WOW, this article will piss a few of our BB natives off !

ROYC75 · 06-13-2005, 12:51 PM

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/8558406

Europass: Chiefs reap the benefits of Europe

By Mike Carlson
Special to NFL.com

(June 13, 2005) -- Is the NFL Europe League a worthwhile operation, producing usable talent for its parent league? Or is it a waste of owners' money, a showcase for football below NFL level, where street free agents go to end their careers?

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Few teams have been as active in their support of the league as the Kansas City Chiefs. And few have received more positive result from the league's player development. Carl Peterson is the president/CEO/GM of the Chiefs, and he was in Düsseldorf to see Yello Strom World Bowl XIII first hand. Peterson has been a longtime supporter of NFL Europe, and has even given his daughter, Dawn, to the cause. While working in public relations for the Scottish Claymores, Dawn Peterson married the team physiotherapist, a Scot who's other job was with the national rugby team. Now Carl Peterson has a Scottish grandson and is afraid the boy might wind up preferring rugby to football.

But to Peterson, the value of NFL Europe ought to be self-evident. "We've sent 129 players to Europe over the years," he said. "On average, three each season make our team. Seventeen have been starters, and three (guard Brian Waters, defensive end Gary Stills and kick returner Dante Hall ) have gone to the Pro Bowl. None of those three would have made the NFL without that extra season in Europe.

"We sent 13 players to Europe this season," he continued. "Probably seven of them will go to camp with us. Rich Scanlon will make our team. Jonathan Smith has a great shot to replace Derrick Blaylock. Scott Connot and Ed Canonico could help our secondary."

But Peterson points out that it's not just the players who make your team that make the league good value. "The real bottom line cost to each NFL team is $450,000 a year," he said. "If you find about one or two players who can't help you and don't bring them to camp, you might save yourself that much money right there. Guys who can play are a bonus."

Peterson looks across town at the Kansas City Royals. "Here's a team with revenues among the lowest in baseball, but they spend $8-10 million a year on their own farm system. NHL teams can spend $2 million each. Our per team expenditure is a drop in the bucket."

There is another league-wide benefit as well. "The league isn't just for players," Peterson explained. "Game officials, equipment managers, front-office staff and trainers have all made the jump to the NFL. And now the coaching intern program is putting ex-players onto staffs."

There is, after all, little point in running a developmental league if you don't have skilled position coaches who can concentrate on fundamentals. Every team now has the equivalent of Sam Clancy (Raiders defensive line coach) or Wes Chandler (Vikings receivers coach), both successful position coaches in the early days of NFL Europe.

His season in NFL Europe has helped Rich Scanlon and the Chiefs.
But many teams prefer to keep players they think will help them at their minicamps in the states. Peterson wonders about that. "First, the guys we think will help us have usually been with us, and know the system," he said. "Second, you can schedule your minicamps for after the European season. But most importantly, you have to play the game to get better. There is no substitute for reps. We play the game in pads, and you have to see your guys in pads to know what they can do."

Scanlon, the league's defensive MVP this season, reminds me of another NFL Europe MVP, Mike Maslowski. Maslowski came from a Division III school without overwhelming physical talent, but he had an exceptional season in Barcelona. He returned to work his way into the starting middle linebacker position for the Chiefs. Peterson believes at least part of the Chiefs' collapse in 2003 was due to losing Maslowski halfway through the season.

"People didn't notice so much," Peterson said, "because he isn't a standout physically, but he's got such great instincts, he's so smart, that he's always in the right place, and that makes everyone around him better. He left a huge hole in our defense."

Peterson also sees a lot of Maslowski in Scanlon. "An undrafted guy from Syracuse, and he's just always in the right place, around the ball," he said. "Like 'Mas,' he may not start right away, but he'll help us down the line."

And if he does help the Chiefs, he will have been a bargain. A gamble that didn't require many chips, and a safer one because he was able to show what he could do in NFL Europe. If Peterson has his way, a lot more players will be proving themselves overseas in the future.

Spicy McHaggis · 06-13-2005, 12:52 PM

He should make the team. He earned it.

King_Chief_Fan · 06-13-2005, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spicy McHaggis

He should make the team. He earned it.

He earned a trip to camp, that is all....
He will have to earn making the team.....and I mean the 53 man roster.
Good luck to him

Hammock Parties · 06-13-2005, 01:59 PM

He made the team last year, too. Big freaking deal.

Coogs · 06-13-2005, 03:29 PM

I'm going to repeat this again. I think our QBOTF played for the Thunder too. With Carr in Houston, there is no future for Ragone. I look for us to pick him up in a year or so.

**the Talking Can** · 06-13-2005, 06:56 PM

the similiar intentions of this thread and this one are uncanny

ROYC75 · 06-13-2005, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

the similiar intentions of this thread and this one are uncanny

Heh, not even close, BTA you have been one of the biggest negative bashers since last fall, I see your point.

jspchief · 06-13-2005, 01:06 PM

Yes. I'm sure a ton of Chiefs fans will be pissed that a player has developed.

Eleazar · 06-13-2005, 01:09 PM

That's great. I hope NFLE taught him how not to draw flags on kickoffs since that's likely most of what he will be doing again this year.

ROYC75 · 06-13-2005, 01:10 PM

If you can believe the writer ? Did the writer jump ahead and twist the comments in some ways ?

Time will tell, TC hasn't started yet.

milkman · 06-13-2005, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyC75

This article should piss a few of the BB natives off

If Gopher makes the 53 man roster, and actually contributes to a successful season, then it won't piss anybody off.

It's not Gopher that's irritating.
It's the Gopher ho's that are.

ROYC75 · 06-13-2005, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SideWinder

If Gopher makes the 53 man roster, and actually contributes to a successful season, then it won't piss anybody off.

It's not Gopher that's irritating.
It's the Gopher ho's that are.

Wow, it's bad enough we have gophers, but to put up with the ho's is just unamerican. Damn gophers.........

06-13-2005, 12:51 PM	Topic Starter
ROYC75 Time For Your Wake Up Call !!! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Barn Yard Casino cash: $2327400	WOW, this article will piss a few of our BB natives off ! http://www.nfl.com/news/story/8558406 Europass: Chiefs reap the benefits of Europe By Mike Carlson Special to NFL.com (June 13, 2005) -- Is the NFL Europe League a worthwhile operation, producing usable talent for its parent league? Or is it a waste of owners' money, a showcase for football below NFL level, where street free agents go to end their careers? NFL Network NFL Network Analysis, opinions, features and more! Download Super Bowl XXXIX radio broadcasts and highlights to your MP3 player! Field Pass Listen LIVE to NFL games, plus watch video news and features of your favorite team. Few teams have been as active in their support of the league as the Kansas City Chiefs. And few have received more positive result from the league's player development. Carl Peterson is the president/CEO/GM of the Chiefs, and he was in Düsseldorf to see Yello Strom World Bowl XIII first hand. Peterson has been a longtime supporter of NFL Europe, and has even given his daughter, Dawn, to the cause. While working in public relations for the Scottish Claymores, Dawn Peterson married the team physiotherapist, a Scot who's other job was with the national rugby team. Now Carl Peterson has a Scottish grandson and is afraid the boy might wind up preferring rugby to football. But to Peterson, the value of NFL Europe ought to be self-evident. "We've sent 129 players to Europe over the years," he said. "On average, three each season make our team. Seventeen have been starters, and three (guard Brian Waters, defensive end Gary Stills and kick returner Dante Hall ) have gone to the Pro Bowl. None of those three would have made the NFL without that extra season in Europe. "We sent 13 players to Europe this season," he continued. "Probably seven of them will go to camp with us. Rich Scanlon will make our team. Jonathan Smith has a great shot to replace Derrick Blaylock. Scott Connot and Ed Canonico could help our secondary." But Peterson points out that it's not just the players who make your team that make the league good value. "The real bottom line cost to each NFL team is $450,000 a year," he said. "If you find about one or two players who can't help you and don't bring them to camp, you might save yourself that much money right there. Guys who can play are a bonus." Peterson looks across town at the Kansas City Royals. "Here's a team with revenues among the lowest in baseball, but they spend $8-10 million a year on their own farm system. NHL teams can spend $2 million each. Our per team expenditure is a drop in the bucket." There is another league-wide benefit as well. "The league isn't just for players," Peterson explained. "Game officials, equipment managers, front-office staff and trainers have all made the jump to the NFL. And now the coaching intern program is putting ex-players onto staffs." There is, after all, little point in running a developmental league if you don't have skilled position coaches who can concentrate on fundamentals. Every team now has the equivalent of Sam Clancy (Raiders defensive line coach) or Wes Chandler (Vikings receivers coach), both successful position coaches in the early days of NFL Europe. His season in NFL Europe has helped Rich Scanlon and the Chiefs. But many teams prefer to keep players they think will help them at their minicamps in the states. Peterson wonders about that. "First, the guys we think will help us have usually been with us, and know the system," he said. "Second, you can schedule your minicamps for after the European season. But most importantly, you have to play the game to get better. There is no substitute for reps. We play the game in pads, and you have to see your guys in pads to know what they can do." Scanlon, the league's defensive MVP this season, reminds me of another NFL Europe MVP, Mike Maslowski. Maslowski came from a Division III school without overwhelming physical talent, but he had an exceptional season in Barcelona. He returned to work his way into the starting middle linebacker position for the Chiefs. Peterson believes at least part of the Chiefs' collapse in 2003 was due to losing Maslowski halfway through the season. "People didn't notice so much," Peterson said, "because he isn't a standout physically, but he's got such great instincts, he's so smart, that he's always in the right place, and that makes everyone around him better. He left a huge hole in our defense." Peterson also sees a lot of Maslowski in Scanlon. "An undrafted guy from Syracuse, and he's just always in the right place, around the ball," he said. "Like 'Mas,' he may not start right away, but he'll help us down the line." And if he does help the Chiefs, he will have been a bargain. A gamble that didn't require many chips, and a safer one because he was able to show what he could do in NFL Europe. If Peterson has his way, a lot more players will be proving themselves overseas in the future.
Posts: 37,933

06-13-2005, 12:52 PM	#2
Spicy McHaggis Keep 'er Movin' Join Date: Sep 2004 Casino cash: $9905359	He should make the team. He earned it. __________________ “We want players who are big, strong, smart, fast, tough and disciplined,” Pioli said, finally bringing an end to the era of Chiefs executives who searched desperately for players who are small, weak, stupid, slow, fragile and unruly.
Posts: 4,963

06-13-2005, 01:59 PM	#4
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $1030478	He made the team last year, too. Big freaking deal. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 296,719

06-13-2005, 03:29 PM	#5
Coogs In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Northern Kansas Casino cash: $-2035651	I'm going to repeat this again. I think our QBOTF played for the Thunder too. With Carr in Houston, there is no future for Ragone. I look for us to pick him up in a year or so.
Posts: 21,894

06-13-2005, 06:56 PM	#6
the Talking Can Supporter Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: street Casino cash: $9382208	the similiar intentions of this thread and this one are uncanny __________________ Clark Hunt: "Thank god for the Dominican pool boy"
Posts: 51,585

06-13-2005, 01:06 PM	#8
jspchief BAMF Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Your Face Casino cash: $9998710	Yes. I'm sure a ton of Chiefs fans will be pissed that a player has developed. __________________ Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all.
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06-13-2005, 01:09 PM	#9
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	That's great. I hope NFLE taught him how not to draw flags on kickoffs since that's likely most of what he will be doing again this year.
Posts: 80,659

06-13-2005, 01:10 PM	#10
ROYC75 Time For Your Wake Up Call !!! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Barn Yard Casino cash: $2327400	If you can believe the writer ? Did the writer jump ahead and twist the comments in some ways ? Time will tell, TC hasn't started yet. __________________ Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That's what's insane about it. John Lennon
Posts: 37,933