Pro Bowlers among NFL veterans passing on experience to young guns
March 1, 2005 - National Football League Europa (NFLE) News Release
The NFL's stars of the future â young players battling for World Bowl glory in NFL Europe in 2005 â will have the chance to learn from the league's stars of the past as 12 former players will serve as season-long intern coaches for the six NFLEL teams this spring.
An additional 12 players, featuring many current NFL stars, will also serve as intern coaches while the NFLEL clubs prepare for the 2005 season at training camp in Tampa Bay, Florida. Full team practices begin on Wednesday March 2.
The third year of the NFL Europe Coaching Program, a joint venture with the NFL Players Association, will see many familiar names involved with NFLEL teams. They include former Pro Bowlers E.J. JUNIOR, CHRIS DISHMAN, DANA STUBBLEFIELD, NORMAN HAND, JAMES TRAPP, D'MARCO FARR and CHUCK MUNCIE.
Joining the Amsterdam Admirals coaching staff for the 2005 season are ROBERT HUNT and ANTONIO BANKS. Hunt played offensive line for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL, the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europe (2000) and the San Francisco Demons and New York/New Jersey Hitmen in the XFL (2001). Banks was a fan favourite while playing safety in Amsterdam in 1998, 2000 and 2001 and also boasts four years of NFL experience with the Minnesota Vikings and Oakland Raiders.
Current New York Giants defensive tackle NORMAN HAND and former San Diego Chargers running back WENDELL DAVIS will serve as training camp intern coaches for the Admirals.
The Berlin Thunder will have two former NFL defensive stars helping out in 2005. Houston Oilers Pro Bowl cornerback CHRIS DISHMAN will work with the defensive backs throughout the NFLEL, while two-time Super Bowl winning Washington Redskins linebacker KURT GOUVEIA will also be on the staff. Gouveia will team up with Farr to coach the linebackers. Farr was part of the program in 2004 and was recently hired as a permanent member of Berlin's coaching staff.
Joining the Cologne Centurions coaching staff are a pair of former NFLEL stars in JAY HAYGOOD and CHRIS WARD. Ward played defensive end for the Scottish Claymores in 2000, 2001 and 2003, earning All-NFLEL honours after the 2001 campaign. He has NFLEL coaching experience with the Berlin Thunder and Scottish Claymores. Wide receiver CARL KEARNEY, who was with the New York Jets in 2004, will serve as an assistant during training camp, as will Baltimore Ravens linebacker and Super Bowl winner CORNELL BROWN.
The Frankfurt Galaxy squad will gain valuable experience from season-long intern coaches MILTON WYNN and JAMES ROOTHS. Wynn, a receiver with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baltimore Ravens, is making his coaching debut, along with Rooths, who played cornerback in NFL Europe with the Scottish Claymores (2002-03) and in the NFL with the New York Jets, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Pro Bowl and Super Bowl-winning defensive tackle DANA STUBBLEFIELD and quarterback ALEX VAN PELT, who served as quarterback for the Buffalo Bills from 1995-2003, will be training camp intern coaches.
The Hamburg Sea Devils will add former Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts and Barcelona Dragons receiver MARVIN MARSHALL and former Houston Oilers, Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys linebacker JOE BOWDEN to their coaching staff. Ex- Oakland Raiders, Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback JAMES TRAPP will be on hand in training camp and will be joined by former Scottish Claymores and Baltimore Ravens tackle MARQUES OGDEN.
Two-time Super Bowl-winning wide receiver ALVIN HARPER and Pro Bowl linebacker E.J. JUNIOR will serve as season-long intern coaches for the Rhein Fire in 2005. Harper was a star for the Dallas Cowboys team that dominated the NFL in the early 1990s and won Super Bowls in 1992 and 1993. Junior was a two-time Pro Bowler during a career spanning 13 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Joining the Fire in Florida for training camp are two more Pro Bowlers in TORY EPPS and CHUCK MUNCIE. Defensive tackle Epps was a draft pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 1990, playing for the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints. Muncie played running back for the San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings in the late 1970s and early 1980s, achieving seven 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
MIKE CHAN, Director of Football Operations for the NFL Europe League, said: "We are very pleased with the talented guys we have lined up for our NFL Europe Coaching Program this year. They reached the pinnacle of the game during their own careers and will have a lot of knowledge to pass on to our young players.
"Our program offers former NFL players a route into the coaching ranks and gives them an idea of what it takes to be a professional football coach. This program continues to go from strength to strength and should prove even more successful in the coming season."
National Football League Europa Stories from March 1, 2005
- Pro Bowlers among NFL veterans passing on experience to young guns - NFLE
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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
