NFLPA Collegiate Bowl practice is heating up as both the National and American teams prepare for Saturday’s 6pm ET kickoff. National team Head Coach Dick Vermeil will return to defend the National Team’s title from 2012 and 2013. Dennis Green will make his first appearance as a NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Head Coach as he takes the reigns of the American Team.
Coach Vermeil’s National squad has had a solid week of practice up to this point, led by South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw who had a strong day of practice today.
Scouts and General Managers have attended practices for both squads. Even a few coaches have been in and out to see practice and the players for themselves. Among those coaches is Kansas City head man Andy Reid who spoke with Pro Player Insiders:
PPI: This year your team had a great turnaround, how was it working with the team?
Andy Reid: It really has been, I work with a lot of really great guys, coaches and players. John Dorsey is our General Manager who is out here beating the bushes looking for more players. And I have a great owner which is all you can ask for from a head coaching position
PPI: Out here in sunny California what is it like to see these players?
AR: I am just watching. I am actually on vacation. Coach Vermeil and I are good friends so I came to support him and hang out with John Dorsey for the day and see the talent of the players. The NFLPA has brought in some really good players for this game and we have great weather.
After a hard day of practice National team player Shaun Lewis (Oklahoma State) got together with PPI to have a little fun and interview his fellow linebackers Marquis Spruill (Syracuse) and Stephon Robertson (James Madison).
Shaun Lewis: So tell me what is it like to be here at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl?
James Madison University, LB
Photo by Kevin A. Koski
Marquis Spruill: It’s great, we have a lot of older guys here and a lot of guys that played a long time in the league and it is a great learning experience. There is a lot of insight and a lot of good people giving good information out here.
SL: What about you (Stephon), what do you do in your spare time?
Stephon Robertson: Pretty much just kicking back with the guys watching TV and stay into football. Chillin. Shaun,
how do you feel about today’s practice?
SL: I felt like it was real hot man but you learn how to persevere though hard times like today with guys that you’ve become found of. Its fun to grind out here with people you just met and build a bond in a short amount of time.
SR: What about you Marquis?
MS: One big thing I saw was our improvement from yesterdays practice. Yesterday we came out kind of slow, sluggish and flat. So today we came out ready to practice and we had a good day.
SR: So the National team is ready?
MS: The National team is ready
SR: Are we going to win?
MS: We are going to win
SL: Is that even a question?
The linebackers are a very confident bunch and will look to back up that talk on Saturday when they take on Dennis Green’s American team.
Photos by Kevin A. Koski
