Five Chippewas to Participate in NFL Camps

MOUNT PLEASANT - Five members of the 2007 Mid-American Conference champion Central Michigan football team will participate in National Football League camps this spring.

Defensive back Curtis Cutts became the fifth member of the group Tuesday night. He will travel to New York for a try-out with the New York Jets.

Offensive lineman Eric Tunney has signed a free agent contract with the Carolina Panthers. Originally slated to report to New Orleans for a try-out with the Saints, Tunney now will travel to Carolina on Thursday.

On Monday, linebacker Ike Brown agreed to a free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons. He is one of seven undrafted free agents to sign with the Falcons and will report to mini-camp on May 9.

Also invited to try-outs this weekend are linebacker Red Keith (Cincinnati Bengals) and defensive tackle Steve Friend (Cleveland Browns).

This marks the third time in the last four seasons that multiple players have moved on from Central Michigan to the NFL. A school-record three players – offensive linemen Joe Staley and Drew Mormino and defensive end Dan Bazuin – were selected in the 2007 draft.

Including Cutts, a total of 11 former Chippewas currently are active in the NFL:

Joe Staley (San Francisco)

Dan Bazuin (Chicago)

Drew Mormino (Miami)

Eric Ghiaciuc (Cincinnati)

Cullen Jenkins (Green Bay)

Tory Humphrey (Green Bay)

Ike Brown (Atlanta)

Steven Friend (Cleveland)

Red Keith (Cincinnati)

Eric Tunney (Carolina Panthers)

Curtis Cutts (New York Jets)