Galian Beast
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Because I like to toot the ole Drew Henson fan horn.
In Jake Delhomme's first season in NFL Europe backing up Kurt Warner he went 15 of 47 for 247 yards and 1 touchdown.
In Jake Delhomme's second year in NFL Europe he split time with Pat Barnes. Went 6-4. Ranked 2nd in NFL Europe QB Ratings with a 96.8, completing 136 of 202 (67.3%) passes for 1,410 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Drew Henson is: 51 of 86 (59.3%) for 586 yards (on pace for 1,465 yards) 4 touchdowns (on pace for 10 touchdowns). And assuming he continues to improve, I have no doubt that even statistically he is going to do better that Jake Delhomme.
P.S. this is a good old article about NFL Europe. It makes a lot of really good points about NFL Europe, and the success rate of getting a franchise quarterback through the draft. Articles like this give me even more faith in Henson. And give me the idea that a lot of players could seriously use NFL Europe at other posititions. Not like running back, but maybe receiver, cornerback, defensive tackle, linebacker, offensive line...
May 19, 2003
By Andreas Renner
NFL Europe
[FONT=verdana,helvetica]Could Shaun Hill turnout to be the next Kurt Warner? Photo: Photo-stock.co.uk [/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica]
Andreas Renner writes a regular column for NFLEurope.com, providing fans around the world with unique insight leading up to the World Bowl this June in Scotland.
About six months ago, I came across a column in the Dallas Morning News on NFL Europe. There it said NFL Europe had to produce a new Kurt Warner to justify its existence.
My first reaction was, "Say what...?" I mean, Kurt Warner happens to be the highest rated quarterback in NFL history. It's not like these guys grow on trees. Isn't it remarkable enough that a league usually fielding low draft picks or undrafted free agents at the quarterback position produced the statistically best quarterback at all?
Then I thought: maybe NFL Europe has already produced a new Kurt Warner, but the NFL hasn't noticed yet.
Let's go back to 1998: Kurt Warner returned to the US after a good (but hardly sensational) season in NFL Europe. In training camp, he secured a job as the Rams third-string quarterback - behind Tony Banks and Steve Bono.
In his first season, the Rams lost 12 games, Tony Banks threw seven touchdown passes and 14 interceptions before he imjured his knee in week 15. Still, Warner did not see action until the final weekend when he completed exactly four passes.
[FONT=verdana,helvetica]Warner played for the Amsterdam Admirals during the 1998 NFL Europe season. Photo: AP [/FONT]At this point in time, the Rams coaches had obviously not realised how good Warner was. So they went out and signed Trent Green from Washington to be their new starter. Warner was penciled in for the number two job. Then Green got injured and the rest is history. Just imagine, if Green was less susceptible to injury, like Brett Favre for instance and Warner had never gotten his chance. We might still not know how good he is.
Maybe the Rams would never have made it to the Super Bowl, let alone won one.
And that is exactly the point: there are many quarterbacks who played sucessfully in NFL Europe and are still awaiting their chance in the NFL. Just two examples: maybe Jake Delhomme or Jonathan Quinn turn out to be the new Kurt Warners.
If you're laughing now, you certainly would have laughed in 1998 if someone had told you Warners future. Jake Delhomme will probably get his chance this year in Carolina, Jonathan Quinn will fight to become the Chiefs backup. Even if he makes it, he probably will not see much action (unless the Chiefs starter goes down, who happens to be a certain Trent Green).
The truth is this, if you come into the NFL as a late draftee or an undrafted free agent, you need lots of luck to get your chance. If it comes, you better grab it, it may be the only one.
Now back to my colleague from the Dallas Morning News, he probably is one of the many Americans who don't realise how many NFL Europe alumni are in the NFL right now.
Last season, almost a third of the NFL quarterbacks had experience in NFL Europe. And let's not forget that it's not just quarterbacks. But our friend from Dallas has probably calmed down anyway since Brad Johnson became the second NFL Europe alumni to quarterback a team to a Super Bowl victory.
If he hasn't, I have this little nugget for him: since NFLE returned in 1995, Johnson and Warner started a combined three Super Bowls. Remember, Warner was not drafted at all, Johnson only in round nine. Both might never have become starters without NFL Europe.
Of all the quarterbacks drafted in round one since 1995, exactly two have started a Super Bowl: Kerry Collins and Steve McNair. How about asking the NFL to produce a new Kurt Warner with a first round draft pick; now that would be a challenge.
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In Jake Delhomme's first season in NFL Europe backing up Kurt Warner he went 15 of 47 for 247 yards and 1 touchdown.
In Jake Delhomme's second year in NFL Europe he split time with Pat Barnes. Went 6-4. Ranked 2nd in NFL Europe QB Ratings with a 96.8, completing 136 of 202 (67.3%) passes for 1,410 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Drew Henson is: 51 of 86 (59.3%) for 586 yards (on pace for 1,465 yards) 4 touchdowns (on pace for 10 touchdowns). And assuming he continues to improve, I have no doubt that even statistically he is going to do better that Jake Delhomme.
P.S. this is a good old article about NFL Europe. It makes a lot of really good points about NFL Europe, and the success rate of getting a franchise quarterback through the draft. Articles like this give me even more faith in Henson. And give me the idea that a lot of players could seriously use NFL Europe at other posititions. Not like running back, but maybe receiver, cornerback, defensive tackle, linebacker, offensive line...
May 19, 2003
By Andreas Renner
NFL Europe
Andreas Renner writes a regular column for NFLEurope.com, providing fans around the world with unique insight leading up to the World Bowl this June in Scotland.
About six months ago, I came across a column in the Dallas Morning News on NFL Europe. There it said NFL Europe had to produce a new Kurt Warner to justify its existence.
My first reaction was, "Say what...?" I mean, Kurt Warner happens to be the highest rated quarterback in NFL history. It's not like these guys grow on trees. Isn't it remarkable enough that a league usually fielding low draft picks or undrafted free agents at the quarterback position produced the statistically best quarterback at all?
Then I thought: maybe NFL Europe has already produced a new Kurt Warner, but the NFL hasn't noticed yet.
Let's go back to 1998: Kurt Warner returned to the US after a good (but hardly sensational) season in NFL Europe. In training camp, he secured a job as the Rams third-string quarterback - behind Tony Banks and Steve Bono.
In his first season, the Rams lost 12 games, Tony Banks threw seven touchdown passes and 14 interceptions before he imjured his knee in week 15. Still, Warner did not see action until the final weekend when he completed exactly four passes.
Maybe the Rams would never have made it to the Super Bowl, let alone won one.
And that is exactly the point: there are many quarterbacks who played sucessfully in NFL Europe and are still awaiting their chance in the NFL. Just two examples: maybe Jake Delhomme or Jonathan Quinn turn out to be the new Kurt Warners.
If you're laughing now, you certainly would have laughed in 1998 if someone had told you Warners future. Jake Delhomme will probably get his chance this year in Carolina, Jonathan Quinn will fight to become the Chiefs backup. Even if he makes it, he probably will not see much action (unless the Chiefs starter goes down, who happens to be a certain Trent Green).
The truth is this, if you come into the NFL as a late draftee or an undrafted free agent, you need lots of luck to get your chance. If it comes, you better grab it, it may be the only one.
Now back to my colleague from the Dallas Morning News, he probably is one of the many Americans who don't realise how many NFL Europe alumni are in the NFL right now.
Last season, almost a third of the NFL quarterbacks had experience in NFL Europe. And let's not forget that it's not just quarterbacks. But our friend from Dallas has probably calmed down anyway since Brad Johnson became the second NFL Europe alumni to quarterback a team to a Super Bowl victory.
If he hasn't, I have this little nugget for him: since NFLE returned in 1995, Johnson and Warner started a combined three Super Bowls. Remember, Warner was not drafted at all, Johnson only in round nine. Both might never have become starters without NFL Europe.
Of all the quarterbacks drafted in round one since 1995, exactly two have started a Super Bowl: Kerry Collins and Steve McNair. How about asking the NFL to produce a new Kurt Warner with a first round draft pick; now that would be a challenge.
[/FONT]
