NFL is building a London bridge

LONDON - Osi Umenyiora couldn't walk a block in New York without being recognized. He was an All-Pro defensive end with two Super Bowl rings.

But in London, where he relocated after his NFL career, his name had almost no ring to it at all.

"Nobody knew who I was," said Umenyiora, 37. "It was almost like starting anew. I was able to live like a normal individual. It was really cool."

That's starting to change. As the NFL continues to gain popularity in the United Kingdom, Umenyiora, who hosts two American football shows for the BBC, has become increasingly familiar. In a way, he's a human barometer for a sport that's beginning to move the needle