American Football Without Barriers has announced that NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Andre Reed will join the 16 other NFL players who will be visiting Algarve, Portugal March 10-11.
After successful camps in China in 2013, Brazil in 2014, Turkey in 2015, and Egypt in 2016 and Finland, 17 current and former National Football League (NFL) players are heading to Portugal, the third AFWB International camp in Europe.
The other confirmed players are Marshawn Lynch (Oakland Raiders), Kevin Hogan (Cleveland Browns), Roosevelt Nix (Pittsburgh Steelers), Ben Garland (Atlanta Falcons), Barkevious Mingo, Jabaal Sheard, Chris Milton and Matthias Farley (Indianapolis Colts), DeAngelo Williams (Pro Bowl Running Back), Gary Barnidge (Pro Bowl Tight End), Johnson Bademosi (New England Patriots), Jabaal Sheard (Indianapolis Colts), Michael Thomas (Miami Dolphins), Xavier Grimble (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Erik Lorig (7-Year NFL Veteran).
Andre Reed enjoyed a 16 year career in the NFL, 15 with the Buffalo Bills and one with the Washington Redskins. He ranks near the top in nearly all NFL career statistical receiving categories. He went over 1,000 yards four times in a 16-year career, is tenth in NFL history in total career receptions with 951 (behind only Jerry Rice, Cris Carter, Tim Brown, Isaac Bruce, Hines Ward, Randy Moss, Tony Gonzalez, Terrell Owens, and Marvin Harrison), 17th in NFL history in total career receiving yards with 13,198. Reed is also eleventh in NFL history in total career touchdown receptions with 87.
He also rushed for 500 yards and a touchdown on 75 carries. With the Bills, Reed played in four consecutive Super Bowls (1991–1994) and was selected to the Pro Bowl in seven consecutive seasons (1988–1994).
Reed set season career highs with 90 receptions in 1994, ten touchdowns in 1991, and 1,312 receiving yards in 1989.
A tribute to his incredible physical durability, Reed played in 234 NFL games between 1985 and 2000, the 59th most games played by any player in NFL history, including players in less physically demanding positions, such as kickers and punters.
In total, the AFWB contingent will spend eight days in Portugal from March 7-14. The group will be in Lisbon for various activities March 7-8 and 13-14, and in Algarve for the camps March 9-12. A number of community events have been embedded in the group’s schedule, including a visit to a NATO air base, a visit with victims of the deadly 2017 wildfires that ravaged Portugal, and a visit to a Portuguese orphanage and home for neglected children. The actual football camps will take place March 10-11 in Faro, the capital of Portugal’s Algarve region. There will be a total of five sessions, including a coaching clinic.
Algarve Sharks head coach Lance Heron:
“We are honored to have NFL players take time out of their busy offseason to come spread American football across Portugal. It is the first time we can remember this many NFL players coming to our country. We feel blessed they are willing to commit their time to grow American football as well as highlight Portugal’s nonprofits that are doing great work in our community.”
About American Football Without Barriers
American Football Without Barriers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to globalizing American football and reaching underprivileged communities with a humanitarian message. In addition to international camps, AFWB hosts several camps in the U.S. aimed at teaching underprivileged kids to play American football.
To learn more about American Football Without Barriers, please visit www.afwbcamp.com.