Bears players in NFL Europe for 2006
You don't hear much about the Bears' players in NFL Europe, but I always perk up when I see an orange "C" on a European team's jersey. So far the only Bear to really make it big out of Europe was Marcus Robinson, who was drafted high before gaining experience across the pond, but I remember Marcus Reese doing well, and last year we had a couple of quarterbacks who made strides.
Will anyone from this year's group make the 2006 regular season roster? If the NFL Europe Draft is any indication, cornerback Abraham Elimimian is one to watch. Amsterdam took him with their first pick. Five rounds later, the Admirals picked another Bear, wide receiver Craig Bragg (a 2005 Green Bay 6th round pick) who comes with an impressive college resume. Linebacker Stephen Larsen and quarterback BJ Symons look interesting, too.
Among the veterans, the big story is left tackle Qasim Mitchell -- a guy the Bears considered a player with a future just two years ago. Mitchell was our opening-day starter in 2004, but fell out of favor and might be on the verge of falling off the roster. I'm pulling for the kid, because he's my homeboy out of NC A&T. Here's hoping he makes good.
Defenders
Abraham Elimimian, CB, 5-10 / 193, Hawaii, first round NFLE draft pick, Amsterdam Admirals. Signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2005, but was cut in August. Signed by Chicago in January. His 12 career interceptions is the second most ever at Hawaii. Born in Nigeria.
Willie Amos, CB, 6-0, 186, Nebraska, 7th round NFLW, Hamburg Sea Devils. A track guy who switched from DB to WR as a senior at Nebraska.
Jason Harmon, CB, 5-11, 209, Michigan State, 14th round NFLE, Frankfurt Galaxy.
Stephen Larsen, LB, 6-1, 235, San Diego State, 5th round NFLE, Rhein Fire. Signed with Chicago as an undrafted free agent in April 2005, but was cut in August and then re-signed in February.
Justin Smith, LB, 6-0, 218, Indiana, 5th round, Hamburg Sea Devils. Entered NFL as free agent in 2002 with the Bucs, later played five games with the Rams and was on the Panthers roster.
Josh Dean, LB, 6-1, 215, San Diego State, 15th round NFLE, Cologne Centurians. Undrafted free agent signed by Chicago in January. Three-year starter for the Aztecs.
Jeremy Cain, LB, 6-1 / 235, Massachussets, allocated, Amsterdam Admirals. Signed by Chicago as an undrafted free agent in 2004, Cain has played in eight regular season games, including three in 2005, for the Bears.
Offensive players
Craig Bragg, WR, 6-1, 194, UCLA, 6th round NFLE draft, Amsterdam Admirals. Sixth round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2005, Bragg stuck around on the practice squad until November, when the Jets signed him to their practice squad. Signed by the Bears in January. Holds multiple records at UCLA, where his 193 receptions is the most ever by a Bruin (his yardage total is second on the UCLA all-time list).
Qasim Mitchell, T, 6-6, 330, NC A&T, allocated, Frankfort Galaxy. Former starting LT for Chicago in 2003-04, starting 16 of his 19 career games. When given the starting job outright in 2004, Mitchell struggled, wound up on IR, and is now in Frankfort trying to revive his career. A four-year veteran, originally signed by Cleveland.
BJ Symons, QB, 6-1, 215, Texas Tech, allocated, Berlin Thunder. Second year in NFL Europe. Drafted in the 7th round of the 2004 NFL draft by Houston. Spent 2004 year on injured reserve (knee). Won Sammy Baugh award as nation's top passer in 2003.
Will anyone from this year's group make the 2006 regular season roster? If the NFL Europe Draft is any indication, cornerback Abraham Elimimian is one to watch. Amsterdam took him with their first pick. Five rounds later, the Admirals picked another Bear, wide receiver Craig Bragg (a 2005 Green Bay 6th round pick) who comes with an impressive college resume. Linebacker Stephen Larsen and quarterback BJ Symons look interesting, too.
Among the veterans, the big story is left tackle Qasim Mitchell -- a guy the Bears considered a player with a future just two years ago. Mitchell was our opening-day starter in 2004, but fell out of favor and might be on the verge of falling off the roster. I'm pulling for the kid, because he's my homeboy out of NC A&T. Here's hoping he makes good.
Defenders
Abraham Elimimian, CB, 5-10 / 193, Hawaii, first round NFLE draft pick, Amsterdam Admirals. Signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2005, but was cut in August. Signed by Chicago in January. His 12 career interceptions is the second most ever at Hawaii. Born in Nigeria.
Willie Amos, CB, 6-0, 186, Nebraska, 7th round NFLW, Hamburg Sea Devils. A track guy who switched from DB to WR as a senior at Nebraska.
Jason Harmon, CB, 5-11, 209, Michigan State, 14th round NFLE, Frankfurt Galaxy.
Stephen Larsen, LB, 6-1, 235, San Diego State, 5th round NFLE, Rhein Fire. Signed with Chicago as an undrafted free agent in April 2005, but was cut in August and then re-signed in February.
Justin Smith, LB, 6-0, 218, Indiana, 5th round, Hamburg Sea Devils. Entered NFL as free agent in 2002 with the Bucs, later played five games with the Rams and was on the Panthers roster.
Josh Dean, LB, 6-1, 215, San Diego State, 15th round NFLE, Cologne Centurians. Undrafted free agent signed by Chicago in January. Three-year starter for the Aztecs.
Jeremy Cain, LB, 6-1 / 235, Massachussets, allocated, Amsterdam Admirals. Signed by Chicago as an undrafted free agent in 2004, Cain has played in eight regular season games, including three in 2005, for the Bears.
Offensive players
Craig Bragg, WR, 6-1, 194, UCLA, 6th round NFLE draft, Amsterdam Admirals. Sixth round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2005, Bragg stuck around on the practice squad until November, when the Jets signed him to their practice squad. Signed by the Bears in January. Holds multiple records at UCLA, where his 193 receptions is the most ever by a Bruin (his yardage total is second on the UCLA all-time list).
Qasim Mitchell, T, 6-6, 330, NC A&T, allocated, Frankfort Galaxy. Former starting LT for Chicago in 2003-04, starting 16 of his 19 career games. When given the starting job outright in 2004, Mitchell struggled, wound up on IR, and is now in Frankfort trying to revive his career. A four-year veteran, originally signed by Cleveland.
BJ Symons, QB, 6-1, 215, Texas Tech, allocated, Berlin Thunder. Second year in NFL Europe. Drafted in the 7th round of the 2004 NFL draft by Houston. Spent 2004 year on injured reserve (knee). Won Sammy Baugh award as nation's top passer in 2003.
posted by Daniel at 10:34 AM
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