The
NFL Europe league office started off the process of forming the league's 2006 rosters by assigning 100 players across their six
teams. Only two Colts -- WR Roscoe Crosby and C Mike Johnson -- were allocated.
Once that step was complete, the league's head coaches drafted from the remaining
pool of designated players from the NFL's 32 teams. Then the teams rounded out
their squads by drafting free agents, many of whom are former NFL players not
currently under contract.
Out of the six teams in the league, only the Berlin Thunder will be lacking at
least one player from the current Colts roster. Here's a team-by-team look at
familiar faces that Colts fans can watch for when the league kicks off its
14th season on March 18th.
Rhein Fire
Former Clemson wide receiver Roscoe Crosby was allocated to the Fire. After
being cut in training camp, Crosby was signed to the practice squad in early
November. He'll suit up along with offensive lineman Rob Hunt, a former Colts
fifth-round draft pick in 2005 who is now on the Denver Broncos roster.
Amsterdam Admirals
Center Mike Johnson joined the Colts practice squad on December 23rd after
being released by the Chiefs. He'll be joined in Amsterdam by linebacker Nick
Hannah, who was the second Colt chosen in the draft process. He was a
fourth-round selection out of the 21 rounds.
Former Colts practice squad member Joe Iorio out of Penn State will also be
playing in Amsterdam. Iorio is now under contract with the New York Giants.
Hamburg Sea Devils
Colts CB/WR Eric Hill was the first Colt chosen in the draft process,
secured in the first round. The Colts converted Hill to cornerback during their
2005 mini-camps after he spent time on their practice squad in 2004. Towards the
end of the 2005 training camp the Colts released him, but then added him to
their practice squad in early December.
Cologne Centurions
Tight end Joey Hawkins was picked by the Centurions in the fifth round. The
former Texas Tech receiver is a huge target at 6'9. He'll be reunited with a
former teammate, defensive end Thomas Houchin, who the Colts tried to move to
the strongside linebacker depth chart in 2005 behind David Thornton. He was
released in the first round of training camp cuts.
Frankfurt Galaxy
In the seventh round, the Galaxy snared defensive end Justin Brown out of
East Central (Oklahoma). He lasted until the final cuts of the 2005 training
camp. Joining him in Frankfurt will be newcomer Brandon Mueller, a safety out of
Princeton who was selected in the 19th round. Mueller is expected to tune up his
secondary skills as he hasn't played football since finishing his collegiate
career in 2004. He has notable talent as a special teams player.
Berlin Thunder
Although they won't have any current Colts suiting up for them, the Thunder
will have two players who are well-known to Colts fans.
Anthony Floyd, a safety out of Louisville who was on the Colts practice squad in
2003 and the regular roster in 2004 was allocated to Berlin as a member of the
Houston Texans roster. Willie Ford, a cornerback who played for the Thunder last
year as one of the Colts designated NFL Europe players, was cut by the Colts
during their training camp and wasn't re-signed. But the Thunder was impressed
enough with Ford that they protected him from entering the NFLEL free agent
draft process. That cost them a mid-round draft pick in the earlier draft of NFL
team-designated players.
Not yet assigned
Kicker David Kimball, who was a 7th-round pick by the Colts in 2004 has been
designated for NFL Europe by the Oakland Raiders. Kickers and punters are
assigned later.