The Cardinals are getting a potential tight end, although this time they have to go to Europe to get him.
As par of the NFL's International Player Pathway Program, the Cards were allocated Austria's Bernhard Seikovits. The 23-year-old, from Vienna, is a captain on Austria's men's national team and won two European championships as a quarterback for the country's Under-19 team.
The 6-foot-5, 262-pound Seikovits has been in the NFL's IPP Program for two years. After training last season and not being chosen for allocation, he knew he needed to add weight and prepare his body more for the NFL game.
"I fell in love with the sport of football actually because of my best friend (who played)," Seikovits told NFL media. "After my first practice I fell in love."
Each team from the NFC West was allocated a player. Each team in the AFC East and NFC East were allocated players as well.
Teams carry the players through the end of camp. In season, those teams get an exemption to carry the international player as an extra practice-squad member.
It isn't the first time the Cardinals have taken on an international player. The NFL had an International Practice Squad program from 2004 to 2009. In 2008, they had Mexican linebacker Eduardo Castaneda, and in 2004-05, the Cardinals got Mexican guard Rolando Cantu.
Cantu was on the active roster in 2005, playing in the 2005 season finale at Indianapolis to become the NFL's first Mexican-born non-kicker to appear in a regular-season game. Cantu remains in the organization as manager, international business ventures.
