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Page last updated at 11:24 GMT, Friday, 3 October 2008 12:24 UK

Redskins star craves London game

Redskins tight end Chris Cooley
Cooley's Redskins have enjoyed a revival this season

Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley says he would love to play in one of the NFL's games in London.

San Diego and New Orleans face each other in this year's clash at Wembley.

The Redskins are one of the most popular teams in the UK, dating back to the sport's growth in popularity in the country in the 1980s.

"Redskins fans would definitely be disappointed in losing a home game so I guess if it was an away game for us I would love it," Cooley told BBC Sport.

"It would be great if we could come and spend a week there - even though we're so busy it would be such a good experience for us.

"And it's cool to see how our game affects people outside America."

A crowd of 81,176 came to Wembley last October to watch the New York Giants beat the Miami Dolphins 13-10 in the first-ever NFL regular-season game to be held outside the Americas.

The NFL plans to hold a game each year in the UK for the next three years but, under the current system, one team each year has to give up a home fixture.

Very few NFL teams have trouble selling out home games and the Redskins regularly fill 91,704-capacity FedEx Field.

Despite starting the season poorly the Redskins marked themselves out as Super Bowl contenders by beating the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday.

They face Philadelphia in another crunch match-up in the NFC East division, which also includes the Super Bowl champion Giants.

"We're playing great football right now but being healthy is contributing to that and we have a lot of tough games coming up," Cooley continued.

"I think anyone in our division this year has the capability of being the Super Bowl champion. Our whole division is extremely tough."

NFL fans in the UK get a chance to watch live action at Wembley on 26 October, when the Chargers face the Saints.

And Cooley tipped the Chargers to come out on top despite losing their first two games this year.

"I think San Diego's playing really strong football right now - they got down a little at 0-2 but they're a solid team," he said.

Nat Moore's guide to catching



see also
NFL stars hope for Wembley boost
18 Jun 08 |  American Football
London to host Saints v Chargers
01 Feb 08 |  American Football
London could embrace NFL - Tynes
30 Oct 07 |  American Football
Giants beat Miami at wet Wembley
28 Oct 07 |  American Football


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