FLSKINSFAN
March-30th-2005, 10:59 AM
http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=6226
NFL Europe Ready For Kickoff
March 29, 2005
NFL Europe teams are in Europe and preparations are underway for the start of the NFL Europe season. Games start on April 2 and continue for 10 weeks through June 11, when the league holds World Bowl XIII at Düsseldorf's LTU Arena.
The Redskins have allocated six players from their roster to NFL Europe. Fans will be able to follow their performances here on Redskins.com's NFL Europe Tracker.
Redskins Allocated Players
Pos Player NFL Europe Team
CB James Bethea Frankfurt Galaxy
WR Nathan Black Rhein Fire
CB Rufus Brown Hamburg Sea Devils
RB Dahrran Diedrick Rhein Fire
OL Ben Nowland Frankfurt Galaxy
LB Joe Tuipala Cologne Centurions
Here are thumbnail sketches of the Redskins' six allocated players:
James Bethea, CB
Bethea, 5-10 and 190 pounds, joined the Redskins practice squad during the last week of the 2004 season. As a first-year player out of California, he was released by the Oakland Raiders following training camp last year. He also spent time on the Detroit Lions practice squad in 2004.
Nathan Black, WR
Black signed with the Redskins in early January. He spent the 2004 preseason with the New Orleans Saints, but was released prior to the start of the regular season. The 6-0, 190-pound wide receiver spent 2003 on the Carolina Panthers' injured reserve list with a broken hand. He appeared in five games with Carolina in 2002, serving as a kickoff return specialist.
Rufus Brown, CB
Brown originally joined the Redskins in April 2004 as an undrafted rookie free agent. The 5-9, 188-pounder spent most of last season on the team's practice squad, but was added to the 53-man roster for the season finale when Fred Smoot was deactivated due to injury. Brown was a two-year starter at Florida State, where he recorded four interceptions.
Dahrran Diedrick, RB
Diedrick signed with the Redskins in late October 2004 and spent most of the season on the team's practice squad. He was signed to the active roster for the season finale against the Minnesota Vikings. Diedrick also has had brief stints with the Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers. At Nebraska, the 6-0, 225-pounder finished his collegiate career with 2,745 yards, eighth-best in team history.
Ben Nowland, OL
Nowland, who spent most of the 2004 season on the Redskins' practice squad, recently completed his second year in the NFL. He has mostly played center in his football career, including starting 33 consecutive games at Auburn. Last spring, Nowland was assigned by the Redskins to play for the NFL Europe's Frankfurt Galaxy. He helped lead Frankfurt to an appearance in the World Bowl.
Joe Tuipala, LB
Tuipala, who signed with the Redskins in January 2004, is a three-year NFL vet and has had stints with the Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars. He was a special teams standout for Jacksonville in 2001-02, leading the team in tackles both seasons. He also saw limited duty as a reserve linebacker for the Jaguars, recording 17 tackles (8 solo) in two seasons. Tuipala hails from Honolulu, Hawaii.
NFL Europe Ready For Kickoff
March 29, 2005
NFL Europe teams are in Europe and preparations are underway for the start of the NFL Europe season. Games start on April 2 and continue for 10 weeks through June 11, when the league holds World Bowl XIII at Düsseldorf's LTU Arena.
The Redskins have allocated six players from their roster to NFL Europe. Fans will be able to follow their performances here on Redskins.com's NFL Europe Tracker.
Redskins Allocated Players
Pos Player NFL Europe Team
CB James Bethea Frankfurt Galaxy
WR Nathan Black Rhein Fire
CB Rufus Brown Hamburg Sea Devils
RB Dahrran Diedrick Rhein Fire
OL Ben Nowland Frankfurt Galaxy
LB Joe Tuipala Cologne Centurions
Here are thumbnail sketches of the Redskins' six allocated players:
James Bethea, CB
Bethea, 5-10 and 190 pounds, joined the Redskins practice squad during the last week of the 2004 season. As a first-year player out of California, he was released by the Oakland Raiders following training camp last year. He also spent time on the Detroit Lions practice squad in 2004.
Nathan Black, WR
Black signed with the Redskins in early January. He spent the 2004 preseason with the New Orleans Saints, but was released prior to the start of the regular season. The 6-0, 190-pound wide receiver spent 2003 on the Carolina Panthers' injured reserve list with a broken hand. He appeared in five games with Carolina in 2002, serving as a kickoff return specialist.
Rufus Brown, CB
Brown originally joined the Redskins in April 2004 as an undrafted rookie free agent. The 5-9, 188-pounder spent most of last season on the team's practice squad, but was added to the 53-man roster for the season finale when Fred Smoot was deactivated due to injury. Brown was a two-year starter at Florida State, where he recorded four interceptions.
Dahrran Diedrick, RB
Diedrick signed with the Redskins in late October 2004 and spent most of the season on the team's practice squad. He was signed to the active roster for the season finale against the Minnesota Vikings. Diedrick also has had brief stints with the Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers. At Nebraska, the 6-0, 225-pounder finished his collegiate career with 2,745 yards, eighth-best in team history.
Ben Nowland, OL
Nowland, who spent most of the 2004 season on the Redskins' practice squad, recently completed his second year in the NFL. He has mostly played center in his football career, including starting 33 consecutive games at Auburn. Last spring, Nowland was assigned by the Redskins to play for the NFL Europe's Frankfurt Galaxy. He helped lead Frankfurt to an appearance in the World Bowl.
Joe Tuipala, LB
Tuipala, who signed with the Redskins in January 2004, is a three-year NFL vet and has had stints with the Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars. He was a special teams standout for Jacksonville in 2001-02, leading the team in tackles both seasons. He also saw limited duty as a reserve linebacker for the Jaguars, recording 17 tackles (8 solo) in two seasons. Tuipala hails from Honolulu, Hawaii.