After all the years of Japanese players failing to make it to the NFL, it has been decided that now is the time to get serious and make some changes to this sorry showing.
A total of 59 players have been selected via a testing combine of NFL Europe (NFLEL), which has been held every year in Tokyo since 1996, but every one of them who has dreamed of playing in the NFL have not made the grade.
The NFLEL and NFL Japan changed their developmental program last year, realizing that it requires time to improve Japanese players and take them to the higher levels and, ultimately, to the NFL.