NFL Europe ceases operations
Posted by Hugh Bernreuter June 29, 2007 23:46PM
Categories: Generic sports
Posted by Hugh Bernreuter June 29, 2007 23:46PM
Categories: Generic sports
Hamburg became more than Adam Anderson's second team.
It was his second home.
The former Chesaning High School and Western Michigan University punter was a member of the Hamburg Sea Devils, the 2007 and final World Bowl champions.
The NFL's development league in Europe folded Friday after 16 years, less than a week after the Sea Devils beat Frankfurt, 37-28, in the World Bowl.
"It's disappointing, sad," Anderson said. "It was an incredible experience. You always dream of traveling to Europe and now you're going and getting paid for it.
"Hamburg became my second home. My family's roots go back to Hamburg."
Anderson spent the last two training camps with the Detroit Lions and the last two seasons with Hamburg in NFL Europa (formerly the World League of American Football and NFL Europe). He signed with Atlanta and will attend the Falcons' training camp in August.
"It was an important developmental league," he said. "There were a lot of guys on the cusp of making the NFL but did not get a fair look during camp.
"They were able to go to Europe, get experience and show what they could do. In some situations in training camp, no matter if you outperform the other player, you know they're going to keep that player with the name.
"Europe gave us a place to put together some game tape, to show the NFL that we can do the job."
Other Saginaw-area football players have made stops in NFL Europa on their way to the NFL.
Former Saginaw High and Central Michigan University player Tory Humphrey played in Europe before landing a job with the Green Bay Packers. Former Saginaw Valley State University receivers Ruvell Martin and Glenn Martinez also played in Europe before the NFL.
Martin played for Amsterdam in 2005, leading the team to the World Bowl title while finishing second in the Most Valuable Player voting. He tied the league record with 12 touchdown receptions.
"I went from Saginaw Valley to the San Diego training camp all wide-eyed," Martin said. "In Europe, I was able to play against guys from big schools and big conferences. It did a lot for my confidence."
Martin played for Green Bay last season and reports to camp Thursday, July 28.
"I don't know what players are going to do now to get that experience," Martin said. "If it wasn't for NFL Europe, I wouldn't be the player that I am now."
NFL Europa included six teams, five from Germany with Amsterdam completing the league.
Anderson believes the decision is a bad one for the NFL.
"It was losing money and it's a bottom-line business," Anderson said. "But it was starting to gain in popularity. It was gaining fans. Attendance was up 5,000 per game. It had potential with a few tweaks to really grow, but it won't get that chance now."
The final World Bowl game drew 48,125, but NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league was losing approximately $30 million per season.
Instead, the NFL will build on the base of fans created by NFL Europa by expanding its regular-season schedule to include international games. The first game is Sunday, Oct. 28, between the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants in London.
The league also wants to schedule games in Germany, Mexico and Canada.
As a developmental league, NFL Europa provided a training ground for some of the NFL's top players, including quarterback Kurt Warner, kicker Adam Vinatieri and quarterback Jake Delhomme.
And, Anderson hopes, Adam Anderson.
Still, the folding of the league means Anderson will have at least one claim to fame. He was a member of the final World Bowl championship team.
"Maybe that means my ring will be extra big."
It was his second home.
The former Chesaning High School and Western Michigan University punter was a member of the Hamburg Sea Devils, the 2007 and final World Bowl champions.
The NFL's development league in Europe folded Friday after 16 years, less than a week after the Sea Devils beat Frankfurt, 37-28, in the World Bowl.
"It's disappointing, sad," Anderson said. "It was an incredible experience. You always dream of traveling to Europe and now you're going and getting paid for it.
"Hamburg became my second home. My family's roots go back to Hamburg."
Anderson spent the last two training camps with the Detroit Lions and the last two seasons with Hamburg in NFL Europa (formerly the World League of American Football and NFL Europe). He signed with Atlanta and will attend the Falcons' training camp in August.
"It was an important developmental league," he said. "There were a lot of guys on the cusp of making the NFL but did not get a fair look during camp.
"They were able to go to Europe, get experience and show what they could do. In some situations in training camp, no matter if you outperform the other player, you know they're going to keep that player with the name.
"Europe gave us a place to put together some game tape, to show the NFL that we can do the job."
Other Saginaw-area football players have made stops in NFL Europa on their way to the NFL.
Former Saginaw High and Central Michigan University player Tory Humphrey played in Europe before landing a job with the Green Bay Packers. Former Saginaw Valley State University receivers Ruvell Martin and Glenn Martinez also played in Europe before the NFL.
Martin played for Amsterdam in 2005, leading the team to the World Bowl title while finishing second in the Most Valuable Player voting. He tied the league record with 12 touchdown receptions.
"I went from Saginaw Valley to the San Diego training camp all wide-eyed," Martin said. "In Europe, I was able to play against guys from big schools and big conferences. It did a lot for my confidence."
Martin played for Green Bay last season and reports to camp Thursday, July 28.
"I don't know what players are going to do now to get that experience," Martin said. "If it wasn't for NFL Europe, I wouldn't be the player that I am now."
NFL Europa included six teams, five from Germany with Amsterdam completing the league.
Anderson believes the decision is a bad one for the NFL.
"It was losing money and it's a bottom-line business," Anderson said. "But it was starting to gain in popularity. It was gaining fans. Attendance was up 5,000 per game. It had potential with a few tweaks to really grow, but it won't get that chance now."
The final World Bowl game drew 48,125, but NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league was losing approximately $30 million per season.
Instead, the NFL will build on the base of fans created by NFL Europa by expanding its regular-season schedule to include international games. The first game is Sunday, Oct. 28, between the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants in London.
The league also wants to schedule games in Germany, Mexico and Canada.
As a developmental league, NFL Europa provided a training ground for some of the NFL's top players, including quarterback Kurt Warner, kicker Adam Vinatieri and quarterback Jake Delhomme.
And, Anderson hopes, Adam Anderson.
Still, the folding of the league means Anderson will have at least one claim to fame. He was a member of the final World Bowl championship team.
"Maybe that means my ring will be extra big."
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