Post by MGB01 on Nov 4, 2005 19:34:13 GMT -5
Wide receiver Jeremaine Copeland and offensive guard Melvin Paige were pegged to cash in on the first day of free agency, the only surprise was where they ended up.
Copeland moved downstate to the Rage, who in turn are expected to release veteran Dialleo Burks. Copeland shared the XFL receptions lead with Rashaun Woods of Dallas in 2005 with 82 grabs. Copeland has caught at least 70 passes in four of his five seasons in the league, the only exception being when he moved to the Predators in 2002 as the #1 pick in the expansion draft, catching only 38 passes in an injury-plagued year.
A last-minute offer from the Chicago Enforcers nabbed Paige, who was thought to be heading to the Colonels. Paige was a huge part of the Maniax' league-leading rushing attack, which featured league leader Eric Shelton and Travis Stephens--who incidentally may be following Paige up to Chi-town--averaged 6.1 yards per carry. The Enforcers finished 10th in the league in rushing but second to last (Carolina) in yards per carry.
As luck would have it, the two free agent finds will match up on opening weekend when Orlando plays at Chicago May 28.
Brian Natkin, formerly of the Hitmen, also changed addresses, moving over to the Glory. Natkin rebounded from a moribund 2004 to catch 43 passes during the regular season for the North Division and X-Bowl runner-up Hitmen in 2005, but was limited to just three catches in the playoffs. The Glory released disappointing starter Terry Jones to make way for Natkin, the Hitmen's fourth-round pick out of UTEP in 2001. The Glory also inked former Vipers wideout Damon Thompson, who caught 32 passes in '05 but may not get that many his way in '06 with newly-acquired Mike Bush, Kevin Youngblood, and Mark Bradley in the fold.
The Maniax brought back defensive lineman T.J. Frier. Frier, who played with the Maniax in 2001-02 as a reserve, was taken by the Bolts in the 2003 expansion draft and had his breakthrough season in 2004, notching 10 sacks as the Bolts won the first of back-to-back XFL South titles and went to the X-Bowl. Frier had only four sacks in '05 but was a fierce rusher nonetheless, recording 17 hurries and forcing seven fumbles, recovering two. The Maniax also picked off former Colonels running back Zack Abron, who spent his two years in Carolina primarily as a kick returner, averaging 21.4 per return and returned a kickoff for touchdown in a game against Jacksonville July 3, 2005.
Copeland moved downstate to the Rage, who in turn are expected to release veteran Dialleo Burks. Copeland shared the XFL receptions lead with Rashaun Woods of Dallas in 2005 with 82 grabs. Copeland has caught at least 70 passes in four of his five seasons in the league, the only exception being when he moved to the Predators in 2002 as the #1 pick in the expansion draft, catching only 38 passes in an injury-plagued year.
A last-minute offer from the Chicago Enforcers nabbed Paige, who was thought to be heading to the Colonels. Paige was a huge part of the Maniax' league-leading rushing attack, which featured league leader Eric Shelton and Travis Stephens--who incidentally may be following Paige up to Chi-town--averaged 6.1 yards per carry. The Enforcers finished 10th in the league in rushing but second to last (Carolina) in yards per carry.
As luck would have it, the two free agent finds will match up on opening weekend when Orlando plays at Chicago May 28.
Brian Natkin, formerly of the Hitmen, also changed addresses, moving over to the Glory. Natkin rebounded from a moribund 2004 to catch 43 passes during the regular season for the North Division and X-Bowl runner-up Hitmen in 2005, but was limited to just three catches in the playoffs. The Glory released disappointing starter Terry Jones to make way for Natkin, the Hitmen's fourth-round pick out of UTEP in 2001. The Glory also inked former Vipers wideout Damon Thompson, who caught 32 passes in '05 but may not get that many his way in '06 with newly-acquired Mike Bush, Kevin Youngblood, and Mark Bradley in the fold.
The Maniax brought back defensive lineman T.J. Frier. Frier, who played with the Maniax in 2001-02 as a reserve, was taken by the Bolts in the 2003 expansion draft and had his breakthrough season in 2004, notching 10 sacks as the Bolts won the first of back-to-back XFL South titles and went to the X-Bowl. Frier had only four sacks in '05 but was a fierce rusher nonetheless, recording 17 hurries and forcing seven fumbles, recovering two. The Maniax also picked off former Colonels running back Zack Abron, who spent his two years in Carolina primarily as a kick returner, averaging 21.4 per return and returned a kickoff for touchdown in a game against Jacksonville July 3, 2005.