VooDoo offer some outstanding players

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

Fold, contraction, dispersal and cease are like swearing in the Arena Football League and each of them could get you a bar of soap in the mouth some time ago. Even today, there is sensitivity about a team leaving the league and it is magnified when a club brings to a close several years of existence.

The finality is exemplified when players are put on the board for transfer to another team. Redistribution is not always ‘spreading the wealth' in the AFL.

On Tuesday, December 2, some 17 players will be brought to the forefront, from the recently deceased New Orleans VooDoo, and be selected by the 16 remaining teams in the AFL. Seven other players are listed as exempt, meaning they are currently with a CFL or NFL team.

This process, which has been done four previous times since 1997 in the AFL, has complex ramifications. It allows those players selected an opportunity to continue their careers in the AFL, while on the other hand, it - in some small way - helps at least the top five or six teams at the top of the dispersal draft.

‘FOLDED' TEAMS CAUSE REDISTRIBUTION OF PLAYERS

Of those four previous drafts, there have been a total of eight teams involved. Most of them ‘contracted' (that's the politically correct terminology as used by the League office for ‘folded') because of financial difficulties. In New Orleans' case, it was a matter of Saints owner Tom Benson saying he was not optimistic enough to continue with a franchise that had been fairly successful, despite a year layoff following hurricane Katrina.

Sources close to the Saints said Benson was not for the ‘pending deal' in which the Platinum Equity company out of Beverly Hills, California, would essentially "bail out" the AFL with a $100 million package.

According to Equity partner Mark Barnhill, "We have expressed interest in conducting further diligence to validate the true asset value of the league, and to determine whether an investment might make sense. We have not reached any agreement to make such an investment, and it is decidedly premature to speculate on whether - let alone - such an agreement might eventually be reached."

Benson, who was the first NFL owner to jump on board the AFL, was concerned about last year's success of the NBA New Orleans Hornets and other economic issues facing the "Big Easy" since Katrina.

LOVABLE ‘TRAVELIN' BEARS ALSO WERE GROUNDED

Most of the other AFL teams in dispersal drafts were flat out cash deficient and could no longer operate at the level the league required. In 1997, the Anaheim Piranhas, owned in part by former commissioner David Baker in 1996, closed its doors. Then at the end of the 2001 season, the Milwaukee Mustangs, Florida Bobcats, the Oklahoma Wranglers and the Houston ThunderBears, more affectionately known as the ‘Travlin' Bears went down the tubes. This group was the largest to fold in one AFL year.

Then on October 14, 2004, the Carolina Cobras, Indiana Firebirds and the Detroit Fury placed their players in a draft and finally, on October 26, 2007, the Austin Wranglers and the Nashville Kats saw 17 of their players selected by other teams.

The worst part about New Orleans leaving the league is the fact the players enjoyed participating in the city ravaged only a few years ago by one of the worst hurricanes in U.S. history. The fans had been loyal. At one time the top season ticket selling team in the AFL (more than 11,000) and the city hosted ArenaBowls the past two years, with much success.

TOP PICK COULD BE DB NORMAN LeJEUNE FOR COLUMBUS

With that said, where are the VooDoo's players headed? There is some interesting talent available, but seriously, after the 6th and 7th picks by Los Angeles and Tampa Bay, the pool of players gets a little thin. The Avengers and new head coach Pat O'Hara have the 3rd overall selection as well and should snag a couple of good players with the two picks.

Cleveland, even with the Gladiators in the 2008 playoffs, has the 4th and 11th overall picks and should get well at number 4 with an outstanding player. Grand Rapids and Utah have no 1st round picks after trades with the Glads and the Avengers, respectively. Both will get their chance at 20 and 22, considering there is anyone left at that point.

We could also see some trades during the first round, but we suspect this will be a straight draft down the line until all the eligible players are selected. San Jose has the 13th selection followed by Chicago, Dallas and Philadelphia.

There is no question the Columbus Destroyers and new head coach Pat Sperduto will select LB-DB Norman LeJeune as the No. 1 overall pick. Columbus sorely needs defensive help as 11 of their 15 players on the current active roster are on the offensive side of the ball. And, they are good ones like QB Matt Nagy, WR Derek Lee, WR C.J. Johnson, FB Harold Wells, and offensive linemen Jason Hilliard and Will Rabitin who teamed with Howard Duncan (traded to San Jose for OL William Obeng and LB Steve Watson).

MOSTLY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS TOP NEW ORLEANS LIST

LeJeune, 28, out of Louisiana State, has two-years NFL experience, but became an outstanding AFL player. The 6-foot, 210-pound defensive back was born in Baton Rouge. Last season he had six INTs, three of them going for TD returns, and eight pass breakups. He could be the defensive ‘centerfielder' that Sperduto is looking for at Columbus.

With the Kansas City Brigade picking second there is no question head coach Kevin Porter would like to strengthen his defensive line. Depending on new offensive coordinator Skip Foster's influence, Porter will select DL Henry Bryant. A terror to opposing QBs last season with the VooDoo, Bryant, despite his 6-foot height is quick carrying 250 pounds. He had 5.0 QB sacks in 2008, 24 tackles and two each of fumble recoveries, forced fumbles and passes defended. Bryant, 28, was with Austin in 2005-06 before joining New Orleans in 2007.

Despite looking for offense, O'Hara could just take the best available athlete (at No. 3) and that could be DL Michale Spicer, who was with the Avengers in 2005-06. The 26-year-old emerged after this past season with a team-high 6.5 sacks. Spicer also can play LB and teamed with rostered Ryan Riddle (5.5 TFL), could become a formidable duo. If LA can sign back DL Brandon Perkins (5.0 sacks), then it will make DBs Damon Wheeler (6 INT, 23 PBU) and Terrell Maze (2 INT, 13 PBU) job a little easier.

Cleveland is 4th on the tender timer and the Glads could really get healthy with one of three DBs in Calvin Spears, Lin-J Shell or even Keon Raymond, if he decides to come back to the AFL from the CFL champion Calgary Stampeders. Spears (6-0, 195, Grambling) had eight interceptions including one runback 49 yards for a TD and Shell, who came to NO as a free from Orlando) had 5 picks and 15 pass breakups.

AVENGERS O'HARA HAS TWO PICKS IN FIRST SIX

Los Angeles then has a chance to capitalize on one of those DBs or OL Rob Hunt (10 starts) at 6-4, 301 and 26 years old. Would O'Hara take a chance on Derrick Lewis, who sat out all of 2008 with a knee injury? Lewis is 33, but had 41 TD receptions in 2007 with Austin. Our guess he will fall down to nine or 10.

So whose left? Well, FB James Lynch was the leading VooDoo rusher. He had eight rushing scores on 56 carries and 130 total yards. There also is OL Kevin McAlmont, who also can play defense, and DL Justin Brown (2.5 sacks in 12 games). Not a whole lot left. At best this draft goes only 10 deep.

Also on the list are those exempt to the NFL or CFL. DB Dwaine Carpenter was with the 2008 Grey Cup CFL Champion Calgary Stampeders, FB John Kuhn has been a valuable asset on special teams and as a backup with the Green Bay Packers and OL Tony Wragge has 11 starts at OG for the San Francisco 49ers. Others are OL Isaiah Ross with the Washington Redskins (he could come back to the AFL) and DL Kelly Talavou, on IR with the Baltimore Ravens.

RASHIED DAVIS GOING NOWHERE IN AFL ON EXEMPT LIST

Last but not least is a fan favorite and former SaberCat Rashied Davis, who signed a 3-year, $5.6 million, contract this season with the Chicago Bears. New Orleans had taken Davis in the 2007 expansion draft when the VooDoo came back from the one-year hurricane hiatus. San Jose had left Davis unprotected because he was with the Bears at the time.

At this writing, Davis, the Bears' top slot receiver, had started nine of 11 games, has a career-high 30 catches and 379 yards (12.6 per catch) this season and two touchdowns. He also is the backup kickoff and punt returner for Chicago (6-5).

Speaking of the SaberCats, they select 13th and may not have an opportunity to draft a warm body. Next week, we will compare this dispersal draft to those in 1997, 2001, 2004 and 2007. Stand by. If you have any questions, don't forget to write me at hondo@sanjosesabercats.com.

NOTES ON FREE AGENCY AND DISPERSAL DRAFT:

Looks like QB Shane Stafford will rejoin head coach Pat O'Hara of the Los Angeles Avengers. O'Hara was the quarterback coach at Tampa Bay when the Storm had Stafford, who passed for 289 TDs, 15,672 yards, on 62.8% and 28 rushing TDs in five seasons. That erases the previous information that Stafford was headed to Kansas City... It also appears that veteran Sherdrick Bonner is also not in line with the KC Brigade. Bonner almost had a deal to be the QB and offensive coordinator as Clint Dolezel has been the past three seasons in Dallas, but when Skip Foster was hired at KC as the OC, Bonner's deal was off the table. Bonner could still end up at Utah, but would only be the quarterback as Tony Kimbrough, former San Jose QB, is the OC...Stafford in the past two seasons with Orlando, threw for 157 TDs, 81 just last season. He also had a career-high 66.7 completion percentage. Shane also has 35 career rushing scores...Veteran QB Tony Graziani could be singing "Going To Kansas City." Word is that the Modesto, Calif., star, by way the University of Oregon, could end up under center for the Brigade. Graziani turns 37 Dec. 23 and played sparingly in 2008 because of injuries. He then lost his starting job to Matt D'Orazio, who led Philly to the ArenaBowl win over San Jose...After all the musical chairs by QBs in free agency, the question is: Who will be Orlando's starter? Head coach Jay Gruden liked what he saw in Jake Eaton, the 27-year-old out of Rutland, Vermont, and the University of Maine, but don't be surprised if the Preds come up with a bigger gun. Eaton has been the backup for three seasons, but has played in only 18 games, 10 of those in 2006...Keon Raymond, the former New Orleans defensive back, won't be seen on the draft list and is currently not listed as having AFL ‘free agent' status. The former Middle Tennessee State standout in his second AFL season had 2.5 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions for 84 return yards (includes one return 42 yards for a TD) and nine pass breakups in 2008. Interestingly, Raymond signed on July 28 to play with the Calgary Stampeders and helped the Canadian Football League club with the league's Grey Cup championship at Montreal. In fact, Raymond scored a ‘major' in a game at Toronto during the regular season when he recovered a fumble in the end zone. By the way, ‘major' is a touchdown...Also on that Grey Cup winning team was former NFL and AFL veteran Dwaine Carpenter, 32, who started at outside linebacker (Buffalo 2002-03), is draft listed. Carpenter had 30 pass breakups and 11 INT for the Destroyers in '03...Word again is that WR Damien Harrell, the most prolific receiver in AFL history, when he was with Colorado and QB John Dutton, is headed to Columbus...Looks like the Arizona Rattlers have parted with Siaha Burley, the fine receiver who was tipping the pay charts at $130,000. This move was made to make salary cap room for QB Joe Germaine and WR J.J. McKelvey (coming over from Utah) and possibly others for head coach Kevin Guy. Since the demise (contraction) of NFL Europe, the AFL is just going to get better and the quality of play will increase over another year.

You can contact Hondo with questions and comments at hondo@sanjosesabercats.com.

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

• Utah Blaze DL Chris Janek Fares Well at Power-Lifting Meet - Utah Blaze
• 2008 Dispersal Draft may twist and turn - OSC Original by John Hahn
• VooDoo offer some outstanding players - OSC Original by John Hahn

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