NFL Europa assigns international players
Published on March 9, 2007 under National Football League Europa (NFLE) News Release
The professional football dream of many of the world's leading international players has taken a significant step forward with their assignment to NFL Europa teams for training camp in Tampa, Florida.
Following a successful and intense mini-camp at Ed Radice Sports Complex, the roster of 86 participants was cut down to 68 players from 13 countries. The six teams will eventually carry a total of 48 international players - eight per club - when the 2007 season kicks off on Saturday, April 14.
"We have so many outstanding players and athletes that the selection process becomes more difficult every year," says TONY ALLEN, NFL Europa Director of International Player Development. "We had an outstanding camp and I am confident that the players selected have the potential to make significant contributions for their teams."
The 2007 class of international players includes the British wide receiver duo of SCOTT MC CREADY and DWAIN CHAMBERS, who will be heading to Hamburg. McCready, who ranks second on NFL Europa's all-time receiving charts, will spend a third consecutive season with the Sea Devils, while former sprint champion Chambers continues his journey from the world of track and field to football.
German defensive end CONSTANTIN RITZMANN, who boasts NFL experience with Buffalo and Atlanta, will suit up for the Berlin Thunder, while German defensive end CHRISTIAN MOHR will play for the Rhein Fire.
The Cologne Centurions will welcome back reigning NFLEL Defensive MVP in French linebacker PHILIPPE GARDENT, while the Amsterdam Admirals will be keen to see more explosive kickoff returns from All-NFLEL Japanese wide receiver NORIAKI KINOSHITA. The defending champion Frankfurt Galaxy has seen its preseason roster boosted by the return of veteran German defensive linemen DANIEL BENETKA and ULRICH WINKLER.
Team assignments of international players
Amsterdam Admirals
C Pascal Matla (Netherlands), WR Noriaki Kinoshita (Japan), TE Yoan Schnee (France), RB Michael Andrew (UK), DT Patrice Majondo-Mwamba (Belgium), DT Artsem Yukhnovich (Belarus), DE Daniel Watts (UK), LB Carl-Johan Björk (Sweden), LB Akwasi Mensah (Netherlands), CB Koki Kato (Japan), S Sergey Ivanov (Russia).
Berlin Thunder
G Juan Garcia (Mexico), T Samuel Gutekunst (Germany), WR Gustavo Tella (Mexico), WR Alejandro Gamez (Mexico), RB Juan Jose Corona (Mexico), DE Patrick Finke (Germany), DE Constantin Ritzmann (Germany), LB Shaun Smith (UK), LB Efe Ewvaraye (Finland), LB Cuneyt Topcu (Turkey), S Oliver Flemming (Germany).
Cologne Centurions
C Jarmo Rantanen (Finland), G Francisco Robles (Mexico), T Seppo Ewvaraye (Finland), T Ayo Ademiluyi (UK), WR Cristian Malm (Sweden), WR Michihiro Ogawa (Japan), TE Werner Hippler (Germany), DT Mauricio Lopez (Mexico), DT Everado Velasquez (Mexico), LB Philippe Gardent (France), LB Omar Erick Cantu (Mexico), S Daniel Schober (Germany).
Frankfurt Galaxy
G Emmanuel Akah (UK), T Kevin Ansu-Yeboah (Germany), WR Ryoma Hagiyama (Japan), WR Yuji Ohtaki (Japan), TE Florian Pawlik (Germany), RB Martin Latka (Germany), DT Daniel Benetka (Germany), DE Ulrich Winkler (Germany), LB Rikiya Ishida (Japan), LB Jesus Isai (Mexico), CB Leonard Greene (Germany).
Hamburg Sea Devils
C Carl-Johan Blomvall (Sweden), C Jose Perea (Mexico), WR Scott McCready (UK), WR Dwain Chambers (UK), WR Juan Wong (Mexico), RB Jermaine Allen (UK), DE Ben Ishola (Germany), DE Gerado Lopez (Mexico), LB Aden Durde (UK), LB Jonathan Hurtado (Mexico), S Onoh Ozongwu (UK), S Ryota Hori (Japan).
Rhein Fire
C David Odenthal (Germany), G Peter Heyer (Germany), WR Marvin Allen (UK), TE Iiro Luoto (Finland), DE Christian Mohr (Germany), DE Christian Fuchs (Germany), DT Salomon Solano (Mexico), LB Richard Adjei (Germany), LB Eduardo Castaneda (Mexico), LB Jason Brisbane (UK), S Richard Yancy (Germany).
Teams will practice and scrimmage in the Tampa Bay area throughout the month of March. The first full practice sessions will take place on Wednesday, March 14.
The following practice sites are being used:
Amsterdam Admirals University of South Florida, East Fowler Ave, Tampa
Berlin Thunder Ed Radice Sports Complex, Ed Radice Drive, Tampa
Cologne Centurions Admiral Farragut Academy, Park St. North, St. Petersburg
Frankfurt Galaxy University of Tampa, West Kennedy Blvd, Tampa
Hamburg Sea Devils Skyway Park, George Road, Tampa
Rhein Fire Tampa Catholic High School, North Rome Ave, Tampa
Combined workouts and scrimmages featuring all six teams will be held at the Ed Radice Sports Complex on March 20 and 28, and at Jefferson High School on March 24 and 31.
National Football League Europa Stories from March 9, 2007
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