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United Football League Players Sign to NFL Active Rosters and Practice Squads

December 3, 2010 - United Football League (UFL 1) News Release


JACKSONVILLE, FL - Friday, December 3, 2010 - Players who established themselves among the stars of the five United Football League teams have signed with NFL teams following the conclusion of the 2010 UFL season.

Sacramento Mountain Lions safety Andrew Sendejo and Omaha Nighthawks wide receiver Michael Clayton have joined the active rosters of the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants, respectively.

Sendejo was elevated to the Cowboys' active roster five days after joining the team on its practice squad. He led the Mountain Lions in total tackles with 48, and his two interceptions were tied for third-best in the UFL. His seven passes defended also was second best on the squad.

Rookie Sendejo played the entire 2010 UFL season with Sacramento after participating in 2010 rookie mini camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had a solid four-year career with the Rice Owls (2006-09) which included 318 tackles, 17 tackles for losses, 2 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries, 14 pass breakups and 9 interceptions.

Clayton made his Giants debut on November 28 in a 24-20 home win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He joined the Nighthawks on October 24, recorded eight catches for 70 yards, a rush for a yard and six kickoff returns for 104 yards in four games. He came to Omaha after spending six seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2004-09). A first-round pick of the Bucs in 2004, he had 221 catches for 2,936 yards and 10 touchdowns with Tampa Bay.

Six other UFL players have joined National Football League practice squads:

Hartford Colonials offensive lineman Jacob Bender joined the practice squad of the Washington Redskins. Bender, who was signed by Hartford on October 4, played in six games for the Colonials, starting the last four at left guard.

This will be Bender's second National Football League practice squad tour of 2010, as he joined Hartford after spending time with the New Orleans Saints this fall. Bender also spent 2010 training camp with the Giants. Bender originally was a sixth-round pick of the New York Jets in 2007, and played in two games as a rookie.

Hartford Colonials guard Colin Brown was added to the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad having spent the entire 2010 season with the Colonials, and was a season-long backup before starting the final game of the season at right guard.

Brown came to Hartford after being cut by the Kansas City Chiefs after 2010 training camp. He was a fifth-round pick of the Chiefs in 2009, but missed his entire rookie season due to injury.

Colonials defensive end Derek Walker joined the Seattle Seahawks' practice squad after spending the entire 2010 UFL season in Hartford having signed right before Week 1. He set a new UFL record with his 83-yard fumble return touchdown on October 23 at the Las Vegas Locomotives.

As a season-long backup, Walker's numbers included five total tackles, a sack, a pass breakup and a forced fumble. Walker came to Hartford after spending 2010 training camp with the San Francisco 49ers. He was an undrafted free agent with the Washington Redskins in 2009, and also was on the Seahawks practice squad a year ago.

Sacramento Mountain Lions wide receiver Rod Windsor joined the Cleveland Browns' practice squad having finished the 2010 UFL season third in the league in receiving yards (379) and fifth in the league in catches (25). His three touchdowns also tied him for fourth in the UFL during the regular season.

Windsor came to the Mountain Lions after an impressive 2010 campaign with the Arena Football League's Arizona Rattlers. He was named the AFL's Rookie of the Year after catching 193 passes for 2,372 yards and 47 touchdowns. Before that, Windsor played a season with the Rio Grande Valley Dorados of the now-defunct arenafootball2 league.

Florida Tuskers fullback James Develin joined the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad on November 30. Develin was a backup for the Tuskers before starting the final three games of the 2010 season, including the 2009 Championship Game. During the regular season, he caught three passes for 17 yards, returned a kickoff for 22 yards and had one tackle. In the UFL title game, he caught a pass for 26 yards. Develin made a successful professional transition from defense to offense during his rookie season with the Tuskers. He was a defensive lineman in college at Brown.

Las Vegas Locomotives cornerback Coye Francies joined the Cleveland Browns practice squad on December 1. The 6-foot, 185-pound defensive back joined the Locos on September 26, after Las Vegas lost safety Nick Turnbull to a season ending injury in the opener against the Florida Tuskers.

Francies entered the NFL in 2009 as a sixth-round draft pick for the Browns. He played in six games with Cleveland defending one pass and recording two total tackles. He made the most of his opportunity in the United Football League and returned to the Browns after playing in eight games with the Locos.

He recorded at least one tackle in every game he played with the Locos. He totaled 13 takedowns and knocked down six passes. His biggest game came in Week 8 when he picked off Sacramento Mountain Lions quarterback Daunte Culpepper twice.

"Coye did a good job for us, both as a cornerback and on special teams," said Locos Defensive and Special Teams Coordinator Larry MacDuff. "He did a great job for us and we wish him the very best."

The cornerback broke up two passes in the Locos 23-20 victory over the Tuskers in the second UFL Championship game at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb. Saturday, November 27.

Tuskers linebacker Jeremy "J" Leman joined the San Diego Chargers practice squad after being on Florida's active roster for the final three regular-season games. Leman started the final two regular-season games and the UFL Championship Game at outside linebacker, and had 15 total tackles and a pass breakup during the regular year. Leman also paced the Tuskers with six total tackles in the season finale.

Leman spent 2010 training camp and initially was on injured reserve to start this fall with the Minnesota Vikings. He originally was an undrafted free agent with the Vikings in 2008 after a stellar career at the University of Illinois.

Tuskers wide receiver Maurice Price is with the Washington Redskins' practice squad. A backup wideout who saw plenty of time in the Tuskers offense, Price was third on the team with 16 catches and 172 receiving yards, and added two carries for seven yards.

Price became the first player from Charleston Southern to make an NFL roster after signing as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2007. He has been on the active rosters of the Chiefs (2007) and New England Patriots (2008).



United Football League Stories from December 3, 2010


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