(April 2, 2004) -- I think this time around I knew what was going on.
Being over here is not really new to me. I'm not expecting to get
homesick or something that guys coming over here for the first time
might experience. I think that helps me out a lot because I can help the
other guys on the team. I'm not trying to be the veteran over here, but
if someone has a question, they know they can come to me and I can try
to help them out. I experienced some things last year, so this year I'm
prepared for anything that can happen.
The first game is when I'm most nervous, and I don't get nervous until
about a day or two before the game. Usually before that I'm pretty
relaxed. Right now, I just want to get that first game out of the way
and get on with the season.
I played against Cologne running back Avon Cobourne in college, and
there's a couple players I played with and against in college, so I know
some of their key guys. We have our scouting reports and we know the
basics about almost everyone on the team, but that's about it. Our
strong point on defense revolves around the front four; our front four
is tremendous. I think with its pass-rush and run-stopping abilities, it
really helps the linebackers and secondary. The front four that we have,
and even the backups, are great athletes and they know what they are
supposed to do and get it done.
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| Charles Burton started all 11 games last year and led the Fire with 66 tackles. | |
What we do is pretty basic, so everyone can pick it up. Coach (Pete
Kuharchek) really didn't come to me and talk to me about being in a
leadership role or anything like that. Last year he didn't do it to me
either, or any of the other guys. He just knows that my leadership will
come through with my actions on the field. I'm a talker, so I hardly
ever shut up. I feel that if I am not doing anything on the field, then
I don't have any reason to be talking to the team. I would hope that I'm
one of the team leaders. I'm a fiery guy; I play with a lot of
enthusiasm, heart and emotion. I think some guys feed off that.
The coaches carry some (residual feelings of consecutive World Bowl
losses) over more than the players do because there's not that many
players coming back. The coaches have explained that we have been to the
World Bowl the last two years and lost. There are guys who were here
last year and guys from two years ago back on this team. We all know
what it's like to lose. NFL Europe isn't the NFL, but whether it's
college or high school, you always want to win the championship in what
you're playing for. And that's being professional athletes and football
players. Competing is the main thing. Getting to the World Bowl is
definitely our goal for the end of the season.
I just love this game and I love playing in front of these fans. They're
great, especially our home fans. It really makes you play for the crowd
because they don't cheer for the name on the back of the jerseys, they
cheer for the name on the front. And honestly, that makes it so much
fun. I think we have the best fans in all of NFL Europe.
I came back over here this year as a free agent and the Rhein Fire
protected me. I'm not affiliated with any teams back in the United
States. I told my agent that I don't even want to know (about teams
interested in me). I just come here and bring a World Bowl championship
to the Rhein Fire and play the best ball that I can. The more we win,
the more it helps my chances to get with a team. And hopefully, if I
have a real good season, there will be a couple teams interested in me
and I could put myself in the best situation possible.
