Latest Casey Clausen Update

[allvol]

Clausen reassigned by NFLEL.

QB Casey Clausen was
reassigned as part of
the NFLEL roster cutdowns
on Sunday. (waynepaulo.com)

It must be noted that Clausen was the biggest name moved on Sunday... as indicated by his photo on the front of the NFLEL website today. From possible Centurions starter to Admirals practice squad. However, the Centurions go from 4 qbs to 3, while the Admirals go from 2 qbs to 3. Clausen will probably be activated, but his chances for playing are slim. The Admirals have a former NFL starting qb, Kurt Kittner, and a returning player from 2004 as their 2 qbs. Clausen's talent and credentials were much better than the other qbs on the Centurions' roster. However, I think Vaas wanted to go with a more mobile (and less accurate) Chris Lewis. The Centurions 3rd qb is from Japan.... which helps with the mandatory 'national' players required to be on each roster.

Good luck Clausen! I think you'll need it now.

 

[QBvol7]

He outplayed the other QB's in practices. What more can the guy do? He was 6 of 6 in a scrimmage the other day and has rarely made any mistakes.

 

[WolfofLon]

Unfortunatly this further proof of the lack of his abilities will not change the minds of the dead set, orange glasses crowd. He is not a great QB. Period.

 

[kiddiedoc]

Thud! Thud! Thwack!

(sounds of beating a dead horse)

PLEASE, at least no Casey bashing until after March Madness! Then, there will truly be nothing left to talk about. . . . Lacrosse? Anyone???

 

[WolfofLon]

I agree that this issue has been discussed ad naseum on several message boards for years. However, if we're to stop for awhile, then the blind faithful should stop too.

 

[GAVol]

Another Clausen discussion? Nnnnnnooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

:beer:

 

[checkerboard_charly]

loser. :spank:

 

[allvol]

Actually, I was reading a bit about the quarterbacks that the Admirals have. Both are former Big Ten quarterbacks. Kittner played at Illinois and Hamdan played at Indiana.

Yes, Kurt Kittner has some starting experience in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons in 2003, but his rating was a horrible 32.5. He started 4 games out of necessity for the Falcons who had drafted him in the fifth round in 2002. He completed 38.6% of his passes for 391 yards in 7 games with 2 TDs and 6 interceptions. He did not play anywhere in 2004 (like Clausen) and in fact was waived by five teams during a seven month period prior to the season.

Gibran Hamdan is returning for his 2nd straight stint with the Admirals. His stats from last year in NFLEL were a respectable 40-of-80 for 607 yards, 3 TDs and 3 interceptions. He was backing up former Arkansas qb Clint Stoerner. Stoerner currently plays arena football. Hamdan also did not play in the NFL last season. He appeared in 1 game for the Redskins in 2003, completing 1-of-2 passes for 7 yards.

Once Clausen gets in some practice time, I think the coaching staff will realize what they've got and Clausen will receive some playing opportunities in the games.... possibly even starting.

 

[allvol]

Gibran Hamdan has
been confirmed as
Amsterdam's starter.
(waynepaulo.com)

March 24, 2005
By Craig TerBlanche
NFL Europe



After a tightly contested battle throughout training camp, Admirals Head Coach Bart Andrus has named Gibran Hamdan as the starting quarterback for the 2005 season.

“He has earned it,” coach Andrus said. “More times than not he does what he is supposed to do. My comfort level with him is because he is in his second year and he really understands what we are doing. We have never had that luxury before. He has stepped in from day one and showed his leadership on the field, in the locker room and off the field. He considers this his team and we are excited to see how he does.”

Hamdan is a 6-foot-5, 220-pound quarterback that set his sights on being the starting quarterback at the beginning of training camp, but admits that it is even better than he expected.

“It means a lot to me and that was my goal coming into training camp,” Hamdan said. “To me it has turned out to mean even more than I thought it would because of the guys I have surrounding me. I feel really fortunate to be in the position that I am in because I feel that I have been given a really good group to lead. That is the most exciting thing for me right now.”

The Admirals begin the 2005 season on April 2 at home against the Rhein Fire with Hamdan at the helm, but this time he has set his sights on the World Bowl.

“When the Seahawks approached me about coming back to NFL Europe I wanted to come back to Amsterdam because it is a great offense to be in,” he said. “I want to be the first quarterback to lead this team to a victory in the World Bowl and that starts with the Fire.”

 

[OldVol]

I would really like to see us honor our young men for what they've accomplished and be very selective in what we say about their short-comings.

As for Casey, what more could the young man have done?

He is second only to Peyton in almost every passing category, and that was without some of the great receivers Peyton had at his disposal. In particular, the 2002 team just didn't have much of a threat outside of Kelly Washington, and once you got past him we were very limited for a threat beyond the TE position.

Casey pulled out 4 4th quarter victories in 2001 because he had the targets to hit. In 2003, with Washington limited and out, he was like a duck in a barrel for opposing defenses.

When we talk about Quarterback Greatness at UT, we usually can agree that Peyton set the standard, and I believe that, but Casey was 2/2 against our biggest rival (Florida) beating them at Gainesville both trips.

We look at our QB heroes, and we have to admit that Tee is certainly one. He led us to a National Championship in 98, but I thought he under performed in 99, and I say that knowing that he had fewer targets than in 98, but; he had better targets than Casey did in 02 and 03.

All 3 of our most recent QBs are great in their own rights. Some accomplished what others did not, but they're my boys either way.

 

[GVF]

Well said. They don't necessarily have to be booming NFL stars in order to be considered a great QB at UT. Casey may be struggling to make it. And in all respect, if he doesn't lock something up within the next year, his career may be over unless he makes the CFL. But, there have been several UT greats in the last 2 decades that only had limited or no action at all in the NFL. Seems Casey in all his accomplishments as a college QB for us, is the only one we actually bash.

 

[allvol]

Hamdam may be the starter, but remember, the NFLEL is a developemental league. They usually like to get the backup qbs more playing time. Also remember, at the time of the article, Clausen had not practiced with the team.... or was just getting his first practice..... as the Admirals had not practiced since training camp until Wednesday.

However, somehow... personnel moves that Clausen have been involved with have been puzzling. All you heard from the KC Chiefs camp last year was how good Clausen was and that he was going to make the team as the 3rd qb. During training camp, all that was discussed was "heisman contender" Casey Clausen vying for the starting position with the Cologne Centurions. In both cases, at zero hour, he was unceremoniously dumped. In the Centurions case, its not clear whether the team made the move or the league?