NFLEL players will see their first 2001 action on U.S. soil

THE NFL's stars of tomorrow will experience their first competitive NFL Europe League action during training camp in Tampa Bay as all six teams will be pitted against each other in a series of combined workouts and game-condition scrimmages.

With more than 350 players fighting for their professional futures, the action is sure to be intense and exciting when training camp kicks off on March 13. And the action will get even hotter on Saturday March 24, when the first combined workouts of training camp take place.

Before the end of training camp on Saturday April 7, the six NFLEL head coaches will have the chance to evaluate their talent during three combined workouts and two game-condition scrimmages. The scrimmages will be held in a variety of locations around the Bay area, including the University of Tampa, King High School, the 31st Street Complex in St. Petersburg and – on the afternoon of March 24 – at One Buccaneer Place.

A full schedule of the workouts and their locations can be found at the bottom of this page.

Each NFL Europe League team will face the other five clubs during training camp, allowing coaches the chance to see how they match up against their opponents for the 2001 season.

The first combined workout of training camp takes place at 9:00 a.m. ET on March 24 as the defending champion Rhein Fire clash with the Barcelona Dragons at Clearwater High School, South Herculese Avenue, Clearwater.

As ever, the combined workouts will draw the attention of NFL scouts and coaches, who will get the chance to evaluate the talent of promising young quarterbacks Giovanni Carmazzi (Rhein and San Francisco) and Jarious Jackson (Barcelona and Denver).

The combined workout action continues at 12:30 p.m. as the Frankfurt Galaxy - led by quarterbacks Michael Bishop (New England) and Kevin Thompson (Cleveland) - practice with the Berlin Thunder, who will be quarterbacked by Jacksonville Jaguars passer Jonathan Quinn.

The Thunder and Galaxy meet at King High School, North 56th Street, Tampa.

The opening round of combined workouts conclude at 3:30 p.m. as the Scottish Claymores meet the Amsterdam Admirals at 1 Buc Place - training home of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The second round of combined workouts take place at the 31st Street Complex, St. Petersburg on Wednesday March 28. Frankfurt face Barcelona, Rhein take on Scotland and Berlin work out with Amsterdam.

The first game-condition scrimmages take place at Pepin Rood Stadium, University of Tampa, on Saturday March 31 - just ahead of the first roster cutdowns of training camp.

The scrimmages are a dress rehearsal for the opening weekend of regular season games on April 21 as Barcelona face Berlin, Amsterdam meet Rhein and Scotland take on the Frankfurt Galaxy.

The teams head back to the 31st Street Complex in St. Petersburg on Wednesday April 4 for the final round of combined workouts.

The final game-condition scrimmages come just ahead of the final roster cutdowns and take place at Pepin Rood Stadium on Saturday April 7. Barcelona face the Admirals, the Thunder take on Scotland, and Rhein meet German rivals Frankfurt.

Training camp workouts and scrimmage schedule

Combined Workouts - Saturday March 24 Rhein at Barcelona - 9:00 a.m. Clearwater High School. Frankfurt at Berlin - 12:30 p.m. King High School. Scotland at Amsterdam - 3:30 p.m. One Buc Place, Tampa.

Combined Workouts - Wednesday March 28 (all at 31st Street Complex, St. Petersburg) Frankfurt vs Barcelona - 9:30 a.m. Rhein vs Scotland - 12:30 p.m. Berlin vs Amsterdam - 3:30 p.m.

Game-condition scrimmages - Saturday March 31 (all at Peppin Rood Stadium/University of Tampa) Barcelona vs Berlin - 9:30 a.m. Amsterdam vs Rhein - 12:30 p.m. Scotland vs Frankfurt - 3:30 p.m.

Combined Workouts - Wednesday April 4 (all at 31st Street Complex, St. Petersburg) Frankfurt vs Amsterdam - 9:30 a.m. Barcelona vs Scotland - 12:30 p.m. Berlin vs Rhein - 3:30 p.m.

Game-condition scrimmages - Saturday April 7 (all at Peppin Rood Stadium/University of Tampa) Barcelona vs Amsterdam - 9:30 a.m. Berlin vs Scotland - 12:30 p.m. Rhein vs Frankfurt - 3:30 p.m.