The Chad

[Vinny]

nfl.com

By Seth Polansky
NFL.com

(May 13, 2004) -- NFL Europe is a training ground for young football talent. So when a former NFL starter shows up to lead a team, the rest of the league takes notice. That's what it has been like for Rhein Fire quarterback Chad Hutchinson. After starting nine games as a rookie in 2002 for the Dallas Cowboys, he knows what it's like to face a formidable pass rush on every play. And that's a big reason why he is the reigning NFL Europe Offensive Player of the Week. Despite the bullseye on his uniform, Hutchinson has put up decent numbers because competing at the professional level has become second nature.

Even his teammates are in awe. "It's pretty cool going up against an experienced quarterback in practice. He knows all the reads and he's stingy with those interceptions," Rhein linebacker Charles Burton said.

It has been rough going the last few weeks for the team. After starting off the season 2-0, three straight losses tainted the Fire's schedule, including one in Week 5 to a winless Scotland squad. But Rhein righted the ship last week against Amsterdam and Hutchinson was 20 of 27 for 263 yards and two touchdowns in the 20-13 win.

 

[texans]

how did the cowgirls get the rights to chad hutch? NFl.com draft area said that they didnt draft him so what happend

 

[dagr8whitehope]

hutch didn't enter the draft like henson did, he was signed as a free agent by the boys. many football players turned baseball players go this route and sign rather than entering the draft because they can have more of a chance to determine where they go.

 

[Lucky]

Hutchinson went undrafted after his college football eligibility expired. He was placed on the St. Louis Cardinals restricted list after informing them he was retiring from baseball. Hutchinson signed with the cowgirls after being courted by other teams, including the Texans. Henson didn't "enter" the draft. He became available for the draft after his college football eligibility expired. Had Henson not been drafted in 2003, he would have been in the same position Hutchinson was, a free agent.