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FOR USE AS DESIRED
INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS
CONTINUE TO DEVELOP; International Players have an opportunity to make an increased impact in the NFL this season following the announcement that eight players from five countries have earned positions on practice squad rosters for the upcoming 2005 NFL season. Last year, four international players, all veterans of the NFL Europe League, were placed with teams in the NFC West in the inaugural year of the NFL International Development Practice Squad program. For 2005, the program has been expanded, as teams in the AFC West and NFC South will each carry a national player on their practice squad roster for the duration of the season. The players selected for the program are: PETER HEYER (G, Germany – Kansas City Chiefs); RICHARD YANCY (S, Germany – San Diego Chargers); KLAUS ALINEN (TE, Finland – Atlanta Falcons); MICHAEL QUARSHIE (DT, Finland – Oakland Raiders); ANDERS AKERSTROM (DE, Norway – New Orleans Saints); CLAUDIUS OSEI (S, Germany – Tampa Bay Buccaneers); PATRICE MAJONDO-MWAMBA (DT, Belgium – Denver Broncos); ADEN DURDE (LB, United Kingdom – Carolina Panthers). NFLEL Director of Football Operations MIKE CHAN said: “The quality of our national players continues to increase every year. This can be seen by the contributions they are making on the field in Europe and the fact that we have been able to identify eight players for the second year of this program. “The players who returned to NFL Europe after spending last year in this program have demonstrated how beneficial it has been to their development. They get the chance to experience the speed of the NFL, to develop their skills, and to face physical and mental challenges in an NFL environment.” Two of the four players who were in the program last year, Mexican offensive lineman ROLANDO CANTU, (Arizona), and German defensive end CHRISTIAN MOHR (Seattle) have already been signed to the active rosters of their respective clubs and will not be part of the program. Mohr returned to the Berlin Thunder this year to rank second on the team with 4.0 sacks, helping the Thunder to a place in World Bowl XIII in Düsseldorf on Saturday. The other two players from last year’s program are back for a second year – Yancy (San Francisco), and Heyer (St. Louis). TONY ALLEN, the NFLEL’s Director of International Football and Player Development, said: “I am proud, and very excited that, in only the second year of this program, we are able to send eight players to NFL teams. We are confident that this group of players will more than match up to the achievements of last year’s group and that their experience will drive our international player programs to a higher level.” The eight players will be on their team’s practice squad roster for the duration of the season. They cannot be cut and are not eligible to be activated. Following is background information on the eight players participating in the NFL International Development Practice Squad program for 2005: Peter Heyer, G, Rhein Fire (Germany) – Kansas City Chiefs Started every game at right guard for the Rhein Fire in 2005, helping Joe Smith become the third back in NFL Europe history to rush for 1,000 yards. Spent the entire 2004 NFL season on the practice squad of the St. Louis Rams. Richard Yancy, S, Rhein Fire (Germany) – San Diego Chargers Started every game for the Fire and registered a national player-high 42 tackles to rank fourth on the team. Klaus Alinen, TE, Berlin Thunder (Finland) – Atlanta Falcons Played in every game for the Thunder en route to World Bowl XIII. Caught eight passes for 33 yards and a touchdown in his second NFL Europe season. Also handled long-snapping duties for Berlin. Michael Quarshie, DT, Frankfurt Galaxy (Finland) – Oakland Raiders Joined the Galaxy in Week 5 and made an immediate impact on the club’s defensive line, recording 11 tackles and 1.0 sack. Played at St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, New Jersey, before transferring to Columbia. He was named team captain prior to his senior season and recorded 59 tackles – including an Ivy League-leading 16 for a loss – 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble, earning All-Ivy League honors. Anders Akerstrom, DE, Frankfurt Galaxy (Norway) – New Orleans Saints Joined the Galaxy in Week 5. Akerstrom, who hails from Oslo, was a walk-on kicker at the University of Arkansas who got bigger and stronger with each passing season and became a valued member of the team at defensive end. Claudius Osei, S, Hamburg Sea Devils (Germany) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers Joined the Sea Devils for Week 5 and saw action on defense and special teams, starting one game. Ended the NFLEL season with two tackles and two special teams stops. Osei played in 48 games at Florida State from 2001-2004, recording 117 tackles, one interception, two pass defensed and two forced fumbles. Patrice Majondo-Mwamba, DT, Rhein Fire (Belgium) – Denver Broncos Joined the Fire in Week 5 and played in four games on defense and special teams. Majondo-Mwamba spent two seasons (2003-04) at Texas Tech after transferring from Hartnell Community College. In his final collegiate game, the native of Brussels recorded a sack while helping Texas Tech defeat ninth-ranked California in January’s Holiday Bowl. Aden Durde, LB, Hamburg Sea Devils (United Kingdom) – Carolina Panthers Played in the first four games of season before suffering a broken ankle. Recorded six tackles, one pass defensed and one special teams tackle. Played for the Scottish Claymores in 2003-04. Replace this text with your text. |