FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL-21
4/12/00
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT: MICHAEL SIGNORA (212/450-2076)
NFL EUROPE LEAGUE SEASON KICKS OFF SATURDAYThe NFL Europe League kicks off its eighth season this weekend with six teams – the Amsterdam Admirals, Barcelona Dragons, Berlin Thunder, Frankfurt Galaxy, Rhein Fire, and Scottish Claymores – beginning the 10-week race to World Bowl 2000.
The Week 1 schedule:
| Sat., April 15 | Barcelona Dragons at Rhein Fire | 1:00 p.m. (ET) |
| Sat., April 15 | Frankfurt Galaxy at Berlin Thunder | 1:00 p.m. (ET) |
| Sun., April 16 | Amsterdam Admirals at Scottish Claymores | 10:00 a.m. (ET) |
After the record-breaking, Super Bowl-winning season of St. Louis Rams quarterback KURT WARNER (Amsterdam, 1998), much of the focus entering the 2000 NFL Europe League season is on the league’s contingent of talented young passers.
A closer look at the NFLEL QB Class of 2000:
| Player | NFLEL Team | NFL Team | College |
| Jim Kubiak * | Amsterdam | N.Y. Jets | Navy |
| Ron Powlus | Amsterdam | Philadelphia | Notre Dame |
| Patrick Bonner | Barcelona | Free Agent | Florida A&M |
| Tony Graziani * | Barcelona | Atlanta | Oregon |
| Cory Sauter | Barcelona | Detroit | Minnesota |
| Mike Cook | Berlin | Free Agent | William & Mary |
| Eric Kresser * | Berlin | Cincinnati | Marshall |
| Scott Milanovich | Berlin | Tampa Bay | Maryland |
| Pat Barnes | Frankfurt | Free Agent | California |
| Ted White | Frankfurt | Kansas City | Howard |
| Matt Lytle | Rhein | Carolina | Pittsburgh |
| Danny Wuerffel * | Rhein | Free Agent | Florida |
| Marcus Crandell | Scotland | Kansas City | East Carolina |
| Kevin Daft | Scotland | Tennessee | Cal-Davis |
* Projected Week 1 Starter
QUARTERBACK SUCCESS
In all, 11 former NFL Europe League quarterbacks started for NFL teams in 1999, (and 17 all-time) compiling a 43-32 (.573) record. They are:
| Player | NFLEL Team | 1999 NFL Team | Record as Starter |
| Kurt Warner | Amsterdam, 1998 | St. Louis | 13-3 |
| Stoney Case | Barcelona, 1997 | Baltimore | 2-2 |
| Jake Delhomme | Amsterdam, 1998 Frankfurt, 1999 |
New Orleans | 1-1 |
| Jay Fiedler | Amsterdam, 1997 | Jacksonville | 1-0 |
| Jason Garrett | San Antonio, 1991 | Dallas | 1-1 |
| Brad Johnson | London, 1995 | Washington | 10-6 |
| Damon Huard | Frankfurt, 1998 | Miami | 4-1 |
| Jon Kitna | Barcelona, 1997 | Seattle | 8-7 |
| Jim Miller | Frankfurt, 1995 | Chicago | 1-2 |
| Scott Mitchell | Orlando, 1992 | Baltimore | 0-2 |
| Doug Pederson | NY/NJ, 1992 Rhein, 1995 |
Philadelphia | 2-7 |
NOTABLE NFL EUROPE LEAGUE ALUMNI
The 1999 NFL season featured several outstanding performances by Europe League veterans, not only at quarterback, but all over the field:
DARREN BENNETT, P, San Diego (Amsterdam, 1995) – Finished 1999 with a 43.9-yard punting average – fifth best in the NFL.
GEORGE COGHILL, S, Denver (Scotland, 1996) – A key member of Denver’s defensive backfield, has earned two Super Bowl rings with the Broncos. Led Scotland in interceptions and tackles in 1996.
LA’ROI GLOVER, DT, New Orleans (Barcelona, 1997) – One of the NFL’s premier defensive tackles, started all 16 games in 1999, leading the Saints with 8.5 sacks and adding 61 tackles – tops among the club’s defensive linemen.
MATT LEPSIS, T, Denver (Barcelona, 1998) – Started 16 games at right tackle after converting from tackle to tight end with Barcelona.
BRANDON NOBLE, DT, Dallas (Barcelona, 1998-99) – Played in all 16 games with the Cowboys along the defensive line and finished with three sacks. An all-NFLEL selection with Barcelona in 1999.
TOM NUTTEN, C, St. Louis (Amsterdam, 1998) – Started 14 games at center for the Super Bowl-champion Rams in 1999. A teammate of Kurt Warner in Amsterdam.
MARCUS ROBINSON, WR, Chicago (Rhein, 1998) – Enjoyed a breakout season in 1999, becoming one of the NFL’s premier deep threats. Finished with 84 receptions, 1,400 yards and nine touchdowns. Named NFLEL Offensive MVP in 1998.
MARCO RIVERA, G, Green Bay (Scotland, 1997) – Last season marked his second year as a starter in Green Bay. A consistent performer for Scotland in 1997.
BILL SCHROEDER, WR, Green Bay (Rhein, 1997) – Eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving in 1999, tying for the team lead with 74 receptions. Among the NFLEL leaders in all receiving categories in 1997.
ADAM VINATIERI, K, New England (Amsterdam, 1996) – Scored 107 points in 1999, his fourth consecutive season with at least 100.
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
The NFL Europe League is seen by NFL clubs as an optimal place to develop talent. The following is a year-by-year breakdown of NFL players allocated by NFL clubs to the league since 1995.
| Year | NFL Allocated Players | |
| 2000 | 154 |
|
| 1999 | 152 |
|
| 1998 | 97 |
|
| 1997 | 112 |
|
| 1996 | 72 |
|
| 1995 | 35 |
|
COACHES
Following is background information on each of the league’s six head coaches.
AL LUGINBILL, Amsterdam – Former head coach at San Diego State, where he coached St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk. First coach in San Diego State history to post five consecutive winning seasons.
JACK BICKNELL, Barcelona – Beginning eighth season with Dragons. Served as head coach at Boston College for 10 seasons, including Doug Flutie’s Heisman Trophy-winning campaign of 1984, when the Eagles went 10-2. Has won more regular-season NFLEL games (39) than any other NFLEL coach.
PETER VAAS, Berlin – First season as Thunder head coach. Former head coach at Allegheny and Holy Cross, where he was a three-year starter at quarterback. Also coached Rick Mirer, Jerome Bettis and Ricky Watters as quarterbacks/running backs coach at Notre Dame.
DICK CURL, Frankfurt – Appointed Galaxy head coach in 1998 after spending five years as Barcelona’s offensive coordinator. Named NFLEL Coach of the Year in 1998 and 1999 after taking Frankfurt to a World Bowl berth in each season.
GALEN HALL, Rhein – Former head coach at Florida, where he coached Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith, and compiled a 41-18-1 record from 1984-89. During his 18 years as offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, the Sooners won two national titles and 10 Big Eight Conference titles. Led the Fire to a World Bowl title in 1998.
JIM CRINER, Scotland – Coach of the Year in 1996 after leading the Claymores from a last-place finish in 1995 to the league title. Also won a World Bowl ring in 1992 as an assistant with the Sacramento Surge. Former head coach at Iowa State.
TELEVISION
Fans can follow the development of tomorrow’s NFL stars today, as every NFL Europe League game will be televised in the United States. A breakdown of the television and radio coverage for the 2000 season:
FOX – Will broadcast a "Game of the Week" in Weeks 8-10, followed by World Bowl 2000 on June 25.
FOX Sports Net – Will broadcast a "Game of the Week" all season.
DirecTV – Will broadcast every game.
One-on-One Radio Network – Will provide radio coverage of a "Game of the Week’ in Weeks 8-10, followed by coverage of World Bowl 2000 on June 25.
SCHEDULE
NFL Europe League clubs play a 10-game regular-season schedule beginning this weekend and concluding on Sunday, June 18. The top two teams in the standings will play for the league championship in World Bowl 2000, Sunday, June 25, in Frankfurt, Germany.