War is looming in Iraq, but for now the upcoming NFL Europe season will proceed as planned.
"We are monitoring developments, but at this point there has been no change in our plans to go forward with the NFL Europe season as scheduled," said NFL spokesman Greg Aiello in a Wednesday release.
The league's six teams have been at NFLE training camps in Florida for the past three weeks, but the NFL has declined to comment on reports that Florida would serve as an alternate location for the NFLE season, if necessary.
The status of the 2003 NFLE season will be a subject of further review and debate at the NFL's annual meeting, which begins March 23 in Phoenix.
The Green Bay Packers have allocated 14 players to NFLE this season, including quarterback Craig Nall and guard/center Bill Ferrario.
NFLE players are schedule to leave for Europe March 25 and 26, with the season beginning April 5 and running until World Bowl IX in Glasgow, Scotland, June 14.
"The players and coaches are eager to play," said John Beake, NFL vice president of football operations and NFL Europe managing director. "They are ready for the season and they want to play football."
The complete list of Packers in NFL Europe this season is: Martin Dossett (Barcelona), Bill Ferrario (Berlin), Brian Haugabrook (Frankfurt), Bobby Jackson (Scotland), Isaac Keys (Scotland), Zak Kustok (Berlin), Shawn Mills (Rhein), Kenyatte Morgan (Scotland), Tim Morgan (Frankfurt), Craig Nall (Scotland), Jermaine Petty (Scotland), Everick Rawls (Amsterdam), Jeremy Unertl (Frankfurt) and Travis Williams (Amsterdam).
