Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh players in the NFL
9/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
The National Football League begins play this weekend. With that in mind, let’s take a moment to check up on a trio of former Lehigh standouts that will be wearing NFL uniforms this weekend.
Quarterback Phil Stambaugh will begin his first season in the NFL as the third-string signal caller for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Stambaugh will back up one of the league’s top passers in starter Mark Brunell. Jonathan Quinn, a former opponent of Stambaugh when the two played in NFL-Europe, is second on the depth chart. Stambaugh entered camp in 2000 with the Buffalo Bills, but was cut and later hooked on with the Saints. It was the Saints who then sent the Roseto, PA native to NFL-Europe where he was the starting quarterback for the Rhein Fire. Stambaugh returned to the Saints for camp this season, but was one of the team’s final roster cuts. The Jags then picked him up, almost immediately. Stambaugh gets to stay home in week one as Jacksonville plays host to the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers.
Rabih Abdullah enters his third season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Abdullah plays on special teams, as well as serving as the backup to starting halfback Warrick Dunn. The undrafted free agent pick up has been with the Bucs since the 1999 season. Abdullah’s best game as a pro came last season against Dallas with 10 carries for 38 yards, both career bests. A running back by trade, Abdullah also came up big on the special teams coverage units, notching 12 tackles in 2000. Tampa Bay heads to Dallas to take on the Cowboys in the season opener on Sunday.
Former Lehigh defensive lineman Rich Owens will strap the pads on in 2001 for the Kansas City Chiefs. The second-string defensive end will relieve starter Eric Hicks on the left side. A veteran of the NFL since 1995, Owens has the most experience of the former Lehigh players. As a member of the Washington Redskins, the down lineman registered his best season in 1996 when he registered 11.0 sacks and started all 16 games at right defensive end. Owens has started at both end and tackle at various times throughout a career that has included stints with the Redskins and Dolphins. Kansas City’s defense, with help from Owens, will try to shut down the Oakland Raiders in Kansas City in week one’s season opener.
