The NFL Europe League kicks off its 10th season this weekend with six teams – the Amsterdam Admirals, F.C. Barcelona Dragons, Berlin Thunder, Frankfurt Galaxy, Rhein Fire, and Scottish Claymores – beginning the race to World Bowl X.

“The NFL Europe League has helped expose our sport to a worldwide audience,” says NFL Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE. “By mixing the best of sports and entertainment, NFL Europe has made great strides. Its championship game, the World Bowl, has become one of the most anticipated sporting events on the European calendar.”

NFL Europe League clubs play a 10-game regular-season schedule beginning this weekend and concluding on Saturday, June 15. The top two teams in the standings will play for the league championship in World Bowl X, Saturday, June 22, in D_sseldorf, Germany.

One of the highlights of Kickoff Weekend is the first of several “Tribute to Heroes” events that will take place during the season to honor emergency services workers in the United States and Europe.

The Scottish Claymores will welcome former Claymore JOE ANDRUZZI and his three New York City firefighter brothers – JIMMY, MARC and BILLY – to their Week 1 game against F.C. Barcelona. The Andruzzi brothers were involved in the rescue operation at New York’s World Trade Center following the September 11 terrorist attacks. Firefighters from Scotland’s Strathclyde Fire Brigade will make a special presentation to the Andruzzi family.

Joe Andruzzi, a starter for the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI, was an all-NFL Europe League selection with the Claymores in 1998.

More than 3,000 Strathclyde firefighters, police officers and emergency service workers will also be on hand along with hundreds of members of the Scottish Armed Forces. A pregame tribute to America, entitled “United We Stand,” will also take place.

The NFL Europe League enters 2002 after a noteworthy offseason, as the NFL entered into a historic partnership with F.C. Barcelona, one of Europe's leading soccer clubs.

In a three-year agreement, the NFL and F.C. Barcelona will work together to support each other's operations in Europe and the United States. The NFL will help to promote F.C. Barcelona in the United States, while the Spanish soccer giant will support the activities of the Barcelona Dragons and promote the NFL and NFL Europe League in Spain.

The first step in the association was the renaming of the Dragons as the “F.C. Barcelona Dragons.” The team will open its 2002 home schedule in Week 2 at F.C. Barcelona's Mini Estadi, part of the club's renowned Nou Camp complex.

On the field, the continued NFL success of NFL Europe League veteran quarterbacks such as St. Louis’ KURT WARNER (Amsterdam, 1998), Miami’s JAY FIEDLER (Amsterdam, 1997) and Chicago’s JIM MILLER (Frankfurt, 1995) has not gone unnoticed by NFL Europe’s 2002 contingent of talented young passers.

“I need to get out on the field and play,” says Pittsburgh’s TEE MARTIN, slated to start for the Rhein Fire. “Playing in NFL Europe will give me a chance to get game experience against top competition. I’m looking forward to the challenge of leading the team to a championship.”

In all, 23 former NFL Europe quarterbacks have started for NFL teams, including 10 this past season. A closer look at the QB Class of 2002:

NOTABLE NFL EUROPE LEAGUE ALUMNI

The 2001 NFL season featured outstanding performances by Europe League veterans, not only at quarterback, but all over the field:

DAVID AKERS, K, Philadelphia (Berlin, 1999) – Earned Pro Bowl honors in 2001 for the first time in his career. Developed into one of the NFL’s best kickers.

DARREN BENNETT, P, San Diego (Amsterdam, 1995) – A two-time NFL All-Star, Bennett began his career with the Amsterdam Admirals.

BYRON CHAMBERLAIN, TE, Minnesota (Rhein, 1996) – After spending his first seven seasons with the Denver Broncos, Chamberlain joined the Vikings this past season and led all NFC tight ends with 57 receptions. Earned Pro Bowl honors for the first time. Chamberlain led the NFL Europe League with 58 receptions in 1996.

JAY FIEDLER, QB, Miami (Amsterdam, 1997) – Led the Dolphins to the playoffs with an 11-5 record in 2001. Passed for 3,290 yards and 20 touchdowns.

LA’ROI GLOVER, DT, Dallas (Barcelona, 1997) – Earned his second consecutive Pro Bowl berth last season after finishing with eight sacks. Signed a free-agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys last month after spending five years in New Orleans. Glover led the 1997 Barcelona Dragons in sacks and was instrumental in helping the team win the World Bowl.

MATT LEPSIS, T, Denver (Barcelona, 1998) – Started 48 consecutive games at tackle for the Broncos after converting from tight end to tackle with Barcelona in ’98. Signed a six-year contract with Denver in 2001.

BRANDON NOBLE, DT, Dallas (Barcelona, 1998-99) – Started all 16 games with the Cowboys last season. An all-NFL Europe League selection with Barcelona in 1999, has impressed Cowboys head coach DAVE CAMPO. “We can win a lot of games with Brandon at defensive tackle,” Campo said. “You won’t meet a tougher competitor.”

TOM NÜTTEN, G, St. Louis (Amsterdam, 1998) – Started 14 games for the Rams last season. A teammate of Kurt Warner in Amsterdam.

MARCO RIVERA, G, Green Bay (Scotland, 1997) – Started all 16 games in his fourth season as a starter in Green Bay. A consistent performer for Scotland in 1997, the Packers signed him to a four-year contract extension in 2001.

BILL SCHROEDER, WR, Detroit (Rhein, 1997) – Joined the Lions last month after spending five years in Green Bay. Finished last season with a club-leading 918 yards receiving. Among the NFL Europe League leaders in all receiving categories in 1997.

ADAM VINATIERI, K, New England (Amsterdam, 1996) – Kicked the game-winning 48-yard field goal in Super Bowl XXXVI. Led the ’96 Admirals in scoring before earning a spot with the Patriots.

KURT WARNER, QB, St. Louis (Amsterdam, 1998) – Earned his second NFL MVP award in 2001, leading the Rams a berth in Super Bowl XXXVI. Led the NFL with 4,830 yards passing, 36 touchdown passes and a 101.4 passer rating.

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

In November of 2000, NFL owners overwhelmingly approved a plan that requires each NFL club to allocate a minimum of six players every season to NFL Europe. This insures that the level of competition will be of the highest caliber. The following is a year-by-year breakdown of NFL players allocated by NFL clubs to the league since 1995:

HEAD COACHES

Following is background information on each of NFL Europe’s six head coaches:

BART ANDRUS, Amsterdam – Begins his second season as head coach of the Admirals after winning a World Bowl ring as offensive coordinator of the Rhein Fire in 2000. Quarterbacks coach of the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV.

JACK BICKNELL, Barcelona – Beginning 10th season with Dragons. Served as head coach at Boston College for 10 seasons, including Doug Flutie’s Heisman Trophy-winning campaign of 1984 when the Eagles went 10-2.

GENE DAHLQUIST, Scotland – Named head coach of the Claymores in 2001 following four seasons as the offensive coordinator at UNLV. His 30-year college coaching career includes five years as offensive coordinator at the University of Texas.

DOUG GRABER, Frankfurt – Became the fourth head coach in Galaxy history prior to last season. A former head coach at Rutgers and Montana State, he also spent three years as defensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

PETE KUHARCHEK, Rhein – Elevated to head coach of the Fire in 2001 after winning two World Bowl rings as the club’s defensive coordinator. Coached with the Orlando Thunder in 1992 and has coached in a total of four World Bowls.

PETER VAAS, Berlin – Led the Thunder to a championship in his second season at the team’s head coach. Former head coach at Allegheny and Holy Cross, where he was a three-year starter at quarterback. Also served as quarterbacks/running backs coach at Notre Dame.

TELEVISION

Fans can follow the development of tomorrow’s NFL stars today, as every NFL Europe League game will be televised in the United States. Current and former NFL players will be in the broadcast booth this season, including Atlanta Falcons running back JAMAL ANDERSON and three-time NFL All-Star KEVIN GOGAN.

Several FOX NFL broadcasters began their television careers in NFL Europe, including TROY AIKMAN, DARYL JOHNSTON and BRIAN BALDINGER.

A breakdown of NFL Europe League television coverage for the 2002 season:

FOX – Will broadcast a “Game of the Week” in Weeks 6-8, followed by a live broadcast of World Bowl X on June 22.

FOX Sports Net – Will broadcast a “Game of the Week” every week of the season.

DIRECTV – Will broadcast two games per weekend. ---