Sports stats



AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

2008 Dispersal Draft may twist and turn

by John Hahn
December 2, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)


Is it possible for some teams, in the lower 10 selections of Wednesday's (Dec. 3) AFL Dispersal Draft, of former New Orleans VooDoo players, will attempt to move up either before the start (10 a.m. PT) or during the proceedings - to be held by telephone.

Could San Jose, even at 13, sense there is someone they feel could help the SaberCats in 2009, or would the Orlando Predators, seeking to improve their roster, hunt for help by trading up from 10th to even the 4th or 5th position?

Those and many more questions will occur either shortly before the opening of the event or during.

Over the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend Off the Net Notes, insiders opened up with some new scenarios of who will be selected, since the 8-8 VooDoo had some very impressive players.

POSTURING BEGINS ABOUT THE 4TH ROUND

It now has been learned, by sources that asked for anonymity, that after the first three picks "posturing" by some teams is possible. Weekend phone lines between coaches and GM's heated up and trades could be made to grab the best from the franchise, formerly coached by Mike Neu, a veteran of AFL mentors.

Here's how it shakes out: As we mentioned in our last column, Columbus is expected to take Norman LeJeune, the fine athlete and DB out of Louisiana State University.

With the Destroyers first on the clock that choice seems to be a lock...or does it? Kansas City will select second and Western Division rival Los Angeles third up on the big board. Cleveland, Colorado and Los Angeles follow in that order and at No. 7 Tampa Bay gets its turn followed by New York, Arizona and Orlando to complete the first 10 picks.

Look for DB Lin-J Shell, a former Predator, and WR Derrick Lewis to figure in the mix - at least in the top four according to sources. Shell (5-11, 180, Jacksonville) a 5th-year player led New Orleans with 15 pass breakups and the, always overrated, statistic of tackles (118.5). He also had 5 INT, one of those returned for a TD.

LEWIS INJURY COULD CAUSE CONCERN BY SOME TEAMS

Lewis (6-2, 185, San Diego State) is 33 and missed the entire 2008 season after blowing out his right knee less than a week into practice on a routine pass drill at the VooDoo's training facility in Metairie, Louisiana. Two days later, he underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus cartilage.

Sources say he has completed an extensive, year-long rehabilitation program that appears to have given Lewis, who played two seasons (2006-07) with the Austin Wranglers before joining New Orleans, a new lease on playing. Lewis also has had the "proverbial cup of coffee" with several NFL teams and also played in 2004 with the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe.

It appears some teams are willing to take a chance on Lewis, despite his age and injury history, since he did have 23 and 41 TD receptions, respectively, in those two seasons at Austin. In fact, he had 139 catches and 1,903 yards in 2007.

Speculation is that Lewis has passed all the physicals and given the go-ahead to play in 2009. But, with what team is hard to figure at this time. If Columbus doesn't go for LeJeune, guesses are the Destroyers will go for DL Henry Bryant. The Destroyers don't need Lewis if they have Damian Harrell coming and Derek Lee and C.J. Johnson under contract.

BRIGADE IS LOGICAL CHOICE FOR 33 YEAR OLD RECEIVER

That would leave either the Brigade at No. 2 or the Avengers at No. 3. Most likely, Lewis is headed to Kansas City, where he would take a plane and not a train, let alone walk, as the song reverberates. It is unlikely WR Mike Horacek (18 TDs) at 35 will be back with the Brigade, but they may hang on to WR Ces'are Manning (6-1, 200) and WR-DB Travis Coleman. Manning caught 46 balls, 8 of those for scores, last season.

WR Jerel Myers led KC Last season with 19 receiving touchdowns and WR-RB Charles Frederick had 13 scores. Both are free agents and neither was a real go-to receiver like Lewis.

Shell could be the DB to go along with Terrell Maze and Damen Wheeler at Los Angeles. That would free up Kevin Ingram to concentrate on just receiving instead of also playing on defense.

Cleveland seems set with Brandon Hefflin, Alex Teems and Alphonso Hodge all under contract at DB. Colorado, on the other hand, could lose Rashad Floyd to free agency and LeJeune could fall here.

My guess is that some of the trading could involve the memorable "player to be named later" in some teams moving up to get a crack at only 17 players on the dispersal ledger.

OFF THE NET NOTES: Speaking of memorable, do you remember any of the previous dispersal draft players and where they went in the selection process?

In 2007 (Austin & Nashville players), Cleveland selected DL Joe Minucci (Nashville) No. 1. Minucci (6-3, 298, Delaware) was a bright spot for the Gladiators last year, leading the team with 6.5 sacks, 3 PBUs, 4 FF and three pass receptions, all for TDs in the red zone.

Cleveland also grabbed WR Otis Amey (Austin), who fell all the way to 11th. The former Sacramento State standout led the Glads with 48 TD receptions on only 112 total catches for 1,516 yards. That means 43% of his grabs were for scores, the highest in the AFL with more than 40 TDs and 100 receptions.

Other notables in the 2007 U-pick'em festivities was Arizona who took QB Lang Campbell (Austin), a starter part of last season for the Rattlers, 2nd; DB Ahmad Hawkins Nashville) grabbed by Grand Rapids led the Rampage with 6 INTs and 18 PBUs; New Orleans took DB Keon Raymond (Nashville) 5th; and Columbus got K Mark Lewis (Austin) 104 points on 80 extra points and 8 FGs.

Besides Amey being a surprise pick, WR Kenny Higgins (Nashville) led Grand Rapids (pick 16 overall) with 34 TDs, 112 catches and 1,552 yards.

In 2004, Carolina, Detroit and Indiana provided QB Adrian McPherson to Nashville, Grand Rapids got WR-DB Anthony Hines and Colorado took WR/LB Andy McCullough. The first three picks were on the Firebirds roster out of Indianapolis.

New York selected WR Mike Horacek (then listed as an offensive specialist) from Indiana at No. 8 followed by Colorado's pick of DB Delvin Hughley on the Firebirds roster.

All this makes for some interesting trails of where players move to over the years. Be sure to write us with questions and comments at hondo@sanjosesabercats.com.

• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from December 2, 2008


The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central