Former NFL players finding success in AFL
April 12, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK - The NFL Draft will take place April 29-30 in New York City and many AFL players can relate to what the group of rookies selected over those two days will go through as they try to make NFL rosters.
There are 115 AFL players on active rosters with at least one game of NFL experience.
One of the many AFL players with extensive NFL experience is Orlando Predators QB JOE HAMILTON, the former Heisman Trophy runner-up at Georgia Tech who was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2000 NFL Draft. Hamilton saw NFL action with the Buccaneers and the Indianapolis Colts from 2000-2004.
In his third AFL season, Hamilton has completed 221-of-340 pass attempts for 2,666 yards with 46 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He ranks fifth in the AFL with 110 rushing yards and is tied for third with eight rushing touchdowns.
Philadelphia Soul QB TONY GRAZIANI was drafted by the NFL's Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played in 18 games in three seasons (1997-99) with the Falcons and earned a NFC Championship Ring as part of the 1998 Falcons team that lost to Denver in Super Bowl XXXIII in Miami. For his NFL career, Graziani started five games completing 85-of-174 passes for 999 yards and two touchdowns.
Graziani has thrown 393 career touchdowns in six AFL seasons, including three consecutive years with at least 90 touchdowns. This season, he has completed 190-of-320 pass attempts for 2,467 yards with 34 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He's also rushed four times for 10 yards with one touchdown.
Following is a list of the 115 current AFL players with NFL experience (at least one game played for team and season listed):
PLAYER, CURRENT TEAM NFL TEAM (YEARS)
Kevin Aldridge, Georgia Force Tennessee (2002)
Dan Alexander, Nashville Kats Tennessee (2001), Jacksonville (2002), St. Louis (2003)
Vince Amey, Arizona Rattlers Oakland (1998)
Aaron Bailey, Grand Rapids Rampage Indianapolis (1994-98)
Sebastian Barrie, Arizona Rattlers Green Bay (1992), Arizona (1994), San Diego (1995)
Frank Beede, San Jose SaberCats Seattle (1996-97, 2000)
Michael Bishop, Chicago Rush New England (2000)
Nathan Black, Kansas City Brigade Carolina (2002)
Sherdrick Bonner, Arizona Rattlers Arizona (1999), San Diego (2000)
Chris Brown, Georgia Force Jacksonville (2003)
Cyron Brown, Kansas City Brigade Denver (1998-99)
Rufus Brown, San Jose SaberCats Washington (2004)
Dialleo Burks, Dallas Desperados Carolina (2000)
James Cannida, Dallas Desperados Tampa Bay (1998-2001), Indianapolis (2002)
Chris Canty, Las Vegas Gladiators New England (1997-98), Seattle (1999-2000), New Orleans (2000)
Stoney Case, San Jose SaberCats Arizona (1995-98), Baltimore (1999), Detroit (2000)
Darrin Chiaverini, Austin Wranglers Cleveland (1999-2000), Dallas (2001), Atlanta (2002)
Carey Clayton, Nashville Kats San Diego (2001)
Travis Coleman, Kansas City Brigade Chicago (2002)
Delbert Cowsette, New York Dragons Washington (2001-02)
Clarence Curry, Philadelphia Soul Arizona (2004)
Woody Dantzler, Chicago Rush Dallas (2002), Atlanta (2003)
Thabiti Davis, Columbus Destroyers N.Y. Giants (2000-01)
Wendell Davis, Arizona Rattlers Dallas (1996-97)
Chris Demaree, Georgia Force San Diego (2002)
Kevin Dogins, Tampa Bay Storm Tampa Bay (1996-99), Chicago (2001-02)
Chad Dukes, Philadelphia Soul Washington (2000), Jacksonville (2000)
Anthony Dunn, Colorado Crush Tennessee (2003)
Jamin Elliott, Georgia Force Chicago (2002)
Cory Fleming, Nashville Kats Dallas (1994-95)
Todd France, Philadelphia Soul Philadelphia (2005), Tampa Bay (2005)
Wendall Gaines, Arizona Rattlers Arizona (1995)
Winfield Garnett, Grand Rapids Minnesota (2001)
Willie Gary, Georgia Force St. Louis (2001)
Joe Germaine, Utah Blaze St. Louis (1999), Kansas City (2001), Cincinnati (2002-03), San Diego (2004)
Jason Gesser, Utah Blaze Tennessee (2003)
Phil Glover, San Jose SaberCats Tennessee (1999), Indianapolis (2000)
Bill Gramatica, Tampa Bay Storm Arizona (2001-03), Miami (2004)
Ernest Grant, Utah Blaze Miami (2000-01), Chicago (2002)
Rupert Grant, Nashville Kats New England (1995)
Tony Graziani, Philadelphia Soul Atlanta (1997-99)
Chris Greisen, Dallas Desperados Arizona (1999-2000)
Shane Grice, Georgia Force Tampa Bay (2001)
Buck Gurley, Tampa Bay Storm Tampa Bay (2002)
Joe Hamilton, Orlando Predators Tampa Bay (2000-03), Indianapolis (2004)
Remy Hamilton, Los Angeles Avengers Detroit (2005)
Alan Harper, San Jose SaberCats N.Y. Jets (2004)
Deveron Harper, Austin Wranglers Carolina (2000-01), New Orleans (2003-04)
Atnaf Harris, San Jose SaberCats Houston (2002)
Johnnie Harris, Grand Rapids Rampage Oakland (1999-2001), N.Y. Giants (2002-03)
Craig Heimburger, Colorado Crush Green Bay (1999), Buffalo (2001)
Anthony Herron, Nashville Kats Detroit (2001)
Charles Hill, Orlando Predators Houston (2002)
Bernard Holsey, Austin Wranglers N.Y. Giants (1996-99), Indianapolis (2000), New England (2002), Washington (2003)
Tyrone Hopson, Nashville Kats San Francisco (1999-2000), Detroit (2002)
Trevor Hutton, Los Angeles Avengers Indianapolis (2004)
Chris Jackson, Georgia Force Tennessee (2000), Green Bay (2002-03)
Lenzie Jackson, Los Angeles Avengers Jacksonville (1999), Cleveland (2000), Pittsburgh (2001)
Jermaine Jones, Dallas Desperados N.Y. Jets (1999), Chicago (1999), Dallas (2002)
James Jordan, Kansas City Brigade San Francisco (2002-03)
Eric Joyce, Nashville Kats Chicago (2002)
Kelvin Kinney, Columbus Destroyers Washington (1997-98)
Marcus Knight, Columbus Destroyers Oakland (2001-02)
Derrick Lewis, Austin Wranglers New Orleans (2002-03)
Victor Leyva, Los Angeles Avengers New Orleans (2001-05)
Rod Manuel, Los Angeles Avengers Pittsburgh (1997-98)
Torrance Marshall, Austin Wranglers Green Bay (2001-04)
Norris McCleary, Dallas Desperados Kansas City (2000-01)
Andy McCullough, Colorado Crush Arizona (1999)
Kevin McKenzie, San Jose SaberCats Miami (1999)
Dwayne Missouri, Philadelphia Soul Dallas (2001)
Monty Montgomery, Nashville Kats Indianapolis (1997), San Francisco (1999-2000), New Orleans (2004)
Brandon Moore, Arizona Rattlers N.Y. Jets (2003-05)
Earthwind Moreland, Georgia Force N.Y. Jets (2000), Cleveland (2001), New England (2004)
Marcus Nash, Las Vegas Gladiators Denver (1998-99), Baltimore (1999)
Ben Nelson, San Jose SaberCats Minnesota (2004)
Chukie Nwokorie, Las Vegas Gladiators Indianapolis (1999-2002), Green Bay (2003)
Hans Olsen, Utah Blaze Indianapolis (2001)
Raheem Orr, Philadelphia Soul N.Y. Giants (2004)
Wes Ours, Philadelphia Soul Tennessee (2001)
Ricky Parker, Georgia Force Jacksonville (1997)
Troy Pelshak, New York Dragons St. Louis (1999-2000), Jacksonville (2000)
Cleveland Pinkney, Orlando Predators Tampa Bay (2003), Atlanta (2004), Carolina (2004)
Alvin Porter, Kansas City Brigade Baltimore (2001-03)
James Roe, San Jose SaberCats Baltimore (1996-98)
Angel Rubio, Austin Wranglers Arizona (1999)
Jeff Sanchez, Tampa Bay Storm Dallas (2003)
Steve Scifres, New York Dragons Dallas (1997), Carolina (1998)
Greg Scott, Grand Rapids Rampage Washington (2002), Cincinnati (2004)
Tony Scott, Dallas Desperados N.Y. Jets (2002)
Yusuf Scott, Grand Rapids Rampage Arizona (1999-2001)
Bobby Setzer, Georgia Force San Francisco (2001), Chicago (2002)
Sam Simmons, Kansas City Brigade Miami (2003)
Justin Skaggs, Utah Blaze Washington (2002)
Jermaine Smith, Georgia Force Green Bay (1997)
Omar Smith, Tampa Bay Storm N.Y. Giants (2002-03)
Freddie Solomon, Tampa Bay Storm Philadelphia (1996-98)
Alonzo Spellman, Las Vegas Gladiators Chicago (1992-97), Dallas (1999-2000), Detroit (2001)
Reggie Stephens, Nashville Kats N.Y. Giants (1999-2000)
Daleroy Stewart, Dallas Desperados Dallas (2003-04), N.Y. Jets (2004), San Francisco (2004)
Clint Stoerner, Nashville Kats Dallas (2000-01)
Kevin Swayne, New York Dragons N.Y. Jets (2001-03)
Henry Taylor, Orlando Predators Detroit (1998), Atlanta (2000), Chicago (2001), Miami (2001)
Jay Taylor, Orlando Predators Tampa Bay (2004)
Robert Thomas, Georgia Force Dallas (1998-2002)
Kevin Thompson, Los Angeles Avengers Cleveland (2000)
Mark Tucker, Arizona Rattlers Arizona (1994)
Barry Wagner, San Jose SaberCats Chicago (1992)
Steve Warren, Arizona Rattlers Green Bay (2000)
Colston Weatherington, Dallas Desperados Dallas (2002)
Damen Wheeler, Los Angeles Avengers Jacksonville (2001)
Craig Whelihan, Las Vegas Gladiators San Diego (1995-98)
George Williams, San Jose SaberCats N.Y. Giants (1998-2000)
Gillis Wilson, Kansas City Brigade Carolina (2001)
Devin Wyman, Dallas Desperados New England (1996-97)
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