Charles Burton

[Renz]

Been reading about Charles Burton having had a good year in NFL Europe. He finished second in NFLE in tackles for the league runners-up, the Rhein Fire.

Does he have a shot at making the Cardinals roster as a LB this season?

 

[ajcardfan]

Sure he has a shot. A long shot.

 

[Goldfield]

I sure wish they would send the second & third string guys to play over there...

It would be fun to watch the young guys that "might" play on the team someday...

 

[WisconsinCard]

Originally posted by Renz
Been reading about Charles Burton having had a good year in NFL Europe. He finished second in NFLE in tackles for the league runners-up, the Rhein Fire.

Does he have a shot at making the Cardinals roster as a LB this season?

I watched him all season, he is a fast closer who can get back in coverage. I think he has a 50/50 shot.

 

[Tyrestud]

Unfortunately, (IMO) NFL teams don't send serious "prospects" to NFLE. Seems to me a few years ago you would see teams sending at least thier late round picks to NFLE if they had vets at the same positions. Now you've got teams signing warm bodies with the sole intention of sending them to NFLE. I can't quote the rule to the letter, but if a team sends X amount of players to NFLE they get to have more total players in camp and I think they can keep more after each cut except of course the final. Anyway, it would be nice if the NFL had a REAL developmental league, but for whatever reason the NFLE is not it.

Tyrestud.

 

[JeffGollin]

I'm not excited about the guy. But that doesn't mean he won't return from Europe ready to compete for a job and with a season's worth of game experience under his belt.

It's hard to determine who'll prevail when you haven't seen them on the field side by side with the guys they're competing with for spots. And, even if they are on the same field, it's not the same in shorts as it will be in full pads under game conditions.

 

[ajcardfan]

Burton isn't brand new to the Cards. He went through training camp and preseason last year. So, the staff must see something they like in him to bring him back again. Last year, I thought he was a bit shy on speed and was also not that big. On the plus side, he seems to be a smart player with a nose for the ball. But, after the Andy McCullagh fiasco, I'll never get too hyped about an NFLE player until they prove on the field in the NFL.

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

On a positive note...does anyone remember where Marcel Shipp made a name for himself?

That's right, in the NFL Europe!

Hopefully Mr. Burton end up being a "diamond in the rough" along the same lines...

but then again, monkeys might fly out my butt!

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by Cardinals.Ken
On a positive note...does anyone remember where Marcel Shipp made a name for himself?

That's right, in the NFL Europe!

Hopefully Mr. Burton end up being a "diamond in the rough" along the same lines...

but then again, monkeys might fly out my butt!

Huh? I think you are mistaken....Shipp never played in NFL Europe....Clarence Williams, who Shipp beat out, did play though.

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

Originally posted by Krangthebrain
Huh? I think you are mistaken....Shipp never played in NFL Europe....Clarence Williams, who Shipp beat out, did play though.

Me thinks you're right!

I can't find anything on Shipp in NFL Europe. What was I thinking? Perhaps my memory is starting to go!

But I could have sworn that Marcel had done something his rookie year (besides special-teams play) that made him "someone to watch".

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by Cardinals.Ken
Me thinks you're right!

I can't find anything on Shipp in NFL Europe. What was I thinking? Perhaps my memory is starting to go!

But I could have sworn that Marcel had done something his rookie year (besides special-teams play) that made him "someone to watch".

Well he looked pretty good in the preseason his rookie year, and beat out Clarence Williams.

I was actually really down on him going into last year, as he looked terrible in the preseason. But after watching him in the regular season, it was obvious that he only looked bad because of the terrible line we employed in the preseason (the 2nd/3rd stringers).

 

[Crimson Warrior]

Originally posted by Tyrestud
Unfortunately, (IMO) NFL teams don't send serious "prospects" to NFLE.

Anyway, it would be nice if the NFL had a REAL developmental league, but for whatever reason the NFLE is not it.

Tyrestud.

would it not be cool if there was a minor league farm system type deal for football like there is for baseball? (and don't write, there is, its a called the NCAA)

I think it would be awsome.

the arena league is close but of course there is no true affiliation and its not "real" football.

for us folks out here in hicksville I bet it would get a lot of interest. OKC will never get a pro football team in a million years, so to me, a minor league team would be a viable alternative.

 

[ajcardfan]

Originally posted by Cardinals.Ken
Me thinks you're right!

I can't find anything on Shipp in NFL Europe. What was I thinking? Perhaps my memory is starting to go!

But I could have sworn that Marcel had done something his rookie year (besides special-teams play) that made him "someone to watch".

What you probably 'remember' is that he set some lower division (Division II?) college records. That was his claim to fame when we signed him as an UDFA.

 

[dylanbw]

NFLE

I think the rule that Tyrestud was referring to regarding exemptions applies only to those guys that actually played in NFL Europe - that is, just because a team sends 5 guys over, they can't keeep ANY extra 5 guys on the camp roster and cutdowns - you have to keep the NFL Europe guys themselves as the "extra" players. I could be wrong, but I think that's the rule.

Yeah, Andy McCollough was a total bust, but he seemed to be lacking a bit in the hands and "onions" departments. Perhaps Burton has now gained enough "live snap experience to help him compete for a job. Anthony White (RB) did well over there last year, and I believe he spent all of 2002 on our IR. Perhaps he'll show some life in this year's camp (if he is still our property).

 

[Renz]

Originally posted by Crimson Warrior
for us folks out here in hicksville I bet it would get a lot of interest. OKC will never get a pro football team in a million years, so to me, a minor league team would be a viable alternative.

How could you have forgotten these guys?