Nashville takes shape after expansion draft
September 29, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK â Wide Receiver/Defensive Back CHARLES PAULEY (5-10, 165, San Jose State) became the first player selected in the 2005 Expansion Draft, joining the Chicago Rush. The Nashville Kats, who will begin their first Arena Football League season in January, traded the No. 1, 2 and 3 picks to Chicago prior to the draft for two-time Lineman of the Year JAMES BARON. Pauley recorded 24.5 tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions for the ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats in 2004. He also had three receptions for 46 yards.
Chicago selected WR/DB RUSSELL SHAW (5-10, 180, Michigan) and 13-year veteran QB TODD HAMMEL (6-2, 190, Stephen F. Austin) with the second and third overall picks respectively, while Nashville selected FB/LB LAVELLE BROWN (5-11, 245, Northwestern) and WR/LB COSMO DEMATTEO (6-1, 2-5, Tennessee-Chattanooga) with their first and second selections (fifth and sixth overall). Shaw recorded 14 receptions for 127 yards and four touchdowns for the Los Angeles Avengers last season, with 23.0 tackles, two pass breakups and one interception on defense. Hammel completed 143-of-257 pass attempts for 1,875 yards, 36 touchdowns and 12 interceptions as a starter for the Philadelphia Soul in 2004. DeMatteo recorded 27 receptions for 362 yards and six touchdowns for the New York Dragons last season, and added 29.0 tackles on defense. Brown had 1.0 tackle and one interception for Chicago in 2004.
With the No. 12 pick, Nashville selected QB JOHN FITZGERALD (6-3, 215, Tulsa), who directed the New Orleans VooDoo to an 11-5 record last season, the best start by any expansion team in AFL history. Fitzgerald completed 279-of-488 passes for 3,425 yards, 61 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 2004.
Team rosters effected the most by the draft include the defending ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats, who lost five players, while the Colorado Crush, Dallas Desperados, Los Angeles Avengers, New Orleans VooDoo and Philadelphia Soul each lost two players.
The following is a recap of the draft:
PICK TEAM POSITION PLAYER PREVIOUS TEAM HGT WGT COLLEGE
1 Chicago WR/DB Charles Pauley San Jose 5-10 165 San Jose State
2 Chicago WR/DB Russell Shaw Los Angeles 5-10 180 Michigan
3 Chicago QB Todd Hammel Philadelphia 6-2 190 Stephen F. Austin
4 Las Vegas FB/LB Tupo Tuupo San Jose 6-3 265 Washington State
5 Nashville FB/LB Lavelle Brown Chicago 5-11 245 Northwestern
6 Nashville WR/LB Cosmo DeMatteo New York 6-1 205 Tennessee-Chattanooga
7 Nashville WR/DB Tony Scott Colorado 5-10 190 North Carolina State
8 Nashville OL/DL Jonathan Ingram New Orleans 6-2 300 San Diego State
9 Nashville OL/DL R-Kal Truluck Dallas 6-4 270 Cortland State
10 Nashville DS Reggie Stephens Los Angeles 5-10 200 Rutgers
11 Nashville WR/DB Darcey Levy Colorado 6-2 198 Pittsburgh
12 Nashville QB John Fitzgerald New Orleans 6-3 215 Tulsa
13 Arizona WR/LB Phil McGeoghan Dallas 6-3 215 Maine
14 Nashville DS Art Smith San Jose 6-0 200 Northeastern
15 Las Vegas OL/DL Rob Gatrell San Jose 6-5 290 Fresno State
16 Grand Rapids WR/DB Terrell Adams Philadelphia 5-7 169 Mississippi Valley State
17 Grand Rapids DS Trayvon Walker San Jose 6-2 180 Illinois
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from September 29, 2004
- Crush lose two in 2005 Expansion Draft - Colorado Crush
- Kats Select Nine Players In Expansion Draft - Nashville Kats
- Two Soul players taken in expansion draft - Philadelphia Soul
- AFL holds expansion draft for Nashville Kats - Dallas Desperados
- Gladiators select pair in AFL Expansion Draft - Las Vegas Gladiators
- SaberCats lose five in expansion draft - San Jose SaberCats
- Nashville takes shape after expansion draft - AFL I
- Rampage add two exciting young talents - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Rush selects three, loses Brown in expansion draft - Chicago Rush
- Rattlers Acquire Phil McGeoghan In Expansion Draft - Arizona Rattlers
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