14 Firebirds Made Eligible for Expansion
October 2, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Albany/Indiana Firebirds News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana - The Indiana Firebirds announced today that 14 players will be made available for the 2003 expansion draft. The expansion draft, which will be held on Tuesday, October 22, 2002, will allow the Colorado Crush, the AFL's newest team, to choose from 85 players left unprotected throughout the league. The 14 players left exposed by the Firebirds are the most by one club in the Arena Football League.
Among the Firebirds players eligible for the draft are former NFL QB Dameyune Craig and two-year veteran DS Cornelius Coe, a 2001 AFL All-Rookie Team member. Coe is the AFL's all-time single season leader with 121.5 tackles. Other veterans to be had are FB/LB Umar Muhammad, OL/DL Mike Gantous, OL/DL Aaron Johnson, and FB/LB Sunungura Rusununguko.
"It is always tough to lose guys in the draft when you are trying to build a franchise," said Firebirds Head Coach Mike Dailey. "The way the league is set up, we lose veteran players every season which allows expansion teams to structure their club with good quality guys."
In the three previous expansion drafts, the Firebirds have lost a combined ten players.
Colorado may choose a player from any current team who is designated as being "unprotected." Each team protected 16 players whose rights they control. All other players whose rights they control are deemed "unprotected" and hence eligible to be selected by Colorado. AFL Free Agents (players with three-or-more accrued seasons whose contracts have expired) and Exempt players do not count on the 40-player maximum offseason roster and are not draft eligible.
The draft, which is conducted via telephone conference, begins at 1:00 p.m. (ET) on October 22 and consists of 20 rounds. A maximum of five minutes per selection is allowed in each round. If the time limit expires, the pick is forfeited. Trades between the expansion team and other clubs may be made at any time prior to and during the draft.
The 2003 season marks the historical debut of the AFL on NBC. The network will broadcast 71 games next season, including all playoff games and ArenaBowl XVII on June 22. Firebirds' season tickets for the 2003 season, which begins in February, are on sale now and can be purchased by calling a Firebirds' ticket representative at 317.472.8080. Firebirds merchandise is also available at Home Court Gift Shop. For merchandise information, please call 317.917.2755.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 2, 2002
- This month in the AFL - OSC Original by Mark Sargent
- 14 Firebirds Made Eligible for Expansion - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- Destroyers Lineman Exposed In Expansion Draft - Buffalo Destroyers
- Crush to Select from Field of 86 - AFL I
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