Atkinson heading to Germany to play pro football

By Dave Fawcett

Published: July 20, 2008

Larry Atkinson wanted to play professional football, but at age 26, the Gar-Field High School graduate knew his chances were limited and his time was running out.

He'd worked out for a Canadian Football League team in April. Then he attended an NFL regional combine in May. But nothing came from either endeavor.

On the advice of his former roommate and teammate at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Atkinson turned his attention to possibly playing professional football overseas.

His friend told him about leagues in Europe, in particular Germany. Atkinson put together a profile, posted it on the Internet and waited for a response. Soon enough, the head coach of the Hamburg Blue Devils called him and told him the team wanted to sign him.

Atkinson wasn't sure what to think, other than to take the coach's word that this was on the up and up. A contract arrived via e-mail. Atkinson signed it June 23rd and sent it back. 

It was explained to him that his expenses would be taken care of, from the flight to housing to transportation to meals, a package that's worth $40,000. He was told he'd be playing wide receiver and cornerback for Hamburg.

All he had to do was get his paperwork in line and be on an airplane later this month to join a Blue Devil team whose season is already in progress.

"It's basically like coming out here to Omaha. I got in a car and drove," said Atkinson, who was born in Germany, but only lived there a brief time while his father was stationed in the Army. "This time, it will be me going on a plane and going over."

Although he doesn't know anyone in Germany, he's learning more about the culture through an organization called World Sport Scouting, which specializes in helping American football players get connected with professional teams abroad.

World Sport Scouting got in touch with Atkinson after they'd heard he was a potential prospect.

"We want to figure out how we can make this a better opportunity for him," said Clayton Banner, World Sport Scouting's director of player personnel.

Typically, the German Football League's season begins in March with training camp. The 16-game season then starts in April and runs through September. The first-division of the GFL features 12 teams.

The league has been around since 1979, but football became even more popular in Germany through leagues like NFL Europe, which has since ceased operations.

"NFL Europe pumped blood into it, but when they left, there was a void," Banner said. "The people over there love their football."

Each team is allowed a maximum of six American players, but only two are allowed on the field at the same time. Atkinson signed a one-year deal, but he could be cut at any time.

"You could be released in a week," Banner said. "It's a hard-core environment."

Banner said Atkinson's situation is rare in that he found a spot overseas without any middle person to set it up.

Atkinson played two seasons at Division II Nebraska at Omaha as a defensive back before graduating this summer with a degree in communications.

A former all-Northwest Region running back at Gar-Field, where he rushed for over 1,000 yards his senior season in 1999, Atkinson's entry into college football was delayed after he served six months in the Prince William County Adult Detention Center for grand larceny.

After being released from jail, Atkinson played two seasons at Morrisville (N.Y.) State Junior College before transferring to Nebraska at Omaha.