The defensive tackle tandem of Tim Engelhardt and Winfield Garnett just might be worth watching in NFL Europe in the final weeks. Both are putting up impressive numbers.

NFL Europe is largely a training ground for young players trying to gain experience and prove to coaches back home in the United States that they might deserve a sniff of playing time in NFL-US games. Some write off the NFL Europe experience, but every year a handful of players who proved they could play in NFL Europe also prove they can do it on Sundays in the States.

The Vikings are hoping that is exactly what happens with every player they allocate to Europe, but so far two are emerging from the pack. Defensive tackles Winfield Garnett and Tim Engelhardt just might see some field time in a Vikings uniform in 2001 if they can transfer their overseas experience to the practice fields at Winter Park in Eden Prairie, Minn.

All summer long, the two have been in a battle of sacks and tackles for their respective teams, Engelhardt with the Barcelona Dragons and Garnett with the Amsterdam Admirals.

Engelhardt, who was with the Vikings last year in minicamp and training camp and who won the admiration of then-defensive line coach Fred vonAppen before ultimately being cut, had one sack, six tackles and a pass defensed last weekend for the league-leading Dragons. He also had a record-tying three sacks in one game in May and is tied for third in the league with 6.5 sacks this summer.

Garnett led the Admirals with nine tackles, a sack, a safety and a recovered fumble last weekend. He is in second place in the league with eight sacks, a half-sack behind the leader.

Two weeks remain in the regular season of NFL Europe, and next weekend Engelhardt and Garnett’s games will both be broadcast on FOX.

THURSDAY NOTES
* Last year’s fourth-round draft pick, linebacker Antonio Wilson, has two sacks for Barcelona. The Vikings’ other four players allocated to NFL Europe aren’t making as big of waves.
* Fan voting accounts for 50 percent of the votes when naming players to the 2001 All-NFL Europe League team. You can vote by going to NFLEurope.com.
* Vikings coach Dennis Green and several players will introduce 50 kids to fishing Wednesday at King’s Cove Marina on Lake Minnetonka. Michael Bennett, Tyrone Carter, Matt Cercone, Byron Chamberlain, Kenny Clark, Cedric James, Don Morgan and Mike Solwold are all scheduled to help with the United Way/Ranger Boats event.