NFL players participate in NFL Europe League internships

Published on March 2, 2004 under National Football League Europa (NFLE) News Release

NFL players interested in becoming coaches and game officials will receive first-hand experience this offseason in an internship program with the NFL Europe League.

Thirty-five players will participate in the program this spring. Last year, 18 players participated in the program, which was solely a coaching internship.

The players (nine active and 26 former NFLers), including safety RODNEY HARRISON from the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots and three-time Pro Bowl defensive end ROBERT PORCHER of the Detroit Lions, will participate in the NFLEL training camps. The former players include BEN COATES, D'MARCO FARR, RON HELLER, AMP LEE, ALBERT LEWIS and TRACY SIMIEN. The internships are as follows:

· 12 participants - coaching in training camp and entire 10-week NFLEL season

· 12 participants - coaching in NFLEL training camp

· 10 participants - officiating in NFLEL training camp

· 1 participant - NFLEL operations in training camp

The Internship Program is a joint effort of the NFL and the NFL Players Association. The goal is to provide participants with comprehensive training, work experience and an evaluation of their coaching and officiating abilities.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for players to gain experience in coaching and officiating," said JOHN BEAKE, NFL vice president of football operations. "The internship opens the door for these players to begin another football-related career."

"Our players have such a deep personal investment in football that this is a natural progression - to get hands-on coaching and officiating experience at the professional level," said MIKE HAYNES, NFL vice president of player and employee development.

"We are glad to see players receive an opportunity to pursue a career through NFL Europe," said STACY ROBINSON, NFL Players Association director of player development. "This program is an excellent training ground for players looking to gain further experience."

Following is a look at the participants in the NFL Europe League internships:

NFL EUROPE COACHING INTERNS - TRAINING CAMP: (* denotes active player)

Player Position (Teams, Years) NFLEL Team
Antonio Banks DB (Minnesota, Oakland; 1997-2000, 2002) Amsterdam
Joe Bowden LB (Tennessee, Dallas; 1992-2000) Scotland
Devone Claybrooks * DT (Cleveland Tampa Bay, San Francisco; 2001-03) Rhein
Scott Cloman * WR (Washington 2003) Frankfurt
Michael Early * C (Buffalo, Minnesota, Baltimore; 2001-2003) Cologne
Torry Epps DT (Atlanta, Chicago, New Orleans; 1990-95) Amsterdam
Frisman Jackson * WR (Cleveland, 2002-03) Berlin
Perry Kemp WR (Cleveland, Green Bay; 1987-91) Scotland
Albert Lewis DB (Kansas City, Oakland; 1983-98) Frankfurt
Ryan Neufeld * TE (Dallas, Jacksonville, Buffalo; 1999-2000, 2003) Rhein
Tracy Simien LB (Kansas City, San Diego; 1991-97, 1999) Cologne
Chris Ward DE (Baltimore, Tennessee; 1997-98) Berlin

NFL EUROPE COACHING INTERNS - TRAINING CAMP & REGULAR SEASON:

Player Position (Teams, Years) NFLEL Team
Ben Coates TE (New England, Baltimore; 1991-2000) Rhein
Willie Davis WR (Kansas City, Tennessee; 1990-98) Amsterdam
D'Marco Farr DT (St. Louis; 1994-2000) Berlin
James Harrell LB (Detroit, Kansas City; 1979-83, 85-87) Rhein
Robert Harris DT (Minnesota, NY Giants; 1992-99) Cologne
Ron Heller T (Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Miami; 1984-95) Amsterdam
Dwight Hollier LB (Miami, Indianapolis; 1992-2000) Frankfurt
Amp Lee RB (San Francisco, Minnesota, St. Louis, Philadelphia; 1992-2000) Berlin
Tim Lester RB (L.A. Rams, Pittsburgh, Dallas; 1992-99) Scotland
Tom Nutten C (Buffalo, St. Louis; 1995; 1998-2002) Cologne
Jeff Ogden WR (Dallas, Miami, Baltimore; 1998-2002) Frankfurt
Tim Watson S (Kansas City, N.Y Giants, Phil.; 1993-95, 1997-98) Scotland

NFL EUROPE OFFICIATING INTERNS - TRAINING CAMP:

Player Position (Teams, Years)
Rick DiBernardo LB (Tampa Bay, L.A. Rams; 1986-87)
Tyronne Drakeford CB (San Francisco, New Orleans, Washington; 1994-2000)
Clifton Eley TE (Minnesota; 1987)
Mitch Geier G-T (Denver, N.Y. Jets; 1985, 1987)
Rodney Harrison * S (San Diego, New England, 1994-2003)
Fred McCrary * RB (Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Diego, New England; 1995, 1997, 1999-2003)
Kelly Saalfeld C (N.Y. Giants; 1980)
Brent Sowell DT (Chicago; 1986)
Karl Swanke T (Green Bay; 1980-86)
Dewayne Washington * CB (Minnesota, Pittsburgh; 1994-2003)

NFL EUROPE OPERATIONS INTERN - TRAINING CAMP:

Player Position (Teams, Years)
Robert Porcher * DE (Detroit, 1992-2003)

National Football League Europa Stories from March 2, 2004

• NFL players participate in NFL Europe League internships - NFLE
• NFL Europe League teams ready to hit the field for first full practice in Tampa Bay - NFLE

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