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FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL PLAYERS
TO PARTICIPATE Rodney Harrison & Robert Porcher among 35 Players in NFLEL Coaching, Officiating & Operations Internships 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 (NFLEL). 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 35 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
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Player |
Position (Teams, Years) |
NFLEL Team |
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Ben Coates |
TE (New England, Baltimore; 1991-2000) |
Rhein |
|
Willie Davis |
WR (Kansas City, Tennessee; 1990-98) |
Amsterdam |
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D’Marco Farr |
DT (St. Louis; 1994-2000) |
Berlin |
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James Harrell |
LB (Detroit, Kansas City; 1979-83, 85-87) |
Rhein |
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Robert Harris |
DT (Minnesota, NY Giants; 1992-99) |
Cologne |
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Ron Heller |
T (Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Miami; 1984-95) |
Amsterdam |
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Dwight Hollier |
LB (Miami, Indianapolis; 1992-2000) |
Frankfurt |
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Amp Lee |
RB (San Francisco, Minnesota, St. Louis, Philadelphia; 1992-2000) |
Berlin |
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Tim Lester |
RB (L.A. Rams, Pittsburgh, Dallas; 1992-99) |
Scotland |
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Tom Nutten |
C (Buffalo, St. Louis; 1995; 1998-2002) |
Cologne |
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Jeff Ogden |
WR (Dallas, Miami, Baltimore; 1998-2002) |
Frankfurt |
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Tim Watson |
S (Kansas City, N.Y Giants, Phil.; 1993-95, 1997-98) |
Scotland |
NFL EUROPE
OFFICIATING INTERNS – TRAINING CAMP:
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Player |
Position (Teams, Years) |
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Rick DiBernardo |
LB (Tampa Bay, L.A. Rams; 1986-87) |
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Tyronne Drakeford |
CB (San Francisco, New Orleans, Washington; 1994-2000) |
|
Clifton Eley |
TE (Minnesota; 1987) |
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Mitch Geier |
G-T (Denver, N.Y. Jets; 1985, 1987) |
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Rodney Harrison * |
S (San Diego, New England, 1994-2003) |
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Fred McCrary * |
RB (Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Diego, New England; 1995, 1997, 1999-2003) |
|
Kelly Saalfeld |
C (N.Y. Giants; 1980) |
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Brent Sowell |
DT (Chicago; 1986) |
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Karl Swanke |
T (Green Bay; 1980-86) |
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Dewayne Washington * |
CB (Minnesota, Pittsburgh; 1994-2003) |
NFL EUROPE OPERATIONS INTERN – TRAINING CAMP:
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Player |
Position (Teams, Years) |
|
Robert Porcher * |
DE (Detroit, 1992-2003) |