the Rhein Fire, Husak completed 18 of 34 attempts for 176 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Browns have also allocated NATE HYBL to NFL Europe. Hybl completed 5 of 11 passes for 39 yards and a touchdown in preseason action as a rookie for the Browns in 2003. He entered the NFL as a free agent following an outstanding college career at Oklahoma, where he went 19-3 as a starter.
Also returning to NFL Europe for a second season are CLINT STOERNER, who has been allocated by the Miami Dolphins, and DAVID PRIESTLEY, of the Seattle Seahawks.
Stoerner was originally allocated to the Scottish Claymores in 2001 having played in five NFL games, starting two, for the Dallas Cowboys. In Scotland, Stoerner completed 171 of 307 passes for 1,866 yards, 10 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. He also rushed for 101 yards.
During his NFL career to date, Stoerner has completed 29 of 54 passes for 367 yards, 4 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
Priestley shone during limited playing time with the Amsterdam Admirals in 2003, completing 28 of 52 attempts for 326 yards, 4 touchdowns, 1 interception and a 90.6 quarterback rating.
The Washington Redskins are allocating a quarterback with playing experience during the 2003 regular season in GIBRAN HAMDAN, who spent four games as the number two passer behind former Berlin Thunder backup TIM HASSELBECK.
Hamdan was selected by the Redskins in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He spent much of the season on the practice squad before being activated in November. He saw playing time in the season-ending meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles, completing 1 of 2 passes for 7 yards.
Another former draft pick is on his way to NFL Europe as J.T. O'SULLIVAN will be allocated by the New Orleans Saints. The former standout performer at Cal-Davis was a sixth round draft choice of the NFC South club in 2002
The Kansas City Chiefs will allocate two quarterbacks to NFL Europe this season in KIRK FARMER and MARC DUNN.
Farmer spent the 2003 NFL preseason with the St. Louis Rams and was very impressive, completing 13 of 24 passes for 190 yards, 1 touchdown and a 94.1 quarterback rating. Despite being released by the Rams, he has been snapped up by the Chiefs. Dunn spent time with the Chiefs during training camp before being released on the eve of the season. He has been re-signed and will compete for a starting job in NFL Europe this spring.
Other promising signal-callers heading to NFL Europe are ROB ADAMSON (Carolina Panthers), CURT ANES (Detroit Lions), BRET ENGEMANN (Oakland Raiders), WESLEY PHILLIPS (Atlanta Falcons), RYAN VAN DYKE (New York Giants), TORY WOODBURY (Denver Broncos) and GREG ZOLMAN (Buffalo Bills).
Phillips is the son of current San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator and former NFL head coach Wade Phillips (Denver 1993-94 & Buffalo 1998-2000).
The assignment of NFL allocated players to NFL Europe will be announced on Sunday February 8. The NFL Allocated Player Draft and Free Agent Draft will take place later the same day. When the preseason rosters for the six NFLEL teams have been completed, more than 350 players will gather in Tampa, Florida, for a training camp that kicks off on Monday March 1. That number will be cut down to 47 players per team before the season begins on April 3-4.
National Football League Europa Stories from February 5, 2004
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