Quarterback Competition Hots Up In Florida Heat; Cowboys Scouts Keep An Eye On Future Star Pair

THE FOURTH day of scrimmage action at NFL Europe League training camp bought out scouts, fans and NFL coaches to cast an eye over six teams, who moved a step closer to being ready for regular season action – and of course the blazing Florida sun was also in attendance. Among the NFL team representatives checking on the progress of their allocated players, while also looking for fresh talent, was Dallas Cowboys scout LARRY DIXON, a veteran of the NFL Europe League March training camp. “We have a number of players here and the Cowboys are one of the most active teams when it comes to sending guys to this league,” he said, while watching the Rhein Fire, whose roster includes Cowboys wide receiver JEFF OGDEN. “He’s the perfect example of a player who can excel in this league and will definitely benefit from gaining extended playing time,” added Dixon. “He has played for us the past two years but has only seen limited action and was more a track star in college. He has the natural ability that you can’t teach a player and now has an opportunity to show how good he is. He can follow on from what JASON TUCKER (Rhein 1999) did last year.” Evaluating Scottish Claymores defensive back DUANE HAWTHORNE, who finished second for the Cowboys in interceptions last season, Dixon added: “He can be a starter for us. A team can never have enough defensive backs and Duane has a chance to go out there and become a big name player.” With temperatures rising towards the nineties, the Frankfurt Galaxy kicked off the day’s action at Thunder Field outside the Orlando Citrus Bowl against the Amsterdam Admirals where quarterbacks TED WHITE and PAT BARNES continued their competition for the starting job. Kansas City Chiefs-allocated passer White completed 4 of 7 attempts for 95 yards and World Bowl ’99 winner Barnes was 5 of 7 for 57 yards, with much of the air traffic going to wide receiver wide receiver TODD FLOYD, who had 3 grabs for 80 yards and a touchdown. Running back MICHAEL BLAIR also found the end zone when the teams ran red zone drills from the 15-yard line. In reply Amsterdam passer JIM KUBIAK, allocated by the New York Jets, was 4 of 7 for 53 yards, while former Notre Dame star RON POWLUS of the Philadelphia Eagles hit on 4 of 5 attempts for 37 yards and a touchdown to wideout JUNIOR LORD. Free agent quarterback SCOTT MUTRYN completed 2 of 4 attempts inside the red zone for 20 yards for Amsterdam. The action and the midday sun moved into the Citrus Bowl as the Scottish Claymores took on the Barcelona Dragons whose passing time was split equally between TONY GRAZIANI from the Atlanta Falcons, CORY SAUTER of the Detroit Lions and free agent draft pick PATRICK BONNER. Claymores passers KEVIN DAFT, the third stringer with the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV and MARCUS CRANDELL from the Kansas City Chiefs continue to challenge head coach JIM CRINER to pick a starting passer. Australian JON BALLANTYNE repaid the faith put in him being named the only punter on the Claymores roster following last weekend’s first cuts by booming several long hanging punts downfield against the Dragons. The former Aussie rules player hopes to follow in the footsteps of compatriot and former Amsterdam Admirals punter DARREN BENNETT of the San Diego Chargers. He joined the Denver Broncos last preseason for their American Bowl game ‘Down Under’ against the Chargers and punted once for 56 yards for the Claymores in 1999. While Cowboy Jeff Ogden was the Fire’s leading receiver with 3 catches for 31 yards, Rhein quarterback DANNY WUERFFEL completed four of eight attempts for 47 yards. Carolina Panthers passer MATT LYTLE breached the Thunder defense with 4 of 5 attempts completed for 39 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver TYWAN MITCHELL of the Arizona Cardinals hauled in the scoring pass from 15 yards out as he made 2 receptions for 30 yards. The Thunder defense recorded three sacks, two going to defensive end MIKE SUTTON and not to be outdone Rhein claimed three sacks of their own, shared between defensive ends CARL POWELL, MARLON CHAMBERS (Chicago Bears) and LARRY FITZPATRICK recently acquired in a trade with the Claymores. Quarterback ERIC KRESSER (Cincinnati Bengals) completed 5 of 6 attempts for 41 yards, but was intercepted by Fire cornerback STEPHEN FISHER, who returned the ball all the way for a touchdown as Berlin ran their red zone drills. Thunder passer MIKE COOK was 3 of 5 for 52 yards and favourite receivers for both were ANTHONY LADD, who had 5 grabs for 86 yards and ROBERT SCOTT with 4 for 56. Running back BRIAN SHAY, allocated by the Kansas City Chiefs, carried the ball 8 times for 37 yards and 2 touchdowns from inside the 20-yard mark for Berlin. For further information please contact Mike Preston or David Tossel prestonm@nflp.co.uk or tosselld@globalnet.co.uk Tel: 44-(0)171 225 3070 / Fax: 44(0)171 376 5070 All releases and breaking news will be posted on www.NFLeurope.com