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 POSTCARDS FROM NFL EUROPEMar 30, 2006, 4:02:21 PM
Entry 7 Thursday, March 30, 2006 What’s going on Kansas City, Thanks for all the great questions and feedback that you guys submitted on the website. I probably won’t be able to get back to all of your questions, but I’ll try to answer a couple questions after every entry. We are now into week 3 of the NFL Europe season, and my team is heading to Amsterdam to play the Admirals on Saturday night. Check your local listings and you might be able to catch the game on the NFL network. We beat the Hamburg Sea Devils last Saturday, which was really good to get back on the winning track. I played against Kris Griffin, linebacker for the Chiefs, which always makes it more interesting. He was talking smack during the whole game. The coaches named me a game captain for the offensive side of the ball, which was a great honor to help represent my team in that manner.
A major challenge everyone has here in Germany is trying to keep their weight up since we are in a new environment with a completely different kind of food. I am around 310 pounds, so I am not losing too much so far, but the food is definitely different. They feed us all of our meals at the hotel and they try to “Americanize” the food as much as possible. But the best things they have here are the potatoes and the bread. It’s amazing how many different ways they can make food out of potatoes. It always tastes great, but sometimes I’m not sure how good it is for me. Plus, the bread is always fresh and tasty. Sometimes I eat the bread just by itself as a meal. Our dietitian back in Kansas City may want to forget reading that last paragraph. We also have a McDonalds about a block from our hotel, so I think our team has increased the profits of that franchise by at least 50% since we have been here in Frankfurt. I try to limit my eating there to once a week since I always think of the documentary Super Size Me every time I bite into a Big Mac. The McDonalds in Germany is very similar to the one in the states, other than the fact that it’s a little more expensive. A unique difference here though is that they charge you 20 cents for a pack of ketchup. Another difference when you visit a restaurant in Germany is that they do not put ice in your drinks. It is definitely weird to drink a warm coke with no ice in it. And if you ask for ice, then they will just put a couple of ice cubes in it, with it hardly impacting the temperature of the drink. It is tough to get a cold drink out here in Germany. In addition, if you order a water overseas, then they will bring you carbonated water. Carbonated water is the norm in Germany, so you always need to ask for no carbonation. They even put carbonation in the apple juice. Let me tell you, if it’s not something you’re used to it’s not very appealing. Since they do not put ice in the drinks, free refills do not exist either. But I am starting to pick up on the norms and culture out here, so that they way I don’t look too ignorant and confused when I go out. Hopefully I’m fooling a few people. Reading through the submitted question, here are two good ones I thought I’d answer: 1.) Do the German fans understand the American game of football and do they come up to you and ask questions? Thanks and good luck in your Chiefs future. Ken from Bentonville, Arkansas The German fans understand the basics of the game of American football due to the increasing popularity of the sport overseas. We average about 30,000 people at our home games, so there are many fans in the city of Frankfurt and they know enough to enjoy the game. However, when you speak to the fans or the media, they are more interested in how your daily living habits, what you think of Germany, and your outside hobbies, rather than discussing X’s and O’s with you. 2.) I would like to know how difficult it has been adjusting to playing offensive tackle and does playing defense in the past actually help you? Thanks and Good Luck in Frankfurt and hope to see you playing for the Chiefs next year! Tony B. It is definitely an adjustment switching from defensive line to offensive line. It’s hard enough being a young player in the NFL, but playing a whole new position just compounds the transition. But I feel like offensive tackle is my natural position and that I am getting better everyday that I am out on the field. I learned so much in my first year with the Chiefs and now I’m just trying to work on my technique while I am over here. The biggest thing I need to do is trust my technique and avoid bad habits. Additionally, I feel like playing defense has also helped me as an offensive lineman because it made me a better football player overall and help me develop athleticism and toughness. I know what bothers the defensive lineman the most, so now as an offensive lineman I try to use all those annoying nuances that the defensive lineman hate. Well, I gotta go and catch some dinner right now. I hope it is a good one. Talk to you guys next week!!! Will ASK Will A QUESTION!Let us know what you want… |
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It was also our first home game, which made it even more
exciting. The atmosphere was absolutely amazing, with the game having a soccer/football feel to it, while throwing in a
rock concert flavor as well. The fans are constantly blowing whistles, and they are always blaring American music. It’s
definitely a three hour party for the fans. And as the beers start kicking in by the second half, they become even
louder. Playing there is a real treat. We definitely have a home field advantage here in Frankfurt just like what the
Chiefs enjoy at Arrowhead. Both places are intimidating for opponents. |
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