May 11, 2005
NEW YORK - Michael Quarshie has been playing professional football for two weeks, and has posted four tackles for the NFL Europe's Frankfurt Galaxy. "Playing for two weeks" in this case does not just refer to competitions, but rather includes getting signed, flying about 4000 miles to Germany, practicing, learning a playbook and watching film.
Two weeks.
And, already, his stock is rising.
Quarshie had an edge to begin with. As a Finnish citizen, he has an advantage over American players in earning a spot on an NFL roster by playing in the NFLE.
"As a European player, Michael was in a most unique position," noted his agent, Bob Boland '87, himself a former Columbia football letterwinner. "Michael had an incredible opportunity not open to American players to play immediately in NFLE, making him eligible for an NFL developmental roster spot this year. In other words, he would be guaranteed a practice squad slot rather than going directly to an NFL camp as an undrafted free agent with a one-in-five chance of getting that same result."
The 2004 Columbia captain and two-time All-Ivy honoree is making the most of his opportunity thus far. He played about 15 snaps in his first weekend vs. the Rhein Fire. One week later at Amsterdam, he had three tackles vs. the Admirals.
"I made a play against Rhein last week and a few against the Admirals," Quarshie said, "but I also made some mistakes."
Quarshie, who diligently continues to study film just as in his career at Columbia, is the third defensive tackle in a three-man rotation at that position.
"Things move faster and the players are better than what I'm used to," explained Quarshie, "but I'm already adjusting to it and I'm learning a lot."
