Rush selects three, loses Brown in expansion draft
September 29, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
The Chicago Rush added two young skill players and a veteran quarterback, but lost FB/LB Levelle Brown this afternoon in the Arena Football League's expansion draft.
Using the first three picks in the draft, which were acquired yesterday in a trade with Nashville for six-time All-Arena lineman James Baron, the Rush selected WR/DB Charles Pauley from San Jose, WR/DB Russell Shaw from Los Angeles and QB Todd Hammel from Philadelphia.
With the fifth pick in the draft, the expansion Nashville Kats selected Brown from Chicago's roster.
"We're very excited about the players we added today," said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. "We feel all three of them can come in and fill voids for us."
Pauley (5-10, 165, San Jose State) just completed his rookie season with the ArenaBowl champion SaberCats. He played in six regular season games, catching three passes for 46 yards and recording 24.5 tackles and two interceptions. He made perhaps the biggest play of his short AFL career against Chicago in the AFL semifinals last June. With 3:35 remaining and Chicago trailing 42-35, Pauley intercepted a Chad Salisbury pass and returned it 14 yards to the Rush 17-yard line, setting up San Jose's final touchdown and securing a 49-35 win.
Shaw (5-10, 190, Michigan), a key member of the University of Michigan's 1997 undefeated national championship team, has spent his entire AFL career with the Los Angeles Avengers, playing in 30 games. In four seasons Shaw has recorded 53 catches for 625 yards and 14 touchdowns, along with 49 tackles and two interceptions. In 2004 he played in nine games for LA, grabbing 14 receptions for 127 yards and four touchdowns. On defense he finished sixth on the team with 23 tackles and added one interception, two passes broken up, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Hammel (6-2, 225, Stephen F. Austin) is one of the AFL's grizzled veterans, just completing his 13th season of service. In his career, Hamel has completed 2,100 of 3,744 passes for 26,258 yards and 408 touchdowns, while playing for eight different teams. He ranks fourth all-time in pass attempts, sixth in completions, fifth in passing yards and fifth in touchdown passes. In addition, his 63 career rushing touchdowns rank him sixth all-time. Hammel spent the 2004 season with Jon Bon Jovi's expansion Philadelphia Soul, playing in 15 games and completing 143 of 247 passes for 1,875 yards, with 36 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
A member of Northwestern's 1995 and 1996 Big Ten championship teams, Brown spent the past two seasons with the Rush playing in seven games. He had 12 carries for 62 yards and four touchdowns, along with six tackles, one sack and one interception in his Rush career.
The Rush roster now includes 20 players under contract for the 2005 season and AFL teams are allowed to begin signing free agents this Friday, October 1. Teams may take 37 players to training camp in January, and must cut down to 24 by opening day.
The 2005 Arena Football League season begins in January and reservations for 2005 season tickets currently are being accepted. To reserve your tickets, or for more information about 2005 Rush season tickets beginning as low as $64, fans can call the Rush at (877) Rush-Tix (787-4849) or visit the team's Web site at www.chicagorush.com.
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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