Welcome to the Giants, Sandro Platzgummer

[Treehugger]

Austrian RB Sandro Platzgummer allocated to Giants

 

Austrian running back Sandro Platzgummer has been allocated to the New York Giants as part of the NFL International Player Pathway Program.

The program, instituted in 2017, aims to provide international athletes the opportunity to compete at the NFL level, improve their skills, and ultimately earn a spot on an NFL roster. After the NFL conducted an International Combine in Germany last October, Platzgummer received additional training and development alongside NFL players and draft hopefuls in Florida at IMG Academy this winter.

The NFC East was chosen to receive these players in a random draw, making the Giants one of four teams able to carry an additional overseas player on their practice squads in 2020.

Isaac Alarcon, a former Mexican college football national champion, will join the Dallas Cowboys; David Bada, a former defensive end for the Schwabisch Hall Unicorns of the German Football League, will join the Washington Redskins; and Australian Matt Leo, who played football for the Iowa State Cyclones, will join the Philadelphia Eagles.

"The International Player Pathway program is an important part of our ongoing efforts to grow the game globally and provide pathways for international players to make it to the NFL," said Damani Leech, NFL Chief Operating Officer of International. "We were excited to have players from around the world competing for a spot in the 2020 program, including eight players who were selected after participating in the International Combine in Germany this past October."

Platzgummer played for the Swarco Raiders Tirol, an American football team based in Innsbruck, Austria. It has won the Austrian Football League championship seven times, including a victory in Austrian Bowl XXXV this past year to cap a perfect season.

Three players that participated in the program in 2019 – Jakob Johnson (New England Patriots), Durval Queiroz Neto (Miami Dolphins) and Christian Wade (Buffalo Bills) – will return to their AFC East teams for the upcoming season.

[BlueInCanada]

Supposed to run about a 4.48 40 time.

Would be interesting to see him in the RB mix since I feel like we could use some backup behind Barkley.

[boohyah]

I heard that he may have played some center.........

[Sephiroth]

With a little polish and good coaching this guy has a chance to be the next Anthony Dable. 

[BronxRik]

It would have been interesting if the Bears got him. He could have been a Gummy Bear.