Fox and NFL Europe

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Fox Ready To Kick Off
NFL Europe Season
By George Stahl
NEW YORK (AQB)--Fox Sports Net begins its second straight season of NFL Europe coverage, televising one league game each Saturday from April 17 to June 19.
Fox's NFL Europe coverage culminates with Europe's version of the Super Bowl - World Bowl '99 - at 1:30 p.m. ET Sunday, June 27, live from Dusseldorf's Rheinstadion. The Fox network will broadcast the championship game for the fourth straight year.

1999 NFL EUROPE LEAGUE
TELECAST SCHEDULE

April 17 Berlin at Frankfurt

April 24 Scotland at Berlin

May 1 Amsterdam at Rhein

May 8 Rhein at Frankfurt

May 15 Scotland at Rhein OR
Amsterdam at Berlin

May 22 Rhein at Amsterdam OR
Scotland at Frankfurt

May 29 Barcelona at Amsterdam
OR Frankfurt at Rhein

June 5 Rhein at Berlin OR Amsterdam at Frankfurt

June 12 Rhein at Barcelona

June 19 Scotland at Amsterdam OR Barcelona at Frankfort
OR Berlin at Rhein

June 27 World Bowl '99 (Fox)

All games at 1 p.m. ET. Check local listings for air dates and times on your local Fox Sports Net affiliate.

NFL Europe teams play a 10-game regular season schedule, after which the two teams with the best records meet in World Bowl '99. The league this year expands to six teams, adding Berlin Thunder to the five returning teams of the Amsterdam Admirals, Barcelona Dragons, Frankfurt Galaxy, defending champion Rhein Fire and the Scottish Claymores.

Last season, 139 players with NFL Europe experience appeared on NFL team rosters, including 20 quarterbacks and 16 players in this year's conference championship games. The Super Bowl XXXIII champion Denver Broncos boasted seven NFL Europe alumni.

"NFL Europe is an opportunity for fans to get a sneak peak at potential NFL rules, and aspiring players and coaches," Arthur Smith, executive vice president of Fox Sports Net, said in press release Wednesday. "In addition, fans will enjoy the unprecedented access that these telecasts have."

Along with wiring coaches and players, Fox and Fox Sports Net will have complete access to players and coaches' meetings on the sidelines and in the locker rooms.

The league is not only a testing ground for players and coaches but also for new rules. Among the more controversial rules being tested for the NFL include awarding four points for field goals over 50 yards; a 35-second play clock to speed up games; and an alternative overtime procedure that provides for both teams to possess the ball at least once before a winner is determined.

Also, the NFL's recently adopted instant replay system for next season will be fine-tuned during NFL Europe games.

Fox Sports Net's play-by-play announcers for NFL Europe include the following:

Paul Kennedy, who called the action for the 1997 and 1998 NFL Europe League season;

NFL on Fox analyst Ray Bentley, a former Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals linebacker;

NFL on Fox play-by-play and sideline reporter Curt Menefee;

Englishman Nick Halling, the only broadcaster to work on NFL Europe telecasts since the league's inception in 1991;

Brad Sham, an eight-time recipient of the Texas Sportscaster of the Year award;

Scott Graham, the play-by-play voice for Comcast Network;

and Doug Bell, play-by-play announcer for Alabama Crimson Tide football.

Among those handling the analyst duties include familiar Fox football faces such as Bill Maas, a Fox analyst and co-host of Fox Sports Net's NFL studio show, Hardcore Football, and Matt Millen, Fox's analyst on its No. 2 broadcasting team.

Other analysts include Brian Baldinger, a former NFL offensive lineman; Dallas Cowboy quarterback Troy Aikman and special teams player Dale Hellestrae; Carolina Panthers linebacker Kevin Greene; and Minnesota Viking receiver Cris Carter.

Fox Sports Net will provide the latest NFL news from home and abroad with the "NFL Europe Halftime Show," hosted by Fox Sports News anchor Van Earl Wright and Fox game analyst and former Green Bay Packer Ron Pitts.

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