County athletes in the NFL

With NFL training camps less than a month away, a handful of county athletes will be vying for roster spots or starting jobs this year, starting with Seaside grad and Washington Redskins linebacker Mason Foster.

Entering his sixth NFL season, the 6-foot-2, 245-pound Foster joined the Redskins four games into the season after being released by Chicago, and made a huge impact during the teams playoff run. Foster spent his first four years as a starter in Tampa Bay.
Former Palma High and MPC quarterback David Fales begins his third year with the Bears, where he is battling for the No. 3 spot. He has spent his first two years shuffling between  the teams roster and practice squad.
Salinas High grad Evan Smith begins his seventh year in the NFL, the last three with Tampa Bay as the teams center. Undrafted out of college, the 308-pound veteran is the longest tenured county athlete in the NFL.
Carmel grad Andrew Franks will begin his second season with the Miami Dolphins as a kicker. An undrafted free agent, the 23-year-old led the team in points as a rookie.
Terry Poole will begin his second season with the Seattle Seahawks. The 300-pound offensive tackle, who played at Seaside High and MPC, spent last season on the teams practice squad after two years at San Diego State.
Coming off a knee injury, former Seaside backup quarterback Ty Powell has decided to retire after signing with the Eagles earlier this year as a pass rushing linebacker. Powell spent last season in Buffalo.
In addition, former St. Francis Catholic lineman Ty Sambrailo begins his second season with a Super Bowl ring for the Denver Broncos. Last year the Watsonville native started three games for Denver.