Doomsday101
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NFL Europe training camp is ready to get started on Monday after all players arrived in Tampa Bay, Florida over the weekend – despite severe weather across the USA that made travel difficult. Nevertheless, the six teams will begin their on-field preparation for 2006 when they kick off training camp this morning.
Two teams will begin camp with new head coaches at the helm. Defensive gurus Jim Tomsula and Darryl Sims were named as head coaches during the off season and will take charge of the Rhein Fire and Cologne Centurions respectively when practice begins on Monday with passing camp.
On Friday, Tomsula welcomed Dallas Cowboys allocated quarterback Drew Henson to training camp – and was impressed by the young passer’s attitude and desire to get out and begin working towards a Rhein championship.
“In camp you have a whole new team and a whole new offense to put in so we have these three weeks to get in sync,” Henson explained. “We have to get the running game and passing game to come together as a team as quickly as possible before we head over to Europe.”
“I’m very excited about this tremendous opportunity to coach the Cologne Centurions,” explained former Amsterdam defensive coordinator Sims, who gets his first chanvce to see his players in action on Monday. “I have a great staff to work with, a really nice blend of coaches that know a lot about football. It’s very cool to have the chance to remain with Cologne, and I’ve had the chance to get to know many of the media members in Germany already.”
“I’m getting in on the ground floor of something really great here, and can’t wait to get started,” continued Sims.
The Amsterdam Admirals enter the season for the first time as the reigning World Bowl champions, and can call on the experience of quarterback Gibran Hamdan, who returns for his third season with the team.
“The most exciting part is getting to go back and be around the fans again,” said Hamdan. “I really feel embraced every time I go to Amsterdam, especially since it is my third year. I have a unique opportunity in which fans will know who I am and they will be even more supportive now since we have won the World Bowl, the anticipation and excitement is high over there. The most exciting part is that we have created a team over there that they can be proud of and to go back and be able to lead it again will be exciting.”
Berlin kick off training camp looking to make it to their third consecutive World Bowl – and go one better than they managed in 2005 when they came off second best against the Admirals in the World Bowl. The Thunder welcome back cornerback James Thornton who has been a part of both of their past two World Bowl teams.
“I’m really excited,” admitted Thornton. “Berlin’s a great city. I’ve been over the the last two seasons, so I’m very familiar with the city, the fans, the coaches and the scheme. We’ve been to World Bowl both times I’ve been over there, so maybe I’m a good luck charm. I’m really excited about it. We’ll see how the team looks. I’m very optimistic and excited about it. They’re great fans.”
The six NFL Europe teams will be practicing in the Tampa Bay area:
Amsterdam - University of South Florida, E.Fowler Avenue
Berlin - Ed Radice Sports Complex, Ed Radice Drive
Cologne - Admiral Farragut Academy, 501 Park Street North, St Petersburg
Frankfurt - University of Tampa, W. Kennedy Boulevard
Hamburg - Skyway Park, George Road
Rhein - Tampa Catholic High School, N.Rome Avenue
Two teams will begin camp with new head coaches at the helm. Defensive gurus Jim Tomsula and Darryl Sims were named as head coaches during the off season and will take charge of the Rhein Fire and Cologne Centurions respectively when practice begins on Monday with passing camp.
On Friday, Tomsula welcomed Dallas Cowboys allocated quarterback Drew Henson to training camp – and was impressed by the young passer’s attitude and desire to get out and begin working towards a Rhein championship.
“In camp you have a whole new team and a whole new offense to put in so we have these three weeks to get in sync,” Henson explained. “We have to get the running game and passing game to come together as a team as quickly as possible before we head over to Europe.”
“I’m very excited about this tremendous opportunity to coach the Cologne Centurions,” explained former Amsterdam defensive coordinator Sims, who gets his first chanvce to see his players in action on Monday. “I have a great staff to work with, a really nice blend of coaches that know a lot about football. It’s very cool to have the chance to remain with Cologne, and I’ve had the chance to get to know many of the media members in Germany already.”
“I’m getting in on the ground floor of something really great here, and can’t wait to get started,” continued Sims.
The Amsterdam Admirals enter the season for the first time as the reigning World Bowl champions, and can call on the experience of quarterback Gibran Hamdan, who returns for his third season with the team.
“The most exciting part is getting to go back and be around the fans again,” said Hamdan. “I really feel embraced every time I go to Amsterdam, especially since it is my third year. I have a unique opportunity in which fans will know who I am and they will be even more supportive now since we have won the World Bowl, the anticipation and excitement is high over there. The most exciting part is that we have created a team over there that they can be proud of and to go back and be able to lead it again will be exciting.”
Berlin kick off training camp looking to make it to their third consecutive World Bowl – and go one better than they managed in 2005 when they came off second best against the Admirals in the World Bowl. The Thunder welcome back cornerback James Thornton who has been a part of both of their past two World Bowl teams.
“I’m really excited,” admitted Thornton. “Berlin’s a great city. I’ve been over the the last two seasons, so I’m very familiar with the city, the fans, the coaches and the scheme. We’ve been to World Bowl both times I’ve been over there, so maybe I’m a good luck charm. I’m really excited about it. We’ll see how the team looks. I’m very optimistic and excited about it. They’re great fans.”
The six NFL Europe teams will be practicing in the Tampa Bay area:
Amsterdam - University of South Florida, E.Fowler Avenue
Berlin - Ed Radice Sports Complex, Ed Radice Drive
Cologne - Admiral Farragut Academy, 501 Park Street North, St Petersburg
Frankfurt - University of Tampa, W. Kennedy Boulevard
Hamburg - Skyway Park, George Road
Rhein - Tampa Catholic High School, N.Rome Avenue