In Search of Shane Falco
by Tommy Brown
February 25, 2005 - National Football League Europa (NFLE)
Cologne Centurions
The NFL Europe season kicks off this April and the NFL allocated players have been assigned to NFL Europe teams. Although some players sent to Europe have some playing experience in the NFL, most players were ones who were cut during NFL training camp and spent the 2004 NFL season on practice squads. Several players were signed by teams on fliers in the past month and assigned to NFL Europe so the NFL team could meet their NFL Europe quota for allocated players.
NFL Europe boasts of alumni of the league that have gone on to distinguished careers in the NFL, with the most notable position players in Kurt Warner and Brad Johnson. Both players went on to lead teams to Super Bowl victories after having played a summer over in Europe previously in their careers.
The question for the NFL teams should not be who is the next Kurt Warner or Brad Johnson, but who may be the next Aaron Stecker, Jay Fiedler, Dante Hall or Rohan Davey? All four players used a season spent in NFL Europe to improve their play. Stecker was a productive fill-in for the Saints when Deuce McAllister was injured and Fiedler, having a nice but not terrific run as the Dolphins quarterback, will most likely be signed as a backup quarterback in the coming weeks after being released by the Dolpins.
Davey is currently the backup to superstar Tom Brady on the Patriots, but only last summer Davey was last season's NFL Europe MVP while leading the Berlin Thunder to a World Bowl title. He will not be returning to the overseas game this summer and there have even been rumors that he may end up competing the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Brown in 2005 if the Browns can work out a trade with New England.
The NFL allocated players have yet to report to NFL Europe training camp in Tampa, but compiling an NFL Europe team must be like a scene from the Replacements, the 2000 slapstick football movie with Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman. The addition of National player from Europe, Japan and Mexico also will add to the "Replacements" feel of the teams. There is even a real life Sumo-wrestler, Masakazu Goda, who might as well be the Ace Yonamine offensive line character in the movie..
A good candidate for the role of Shane Falco (Reeves) for the allocated players could be that of former Tennessee quarterback Casey Clausen. Clausen has been assigned to the Cologne Centurions. Much to the dismay of the Volunteer faithful, not only was Clausen not drafted, but the Kansas City Chiefs cut Clausen in training camp after initially signing him as a free agent in 2004. Blessed with descent size (6'3) and a powerful arm, Clausen is looking for experience and playing time. It is unclear if Arizona allocation Chris Lewis will be ahead of Clausen on the depth chart, but both will certainly get playing time for Cologne. Clausen even is taking part in the initial National camp in Tampa, getting his timing down throwing to the international players in workouts. Go Falco!
National Football League Europa Stories from February 25, 2005
- In Search of Shane Falco - OSC Original by Tommy Brown
- NFL Europe Fantasy Football: Get the Fix - OSC Original by Tommy Brown
- Legacy of Sweetness - OSC Original by Tommy Brown
- B.J. Symons to play in NFL Europe - OSC Original by Tommy Brown
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