NFL Europe Corner
by Stefan Nickel

This section is presented by Stefan Nickel, our overseas Kicking.com representative for NFL Europe. Feel free to contact him for more information.

World Bowl XV summary and the future of NFL Europa

First time in their team history, the Hamburg Sea Devils won the World Bowl against the Frankfurt Galaxy (37-28). In front of 48,125 enthusiastic football fans, most of them in purple and orange, Sea Devils QB Casey Bramlet threw a record four touchdown passes, and turned the home of the Galaxy into a home of the Hamburg Sea Devils. Sea Devils kicker Shane Andrus missed an extra point after Hamburg scored the first time, and also missed a 24-yard field goal, but scored a 23-yarder in the second quarter. Not a good day had by Galaxy kicker Rhys Lloyd. He missed his single try from 45 yards in the fourth quarter.
 

Listen to an interview with Adam Anderson >>>

But not only was the game in the focus of the fans, also the rumor that the league will close after this season, was flying around the stadium. Fans signed petitions at the fan party in front of the stadium right before the game, hoping that the league will continue in 2008. These lists will be presented to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell the next time he visits Germany .

Managing director Uwe Bergheim said, in a press conference before the game, that new concepts for improving the league, respectively making the league more profitable, were given to the NFL, and the decision if the league will continue in 2008 will be made within the next four weeks.

With playing a regular season game in London in October 2007, it will not be a good idea to close the NFL Europa in the same year. Fans in Europe need teams they can identify with. These fans are first fans of NFL Europa teams, and second, they have a favorite NFL team. Fans from the Hamburg Sea Devils and Rhein Fire, for example, were cheering together against the Galaxy. NFL Europa fans want to get in touch with their heroes. Playing regular season games in Europe, without having the NFL Europa anymore, maybe will work for one or two years. After that, I truly believe that fans in Europe will lose interests in that.

Look at the little kids here in Germany. They get in touch with football for the first time by watching an NFL Europa game. Then these kids are getting interested in this sport. They want to be like the players they see on the field. They start searching for local teams in the area they live, and start playing the game. If there will be no professional football league in Europe anymore, these kids won’t get in touch with football, and start playing soccer, or other sports except football.

If the NFL Europa league was closed, then professional football becomes a local sport in the USA, and for the European fans, like a used car dealership somewhere in New York. Football will lose interest in the whole rest of the world, too. The only sports totally accepted in the whole world are part of the Olympic Games. If pro football is only played in the USA, then the Super Bowl Champions cannot be a World Champions anymore.

Managers of the NFL and NFL Europa, think about that, do your homework, and keep this league alive!
 

League leaders season 2007

Rhein Fire punter Danny "The Rubber Band“ Baugher, and Frankfurt Galaxy kicker Rhys "The Machine" Lloyd received the punting and kicking crown after the regular season in 2007.

Danny Baugher, who is swinging his leg fast like he has a rubber band fixed at his forehead, and the big toe of his kicking foot, punted 47 times with a net average of 37.9 yards.

Also, strong legged Rhys Lloyd was perfect in all of his 28 PATs, and kicked 16 of 23 field goals, with a total score of 78 points. His longest try was 56 yards.

Danny Baugher is not the tallest punter I ever saw (height: 5-10) but he is an athlete. I compare him a little bit with Dirk Johnson from the Philadelphia Eagles. Dirk also played for the Rhein Fire in 2002.

Kicker Rhys Lloyd is a machine. He can boom his kickoffs with a hang time of about 4.1 or more, to the one yard line. The movement of his upper body and his kicking leg is like scissors. NFL coaches, if you trust your veteran, but need a kickoff specialist, take this guy. With this quality of kickoffs, your kicking team will get enough time to knock the return man down inside 15 yards.

Both will deserve all star team honors.

Kicking stats season 2007

* injured after week 4
** first game week 5
*** injured after week 7
**** first game week 8

Punting stats season 2007

Week 10 Summary (6/18/07)

The NFL Europa regular season 2007 is over. The Hamburg Sea Devils and the Frankfurt Galaxy will meet up in World Bowl XV in the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt, Germany, the home of the Galaxy. The Cologne Centurions, who were 4-0 on the road, lost against the Galaxy 14-31. Centurions Kicker Nick Novak missed his 40-yard try, while Galaxy Kicker Rhys Lloyd scored three times with his four tries. He made another 50-yard field goal, which is worth four points in the NFL Europa.

The score in the regular season, between the Frankfurt Galaxy and the Hamburg Sea Devils was 1-1. Hamburg lost in week three 17-20, and won the home game in week nine, 36-31. We'll have to wait and see what´s going to happen!

In the other games, Rhein Fire lost to the Sea Devils 13-17, and the Amsterdam Admirals beat Berlin Thunder in a Friday night game. It was an exciting finish at the end, 21-20.

Now the question is, which players from this year have an “NFL leg”? Did coaches from the NFL get interested in anybody? Will we see somebody on Sundays in the future?

The quality of the kickers and punters this season was much better then the years before. On Saturday, in the finals, it could be possible that Galaxy Kicker Rhys Lloyd or Sea Devils Kicker Shane Andrus will play a key role.

Week 9 Summary (6/10/07)

The Berlin Thunder lost against Rhein Fire 24-17. All points were scored in the first half. Berlin Thunder Kicker D. J. Fitzpatrick kicked a 34-yard field goal, and punted two times for 80 yards (40 yds/avg.), while Berlin punter Tom Malone had three punts for 119 yards (39.7 yds/avg.). The last points of the game were scored by Rhein Fire Kicker Mark Brubaker, who kicked a 33-yard field gaol with two seconds remaining in the second quarter.
Saturday in Cologne, the Centurions welcomed the Amsterdam Admirals. Centurions Kicker Nick Novak missed his try from 35, but was good with his 20-yard field goal. Cologne Punter Joel Stelly punted three times for 134 yards (44.7 yds/avg.). Amsterdam Kicker Jeret Johnson confirmed his good performances from last week by being perfect, with his two long tries from 49 and 40 yards. Punter Glenn Pakulak punted four times for 179 yards (44.8 yds/avg.).

In Hamburg, the Sea Devils played against the Frankfurt Galaxy in front of 30,528 enthusiastic football fans. The winner of that game has the best chance for making it to the World Bowl. Hamburg beat the Galaxy 36-31. Galaxy Kicker Rhys Lloyd missed one field goal from 30 yards, and made one from 20. Galaxy Punter Kyle Basler had two punts for 96 yards (48.0 yds/avg.). Sea Devils Kicker Shane Andrus nailed his two tries (28 and 23 yards) through the goal posts, while Punter Adam Anderson also had two punts for 90 yards (45 yds/avg.).

It’s the first time in league history that, after week nine, three teams ended up with a record of 6-3. Everybody has to wait for week 10. Hamburg is qualified for the World Bowl, regardless if they win or lose against Rhein Fire. If Hamburg loses on Saturday, then the Centurions would have to tie the game next week with the Galaxy. This will be the only scenario that Hamburg won’t make it to the World Bowl. So a big game will be played in Frankfurt, when the Galaxy will welcome the Cologne Centurions. This game is like a conference finals. The winner is qualified for the World Bowl against the Hamburg Sea Devils.

Week 8 Summary (6/6/07)

After an exciting football weekend, the Frankfurt Galaxy cemented their rights to play in the World Bowl June 23rd by beating Berlin Thunder 25-22. With around 9 minutes in the fourth quarter, Thunder was ahead 22-3. Galaxy quarterback J.T. O´Sullivan started his show by throwing three touchdown passes. Berlin Thunder Kicker D. J. Fitzpatrick, who replaced injured Kicker Andrew Jacas, had three tries that day. His first try, from 37 yards, got nullified by a 'Running into the Kicker' penalty. Berlin scored a touchdown after that. Later in the game, he missed from 50 and 44 yards.

In Cologne, the Centurions missed their chances for making it to the World Bowl directly, by losing against the Hamburg Sea Devils 7-21. Now the Frankfurt Galaxy, the Cologne Centurions and the Hamburg Sea Devils will battle for the two spots in Yellow Storm World Bowl XV. Hamburg Sea Devils Kicker Shane Andrus missed his try from 37 yards.

In Duesseldorf, Rhein Fire beat the Amsterdam Admirals in a high scoring game 41-38. Rhein Kicker Mark Brubaker was perfect with his two field goals (36), (31). He kicked the game winner with 2:11 to play in the fourth quarter. Admirals Kicker Jaret Johnson satisfied all with his performances from 49, 41 and 37 yards. After the Admirals scored their last touchdown to shorten the score to 38-41, Johnson lined up for an onside kick. The onside kick got recovered by Rhein Fire with 13 seconds on the game clock. Rhein quarterback Cody Pickett knelt down, and Rhein Fire won.

Week 7 Summary (5/28/07)

With three weeks of the 2007 NFL Europa regular season remaining, the Frankfurt Galaxy remains on course for a title-game repeat. Cologne Centurions also improved to a league-best 5-2 on the season. Hamburg Sea Devils are behind with a record of 4-3. The other teams are Amsterdam Admirals 3-4, Berlin Thunder 2-5 and Rhein Fire 2-5.

Cologne Centurions vs. Amsterdam Admirals 30-7

N. Novak 3-4 FG, 31LU (19) (40) (31)
J. Stelly - 4 Punts, 168 yards, 42. 0 AVG, 1 TB, 2 IN20, 50 LG
G. Pakulak, 7 Punts, 302 yards, 43.1 AVG, 1 TB, 1 IN20, 52 LG

Rhein Fire vs. Frankfurt Galaxy 10-23

M. Brubaker, 1-1 FG (43)
D. Baugher, 5 Punts, 221 yards, 44.2 AVG, 1 TB, 55 LG

R. Lloyd, 3-4 FG, (22) (33) 47WL (31)
K. Basler, 3 Punts, 116 yards, 38.7 AVG, 1 IN20, LG 55, 1 Punt blocked

Berlin Thunder vs. Hamburg Sea Devils 7-17

A. Jacas, 2-3 FG (28) 51WL (53)
T. Malone, 6 Punts, 256 yards, 42.7 AVG, 51 LG
S. Andrus, 1-1 FG (41)
A. Anderson, 6 Punts, 255 yards, 42.5 AVG, 1 TB, 4 IN20, 60 LG

Week 6 Summary (5/20/07)

Saturday in Cologne, the Centurions beat the Rhein Fire 20-17. Rhein Fire Kicker Mark Brubaker kicked a 36-yarder, but missed a 43-yard field goal. Centurions Kicker Nick Novak hit his 30-yard try off the left post and it was no good. But, his second and third tries put the game in the right direction for the Centurions. With six seconds on the game clock in the second quarter, Novak went on the field for a 44-yard field goal and he made it, 3-17 Rhein Fire. The Centurions shortened the score to 10-17 with a touchdown pass of quarterback Erik Meyer. Early in the fourth quarter, a nightmare happened to Rhein Fire punter Danny Baugher, who earned special teams of the week honors in week five. His punt got blocked and got returned for a touchdown. Extra point by Nick Novak was good, and the Centurions tied the game 17-17. With 8:54 on the game clock in the fourth quarter, the Centurions sent Nick Novak on the field for a 49-yard field goal. Novak made it again, and the Centurions lead the Rhein Fire 20-17. That was Novak's 7th game-winning field goal in his entire career. Rhein Fire had no answer for that, and gave the game away.

On Sunday, the Frankfurt Galaxy beat Berlin Thunder 35-7. In Amsterdam, the Admirals evened their record at 3-3 with a 41-31 victory over the Hamburg Sea Devils. Sea Devils Kicker Shane Andrus nailed his 47-yard try through the goal posts.
 

NFL Europa League Leaders 2007 Season (after Week 5)

* injured after week 4
** first game week 5

Week 5 Summary (5/13/07)

In Hamburg, the Sea Devils beat the Admirals 24-17. Admirals Kicker Jaret Johnson kicked a 27-yard FG, and Shane Andrus of the Sea Devils hit a 25-yard field goal. The Cologne Centurions played against the Berlin Thunder in the Berlin Olympic Stadium. Andrew Jacas missed a 36 and a 40-yarder, but his 45-yard field goal was good. Centurions Kicker Nick Novak's try from 30 yards sailed through the goal posts. In Duesseldorf, Rhein Fire played against the Frankfurt Galaxy. One of the biggest rivalries in football history in Germany. The game was a typical derby. Rhein Fire Kicker Mark Brubaker, who replaced injured Kicker Connor Hughes, hammered an extra point to the left post, no good. Galaxy Kicker Rhys Lloyd made his 37-yard try. Then the game came to a thrilling situation. 3:20 on the game clock in the fourth quarter. Rhein Fire was ahead 27-24. Rhys Lloyd went on the field for a 47-yard field goal to tie the game. Every Galaxy fan was excited, because everybody knows that Lloyd made a 56-yard field goal in week two against the Cologne Centurions. The ball got snapped, approach, kick and follow through. The ball traveled to the goal post. From my point of view, a little too high, maybe the sweet spot of the ball did not get hit perfectly? Maybe a plant foot issue? The ball reached the goal post. Oh no, the ball hit the cross bar and bounced back in the field. The field goal was not good. Rhein Fire won 27-24.

Brubaker to Replace Hughes (5/11/07)

Mark Brubaker is on his way to Duesseldorf, Germany in order to replace injured Rhein Fire Kicker Connor Hughes. The injury Connor Hughes suffered in the game against Hamburg is not as bad as it seemed. He didn´t tear his muscle, he ruptured it. Doctors says that he might be able to play in about three weeks. Hughes will stay in Duesseldorf to recieve his treatments. Brubaker is planned to replace Hughes for at least a couple of games.

PRO CAREER: Assigned to the Cologne Centurions at the conclusion of NFL Europa kicking camp in Tampa, but didn´t make it to the Centurions roster.  He signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2006, but was released following the team´s training camp. 

COLLEGE: The 23-year old Brubaker earned first-team PSAC honors...As a senior, converted 14 of 19 field goals as East Stroudsburg made it to the Division II national semifinals, before losing to Grand Valley State...Connected on an career-long 48-yard field goal against C. W. Post in the NCAA playoffs...

PERSONAL: Majored in sociology/criminal justice...All-Berks County first-team kicker at Conrad Weiser High School.

Ingo Anderbruegge returns to Rhein Fire? (5/11/07)

After the injury Connor Hughes suffered in Hamburg, Rhein Fire has to replace the most consistent Kicker. Hughes kicked all of his seven field goals and is one of the top scorers of the Rhein Fire team 2007 (22 points).

Rhein Fire contacted former National Kicker Ingo Anderbruegge who played 2003 and 2004 for Rhein.

“If Rhein Fire needs my help I’m coming,” Anderbruegge said.

“I’m in a good shape and after 18 years playing soccer on the highest level in the German first division (DFL) and after two football seasons with Rhein Fire I will be able to play. But I need also a little time to think it over. I’m studying for getting my coaches licence in soccer, and I have to check out if this will fit together,” Anderbruegge added.

Rhein Fire has not much time. They have to replace one of the key players soon. On Saturday, the Frankfurt Galaxy will come to Duesseldorf. The Galaxy is 3-1, Rhein Fire 1-3. Rhein Fire has to do something to better their situation.

Week 4 Summary (5/5/07)

The Cologne Centurions played against Berlin Thunder. Andrew Jacas kicked a 43-yard field goal. The Centurions lost 28-31 after a 21-0 lead. Centurions Kicker Nick Novak missed his 38-yard try to tie the game with 8 seconds left on the game clock in the fourth quarter. In Amsterdam, the Admirals won against the Frankfurt Galaxy 19-17. Galaxy kicker Rhys Lloyd had two tries. He missed a 47-yard field goal but kicked a 38-yarder. In Hamburg, the Sea Devils dominated over the Rhein Fire. Hamburg won 34-9. Sea Devils Kicker Shane Andrus was good in all his tries. He kicked a 33 and a 44-yard field goal. Rhein Fire Kicker “Mr. 100 %” Connor Hughes was also successful with his 36-yard field goal, but after a field goal fake, Hughes suffered a leg injury that puts him out of the game. On the play,Rhein Fire Punter Danny Baugher, who is also doing the holds, pitches the ball to Hughes, who runs out over the right side of the end zone. The result of the play was a first down (because the referees called the play out of bounds), but also an injured Kicker. What bad luck for Rhein Fire at this time. It might be possible that Hughes will miss a couple of games because he torn a muscle in his kicking leg.  Does the Rhein Fire have the ability to replace the most consistent Kicker of the league? What will they do?  Will Mark Hickok come over to Europe in order to help Fire? Hickok spent the training camp in Tampa, Florida with the team. Or do we see a common face? Many questions will need to be answered this week…

Week 3 Summary (4/29/07)

Week three is over, and here are the results. Berlin Thunder lost against the Amsterdam Admirals 10-14. Berlin Thunder kicker Andrew Jacas kicked a 24-yard field goal, but missed a 39-yarder. Frankfurt Galaxy beat the Hamburg Sea Devils 20-17. Both kickers put points on the scoreboard. Hamburg kicker Shane Andrus made 3 of 4 FGs (38, 35, 30). He missed when he tried a 50-yard field goal. It was too short, and a little bit to the right. Rhys Lloyd was perfect with his two field goals (40, 35). In Duesseldorf, the 'Rhine Derby' between Rhein Fire and the Cologne Centurions was played. A big sports rivalry exists between the two cities, which are located at the river Rhine, and only a stone throw away from each other. The most consistent kicker "Mr 100 %" Connor Hughes (Rhein Fire) made six points for his team when he nailed a 29 and 37 yarder through the goal post. Right now, Hughes is perfect in his field goals (6-6) and PAT (1-1). Good performances were showed by punters Danny Baugher (Rhein Fire), who had 8 punts for 338 yards with an average of 42.3, and Joel Stelly of the Cologne Centurions, who punted nine times for 374 yards with an average of 41.6. Stelly hammered one punt into the Duesseldorf sky for 58 yards and 4.71 hang time (hand-timed). "It was not an easy catch for the Rhein Fire returner because it had ice on the ball when it came back down to earth."

Week 2 Summary (4/22/07)

Week two is over, and the record books have to be modified again. Week two started in Amsterdam on Friday 20th, where the Admirals welcomed Rhein Fire. Rhein Fire won 16-10. Connor Hughes (Pittsburgh Steelers) kicked three field goals (25), (31), (36) for the Fire. On Sunday, the Hamburg Sea Devils played against Berlin Thunder. Thunder lost in front of a club record crowd of 30,657 Thunder fans 16-7. Sea Devils Kicker Shane Andrus kicked three field goals (42), (38), (21) to lead Hamburg to victory.

However, all eyes have to be put on the performance of Frankfurt Galaxy Kicker Rhys Lloyd. Frankfurt played Saturday in Cologne and beat the Centurions 18-13. Lloyd, who was born in Dover/England, moved to the United States when he was 15, when his father, a former soccer player of Charlton Athletic in England, took a coaching job in Minnesota. Lloyd, who got coached by his dad, nailed a 56-yard field goal, with three seconds left in the second quarter, to give the Galaxy a lead of 11-10. He tied the league record set by Danny Kight, who kicked a 56-yarder for Rhein Fire against the Barcelona Dragons in 2000. But it was not a perfect day for Lloyd. He had the chance to push Frankfurt further away from the Centurions with 12:41 remaining in the fourth period, but he was unsuccessful on his 47-yard field goal . Nevertheless, It seems that a competition between Andrew Jacas (Berlin Thunder) and Rhys Lloyed (Frankfurt Galaxy) got started. At the end of the season, we will see who of the players will receive a kicker crown for making the most field goals which are worth four points (50 yards or longer).

Setting new records (4/15/07)

Week one is over, and the record books were filled up. The Cologne Centurions won against the Hamburg Sea Devils 24-18, while the Frankfurt Galaxy dominated the Amsterdam Admirals 30-14. Galaxy Kicker Rhys Lloyd kicked 3-3 that night (42), (25), (26). But the real kicking happened in Duesseldorf, where Rhein Fire played against Berlin Thunder. Both teams came out pretty slow. The first points on the board were a 21-yard field goal from Conner Hughes for a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter. But we have to put our eyes on the performance of Berlin Thunder kicker Andrew Jacas. His day started with a 33-yard miss in the second quarter, but later on he scored three times, two field goals and one extra point, and scored nine points for his team. How did this come? Five seconds to play in the second quarter. The Ball is on Fire's 46-yard line. The coaches of Berlin have the confidence to send Jacas on the field. A 53-yard field goal try, worth four points in the NFL Europa, and Andrew made it. The third field goal was a 50-yarder, also worth four points. An 8-4 lead over Rhein Fire in the third quarter. To make it complete, Berlin Thunder QB Travis Lulay ran 61 yards for a touchdown, so Berlin won 15-3 against Rhein Fire.

Stefan Nickel: "Andrew, how do you feel after this great performance?"

Jacas: "I feel pretty good. I knew that I’m able to kick 50-yarder and beyond. I was kind up sad of my first field goal but I came back and made two 50 yarders. I was not happy with my kick offs. I can do a whole lot better. My last kick off was probably my best kickoff today. I’m just happy to be able to play a whole NFL Europa game. It’s my first actual time, playing a whole game kicking off and kicking field goals."

Nickel: "What can we expect from you this season?"

Jacas: "Consistency! Consistency, accuracy through out the whole season. That is my goal."

Berlin Thunder head coach John Allen added, "Andrew is unbelievable. He is strong, very strong leg. We knew that actually he is able to kick longer then that. He has to feel that confidence. As long as we can continue to move that way, he did a great job with his kickoffs as well, he is a very integral part of our game right now."

Get ready for the action (4/7/07)

The 2007 Rhein Fire team celebrated at their famous Team Welcome Party in front of about 2,500 enthusiastic football fans on their Town Hall Square in Duesseldorf, Germany. Rhein Fire Kicker Connor Hughes (right) introduced himself together with Punter Danny Baugher (left) and long snapper Brian Jorden (middle) to the fans. The season starts April 14th, when Rhein Fire will play against Berlin Thunder. Other games include the Frankfurt Galaxy against the Amsterdam Admirals and the Hamburg Sea Devils against the Cologne Centurions.
 

Three Chinese for Berlin Thunder

The Berlin Thunder becomes more and more complete. After the allocation of Kicker Andrew Jacas (Fort Valley State), the three Kickers from China (Ding Long, Shen Yalei and Gao Wei) are filling up the Berlin roster.

The three Kickers from China are in a special position within the Thunder team. They practice under pro conditions the entire NFL Europa season, and can collect experiences as a Kicker in pro football, but they are not allowed to play in a regular season game.

The reason for the special rule? The preseason game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots in Beijing on August 8^th.  The NFL Europa, with the Berlin Thunder, will prepare them for the big performance in Beijing, where they will play a guest part for the current NFL teams. They would be the first Chinese football players in the first NFL preseason game in China.

Final Rosters for NFLE Allocation - 3/16/07

TEAM	Name	Pos	College	NFL Team
Amsterdam Admirals
	Pakulak, Glenn	P	Kentucky	Titans
	Johnson, Jaret	K	Idaho State	Free Agent
Cologne Centurions
	Novak, Nick	K	Maryland	Bears
	Brubaker, Mark	K	E. Stroudsburg St	Free Agent
	Stelly, Joel	P	Lousiana-Monroe	Bears
Berlin Thunder
	Jacas, Andrew	K	Fort Valley State	Free Agent
	Malone, Tom	P	USC	Patriots
	Fitzpatrick, D.J.	K	Notre Dame	Free Agent
Frankfurt Galaxy
	Lloyd, Rhys	K	Minnesota	Free Agent
	Basler, Kyle	P	Washington State	Browns
	Williams, Jeff	P	Adams State	Free Agent
Rhein Fire
	Hickok, Mark	K	Connecticut	Free Agent
	Baugher, Danny	P	Arizona	Patriots
	Hughes, Connor	K	Virginia	Steelers
Hamburg Sea Devils
	Anderson, Adam	P	Western Michigan	Falcons
	Andrus, Shane	K	Murray State	Colts

Get ready for the action - 3/13/07

The training camp in Tampa is still running, but two important positions in a team still have to be filled – the Kicker and the Punter. Until March 14, 27 specialists, including three Chinese, are fighting for a roster spot.

One favorite for getting a spot in the NFL Europa is Nick Novak (Chicago Bears). Nick played 16 NFL regular season games for the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Redskins, converting 13 of 20 field goals, with a long of 47 yards, and all 25 PAT attempts for a total of 64 points.

The Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts are sending Kicker Shane Andrus, who will try to succeed Adam Vinatieri one day. Vinatieri, the four time Super Bowl Champion, started his career in Europe. He played for the Amsterdam Admirals in 1996. Andrus is not only a consistent Kicker, but he is also a good athlete.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are sending Connor Hughes. Hughes was a starter in four Bowl Games for the University of Virginia.

The NFL Europa will welcome two veterans. Punter Glenn Pakulak and Adam Anderson are trying to return to Europe.

Tom “The Bomb” Malone will apply for a roster spot in NFL Europa. He got allocated by the Chicago Bears. Malone won the Orange Bowl in 2005 for the University of Southern California.

Cameron Muro is a tall and strong guy. That was one reason why he impressed the Special Teams coaches of the Houston Texans. He is able to kick in a strong wind. That can be an advantage when kicking in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

The Chinese Ding Long, Shen Yalei and Gao Wei are raising their hopes to sign a pro football contract for NFL Europa in 2007 for the first time. This could be a milestone for football in China. August 9th, the England Patriots will play a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks in Beijing.
 

Get ready for the action - 3/9/07

The NFL Europa season 2007 starts April 14th. Kickers and Punters will arrive in Tampa, Florida starting March 10th for a training camp. You will find the full list of names here on Kicking.com soon. Full squad practices begin in Tampa on March 14, with combined workouts and game-condition scrimmages scheduled for March 20, 24,
28 and 31st.

Chinese Kickers working with Ola Kimrin in hopes of making it to NFL Europa 2007 - 11/8/06

93 non-American players from all over the world (from 14 countries) are meeting up for a tryout this week in Cologne, Germany in hopes of getting an invitation to the 2007 training camp in Tampa, Florida. Since Friday last week, five kickers from China are practicing very hard to get a roster spot with one of the NFLE teams. Ola Kimrin (Rhein Fire 2006) is taking care of the guys. The NFL found the asian kickers in kicking camps in Beijing and Shanghai this year. Ola is working hard with them on their skills and technique for kicking field goals and extra points. It´s the first time players from China have participated in a NFLE national training camp ever. All of them have good requirements for becoming a kicker in football. All played soccer, and one of them played rugby as well. Ola Kimrin's comments so far: All of them are learning very fast. They all have made good progress every day. After announcing that Beijing will host the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots on August 8th, 2007 for a preseason game, football in China is becoming very famous.

World Bowl XIV - 5/28/06

The NFL-Europe-League season 2006 is over. The titleholder of last season the Amsterdam Admirals played against the Frankfurt Galaxy in front of more then 38,000 enthusiastic fans in the LTU-Arena in Duesseldorf, Germany. The Galaxy won 22-7. David Kimball pictured at left.

Amsterdam Admirals Kicker Ryan Killeen, who scored 71 points total, and Cologne Centurions Punter Gabe Lindstrom, who averaged 36.2. yards per punt, received ALL-NFLEL honors.

The league will continue 2007 and everybody is sure that a certain amount of young players are excited in coming over to Europe next year for showing the world what they are able to do on a football field.

Kicking stats for the 2006 season:

 Punting stats for the 2006 season:

Swedish native Ola Kimrin and how he became a Kicker in football 4/17/06

Our overseas representative Stefan Nickel was interviewing Rhein Fire Kicker Ola Kimrin for Kicking.com. Ola was allocated from the Miami Dolphins to the NFL-Europe-League.

OK: I played soccer growing up, and then I torn my ACL. It wasn’t that fun any more after that, 'cause it wasn’t fun running around any more. So then I had some friends playing football, and they asked me if I can still kick the ball, and I tried. So I went down to one of their practices, and it worked out pretty well, and I did have plans for going over to study.

SN: This all happens in Sweden?

OK: All this happens in Sweden. I came over to the USA. I went to Texas El Paso and I just walked on there. I figured out that it can’t be that hard, and it really wasn’t. I mean the transition from soccer to football wasn’t that hard for me. The hard part was the mechanics, and doing the same thing over and over, 'cause in soccer you are more free to improvise, and you normally don’t take steps, you just back up and you hit it. So in my first year I didn’t take steps. I just walked back and hit it, but after a while, you start to realize that you need to do the same thing over and over again. At UTEP, we got the kicking and punting tapes from Steve Hoffman from Dallas. We watched those, and you get even more into detail, and things you have to do to get better, and to get to the next level. They only used me as a kick off guy. We had a local guy, a good kicker, so it was hard to come in and try to beat him out. But they let me do kickoffs and that was good. My coach at UTEP knew the former Rhein Fire head coach Pete Kuharcheck. My coach called Pete, and told him about that he had a Swedish kicker, and Pete called back and asked: "Is he born in Sweden? He counts as a National (non US player)?" My coach said yes, and we made a practice tape, and we sent that to the NFLEL and they invited me to camp that year in 2001. Unfortunately, I ended up with Manny Burgsmueller (one of the most popular National Kicker in NFLEL at that time) so I couldn’t beat out the National guy. It wasn’t my goal to come in and compete as a National. I knew that I was just as good as the other guys that were coming to camp here. I want to compete with them instead of the Nationals, but so are the rules, and you had to stick with your national tag for a while there. But it worked out good. I didn’t get the job with the Rhein Fire in 2001. I ended up in Frankfurt. We had two national Kickers there, and an American kick off guy. So they let me do all the field goals there. It worked out good.

SN: We don’t have the national rule in the NFL-Europe-League anymore. How do you see your position now, comparing it to the seasons before?

OK: I never felt like a national. Nothing is really changed. I just want to go out there and compete and do what I do.

SN: But as a national kicker, you had no chance to kick the long field goals. It was just allowed that the National kicked the PATs and the field goals 35 yards, or less then 35 yards.

OK: In Frankfurt, I did it my first two years. In my second year, I was the only Kicker in Frankfurt. We had no American kicker. Then I took a year off when I went to training camp with the Dallas Cowboys. So I wasn’t here in 2003, and then I got released from there, and the spring came and I want to come back to NFLEL and I ended up in Cologne 2004 as the National. So I got only 33 yards and in, but there was a good kicker. That’s hard. If you split all the kicks, you still have two kickers, and you have a national kicker who is good enough to kick long field goals. So, even the American kicker will get extra points and short field goals. Sometimes it’s not fair to throw a guy in there, and all he gets is the long field goals. I kind of like how it is now, but it will be hard for European kickers to come in and compete and get the experience they need to get better. First, you have to go to camps here, and have to show that you can compete with the Americans. Then you have to go to Tampa and win one of six jobs. It’s a little harder for European kickers to get in now. It worked out for me, so I’m not really complaining about it.

SN: When you compare the NFLEL with the NFL, what will you say? Are these two leagues comparable?

OK: Well, kicking is kicking. No matter where you are. I mean you still have to get that ball through the uprights. You still have a snap and a hold. The difference is it’s a little more pressure because NFL means more. It means more to more people. For you, it means the same. Everybody wants to be hundred percent. For you, it’s still a snap, hold, kick. No matter if you are practicing, or you play in FedEx Field for 92,000 people. Even the 25,000 people here might be louder, with all their whistles. It shouldn’t be different, but there is some extra pressure on you that you feel. On the other hand, you are so happy and excited that you are there. It’s more before the game, when you feel all this extra pressure. But as soon as you got on that field ,it just disappears and it’s hopefully just like practice.

SN: A lot of young players talk about technique and leg strength. Not many are talking about the mental factor. How important is the mental strength?

OK: I think it is even more than 50/50. I think 80% is mental and 18 % technique and 2% leg strength. You have to be mentally ready to do what you are supposed to do. You have to be able to block everything for those two to three seconds. You can have the strongest leg in the world, and still not be a good kicker. The mental part is hard to practice.

SN: Have you any tips for young players concerning the mental part?

OK: I usually try to visualize the ball going through. I’m not aiming for the uprights. I’m usually aiming for a spot behind it, and try to hit that. If I do, it will go through there. I don’t sit on the sideline closing my eyes trying to visualize the whole thing. It doesn’t really work for me, but it might work for somebody to sit there and try to see what you want to see. I try to get in my little bubble. Usually I don’t want to know where I line up. I don’t want to know what yard line I’m on. If you think about missing the field goal, you will miss it. Than less you think about it, the better you can be, I think so. As long as you know what to do, when to do it, you’ll be fine. Before the season, don’t start thinking about that you want to be at least 85%. Don’t think about stats that are not helping you at all. You want to be one for one. You want to make that kick. Don’t care about what you did before. Sometimes it is hard, 'cause you know you need good stats to look good, but hopefully when you add them when the year is over, it is ok at least. Everybody is going to miss. We know that. We have seen that.

SN: I have to ask you a question about your big kick in Denver in 2002. How was it for you to kick a 65-yarder in the exhibition game against the Seahawks? How was the preparation for that kick?

OK: The preparation was...I didn’t have one. I thought we would take a knee, or run the clock out. That was probably good for me, so when they throw me in there I didn’t have time to think too much about it. I knew we were lining up on our own 45, obviously, when you turn around that goalpost is closer. Mentally, it helped knowing that you are in Denver. The ball is travelling a little further. So mentally that helps. I knew I had a great holder in Tom Rouen. We had good practices through the whole camp. Me and Elam, we were kicking 70 yard field goals in practice, backing up just for fun. It felt like, if I just hit it, I may have a chance here in Denver. If I do it on target, it might go in. As soon as I hit it, I didn’t know if it was long enough, but I knew it was on target.

SN: What can young players do to reach the next level?

OK: Let me say that there are three levels. Before college, during college, and to make it with the pros, you have to be on there even higher. After college, you should have kicked enough balls to know if you could make it to the next level. You can be a good high school and college kicker, but you might not have the leg for the next level. In collegekick offs were fun. You kicked them out of the end zone. I didn’t use a two inch tee, I used a one inch, but the footballs are different. Soon as you backup five yards, you think you can put it five deep, but then you get a brand new NFL ball and it lands on the ten. When you start thinking about it too much, then you try to kick it harder, and the result is not getting better. Again, you can be a great high school and college kicker, but you might not have the leg to reach the next level. Then it doesn’t matter how many camps you go to. I’ve been lucky to get the chances I’ve got. I always felt that I was good enough.

SN: When the season is over, will return to Miami for mini camps?

OK: That’s what it looks like. Somewhat excited about that, cause I didn’t end where I wanted to in Tennessee. I mean, I missed an extra point, so I can understand why they started thinking that I wasn’t good enough. Last time I missed an extra point, I made a 65 yard field goal the week after. You learn from your mistakes. I didn’t want to end on that. I didn’t get any calls after that. No workouts all through 2005, so I was thinking maybe I should give it up then. I called Tony Allen and asked him if the NFLEL will bring in European kickers. So I knew the year before they didn’t bring any national kickers. He said yes, we bring you in, but you will have to come in and compete for the job. There is only one kicker on each team. You have to be one out of six. I said that I will do that. That’s all I’m asking for. I didn’t want to end it on a missed extra point. If nothing happenshopefully I can at least end it how it started. Then we came to Tampa and I had a good kicking camp, and Miami had a guy there, and I guess they liked what they saw. That was a big surprise. That was a pleasant surprise. So I get another chance, even that’s going to be real hard, 'cause Orlindo Mare is very good. That is all about timing, and to be at the right place at the right time.

Good things come to those who wait 2/28/06

Ola Kimrin is celebrating his 34th birthday today. His correct date of birth is February the 29th. "Actually I can celebrate my birthday when it's a leap year", Ola said with a smile. "I'm special."

At least Ola can kick a football. We all know that he nailed a 65-yarder in a pre season game for the Denver Broncos in 2002. "Sadly it is not an official record because it was a pre-season game", Ola explained. Other than the Broncos, Ola played for the Washington Redskins in 2004, and was under contract with the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans.

With Rhein Fire, Ola will positon himself for a contract in the NFL. NFL Europe League fans know that Kimrin is not an unknown player in this league. In 2002 and 2003, he played for the immediate rival of Rhein Fire, the Frankfurt Galaxy, and after that, for the Cologne Centurions.

"I'm playing for the right team now", Ola said. "Everything started for me in training camp 2002 with Rhein Fire."

The native of Sweden got signed to Rhein Fire as the second non-American player (National) at that time. The league allowed the teams to only have one non-American player on the Kicker position, so Ola got traded to the Frankfurt Galaxy, and Manny Burgsmueller became the ultimate National Kicker for Rhein Fire.

Today Ola lost his "National" status. Now he is a free agent. "Four years ago I got beaten by a 52 year old guy", Ola joked. "But know I wanna show the fans in Duesseldorf what I'm able to do." "I'm very excited."

Hayden Epstein, the second Kicker in training camp, switched to the Hamburg Sea Devils.

Hamburg Sea Devils strengthened their roster 2/28/06

Shortly before the season starts, the Hamburg Sea Devils strengthened their roster with Hayden Epstein. The 25-year old player is like Ola Kimrin, also well known in the NFL Europe League. In 2004, Hayden won the World Bowl trophy with Berlin Thunder. At that time, he was the punter for Berlin, and ended the season with a record of 35/1,416 yds/40.5 Avg.

Now he is returning for a second season. He is playing at his real position, the Kicker position now. Hayden got traded off the Rhein Fire. In Hamburg, he is fighting with Tyler Jones for the starting Kicker position.

"Europe will help me", Hayden said. "Players like Adam Vinatieri and David Akers started their careers over in Europe."

Hayden got allocated from the Houston Texans to the NFL-Europe League. His NFL career started as a 7th round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2002. He played in eight games for the Jaguars. After that, he played seven games for the Minnesota Vikings.

Epstein went to school at the University of Michigan. He kicked 26 of 42 FG and 85 of 88 PAT for a total of 163 points. He punted 167 times for 6,657 yards for the Wolverines. In his last season, Hayden got nominated for the Lou Groza Award and the Ray Guy Award.

Tim Duncan or Nick Setta for the Cologne Centurions in 2006? 2/20/06

No, it´s not the two-time MVP of the San Antonio Spurs who will fight for a roster spot of the Cologne Centurions. It´s Tim Duncan, who played in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals in 2003, and got allocated by the Okland Raiders to NFLE this season. His rival is Nick Setta, who played for Rhein Fire 2005. Nick got allocated by the Buffalo Bills. His stats in 2005 was 13/18 FG and 22/22 PAT. The Punter for Cologne is Gabe Lindstrom, who got allocated by the Seattle Seahawks.

Just like Rhein Fire, at the end of the training camp, we will find out who of the two candidates will travel over to Europe to bring glory to his team, and will better position himself for a contract in the NFL.

Dorsch assigned to Rhein Fire 2/18/06

After the assignment of the Kickers and Punters, the Rhein Fire team is now complete. Travis Dorsch, the league leading Punter 2005 is returning to Rhein for a second year.

It´s not yet clear what Kicker will follow Travis to Duesseldorf. Heyden Epstein and Ola Kimrin, both veterans, got assigned to the Rhein Fire training camp in Tampa. Heyden made his first experience in the NFL-Europe League as the Punter for Berlin Thunder in 2004 and won the World Bowl that year. Ola Kimrin, a native of Sweden, tries to return into the league for the fourth time. 2001 and 2002 he played for the Frankfurt Galaxy, in 2004 he was the Kicker for the Cologne Centurions. Everybody knows. In 2002 Ola kicked a 65-yard field goal for the Denver Broncos in a preseason game – two yards longer than the NFL regular season record set by New Orleans’ Tom Dempsey. But that happened in the past. Now Heyden and Ola have to figth against each other to win the roster spot for the Rhein Fire team in 2006.

The training camp ends at the beginning of March. Then we will know who of the guys will come over to Europe for playing another season.

Assigned Kicker/Punters

AMSTERDAM: Ryan Killeen, K; Tyler Fredrickson, P; Glenn Pakulak, P.
BERLIN: Xavier Beitia, K; Brian Simnjanovski, P; Chad Parrish, P.
COLOGNE: Tim Duncan, K; Nick Setta, K; Gabe Lindstrom, P.
FRANKFURT: David Kimball, K; Mike Barr, P; Bryce Benekos, P.
HAMBURG: Tyler Jones, K; Adam Anderson, P
RHEIN: Ola Kimrin, K; Hayden Epstein, K; Travis Dorsch, P

Interview with new Rhein Fire head coach Jim Tomsula 2/6/06

The Saturday before Super Bowl XL, I (Stefan Nickel, SN) interviewed new Rhein Fire head coach Jim Tomsula (JT) in Ratingen, Germany.

SN: A pair of former NFL Europe League Punters and Kickers will return into Training Camp in Tampa this month. How big are the chances for these guys to get a roster spot again and return for another season?

JT: I don’t know. I don’t want to make too many comments on that, because I haven’t seen them. Our job is to make sure that we pick the players that fit the Rhein Fire profile. That doesn’t always mean the best player. That means the guy that fits the criteria that we will put together in our team.

SN: What kind of attributes does a Kicker or Punter needs to fit in your system or in your team?

JT: Well, it is not the best players that win. That is the great thing about this game that we love. American football is truly a team game. You have guys who played that game their entire life, and never touched the ball. When you think about all the other sports, people in basketball, everybody touches this ball. Cricket, soccer, hockey, rugby everybody touches that thing. In football they don’t. We are looking for a team. We are looking for people that want to fit into the team concept. Who wants to be a part of something bigger than themselves. I know that sounds old fashion. I know that sounds like a cliché, but that is truly what we are looking for. With our Kicker and Punter, when you look at a football game, number one, take a look at the scores. The scoring margin between win and loss, it is very small. Points are extremely important. I talk about hidden yardage, field position. If we can change that field position, if we can get ahead of that field position, the punting and kicking, that is your strongest avenue to be able to get the field position. People talk about punting. Everybody is getting nervous, whenever a Punter is on the field. Bad snap, you are worried about the Punter, the protection, jeez, you talk about the punting aspects. But when you look at the Kickers, first play, field position that is the very first thing you got to do to start the game. We deal with a different kind of Kicker. I worked together with Rob Hart (non-American player) in London (Monarchs) and in Scotland (Claymores) for five to six years. I was the kick-off coach. Rob wasn’t the guy who was able to kick the ball in the end zone, nor was he able to kick the ball out of the end zone. What Rob Hart could do surely established what we did. Rob Hart could place the ball! Rob Hart could get some air into the ball! We decided that the perfect kick for us was between the 15 and 20 yard line, just really high. I told Rob, if you can drop that thing the in the middle of the zero and the 20, and we just get the fastest guys, that would be perfect. Kickers and Punters are extremely important! But again, they have to fit the profile. The Rhein Fire team is not a place for everybody. Sometimes people might not understand that, or might not like that.

SN: Have you any tips for high school or college students to become a better player?

JT: Number one thing I talk about is, kids in America, high school athletics and college athletics needs graduatation and academics! This is the biggest difference I see between Europe and America. The athletics are built into, and around, the educational system. I like that! That is extremely healthy. But don’t forget, its student-athletes! That’s what it is! I coached college football for a long time. I loved it! I loved every minute of it! I enjoyed it! We had a lot of success. Won a lot of rings, conference championships and national playoffs. Ok, it was division II, but it was a lot of fun. But, that’s not what I’m most proud of. What I’m proud of is that I never had a guy who did not graduate. I wouldn’t let you play on Saturday, if you don’t go to class. That’s the way you live your life. Enjoy yourself. If you don’t enjoy yourself, don’t play the sport. It’s almost like a disease. If you can live without it, you need to. If you can’t live without it, then you are not working.

SN: Thank you very much coach and good luck for the season.

NFL Allocated NFL Kickers and Punters to the NFL Europe League 1/27/06

The NFL allocated Kickers and Punters to the NFL Europe League today. A couple of veterans, headed by Trevis Dorsch, who led the league in punts in 2005, and Ryan Dutton, who won the World Bowl trophy with the Amsterdam Admirals in 2005, will come back for another year. But not only veterans will return. We see also new faces, like Xavier Beitia, a kicker out of Florida State University, who got allocated from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. All of the candidates will meet up for a Kicking Camp in Tampa at the beginning of February to fight for a roster spot. After that camp, each NFL Europe team will sign a Kicker and a Punter.

The NFLEL season kicks off on March 18th, and culminates in World Bowl XIV at Duesseldorf’s (Germany) LTU-Arena on Saturday, May 27th.

The allocated Kickers/Punters for season 2006 are: