ROBERSON TO MISS SECOND GAME OF DEMON’S SEASON, CROWD OF 35,000 EXPECTED
News Courtesy of the San Francisco Demons
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (February 24, 2001) — Jimmy Cunningham will start at split end Sunday when the XFL returns to Pacific Bell Park for San Francisco Demons’ second home game with the Las Vegas Outlaws in a 1:00 p.m. kickoff in a battle Western Division co-leaders.
Cunningham, the Demons’ leading receiver with 16 receptions after three games, will replace Brian Roberson, who will sit out the contest with a groin injury suffered in Friday’s final full-scale practice. It will be the second game he has missed this season after catching 12 passes for 127 yards in San Francisco’s opener.
“Brian pulled the muscle probably compensating for his foot,” Head Coach Jim Skipper said. “We have to get him healthy and we aren’t going to play him until he is closer to 100 per cent than he is.”
Roberson sustained a foot injury in practice prior to San Francisco’s game at Orlando two weeks ago and was placed on the practice squad for that contest. He returned to the lineup at Memphis and caught two passes, but was obviously not at total efficiency.
The Demons activated Tydus Winans as its fourth receiver when they declared their 38-man roster Saturday. Linebacker Sam Manuel will see action for the first time against Las Vegas after missing the first three games with back problems.
Also placed on the practice squad and not eligible to play against Las Vegas are tight end Sean Manuel (knee), center Curtice Macfarlane (knee), safety Pete Destefano (concussion), linebacker Jon Haskins (shoulder) and defensive end Jomo Cousins (ribs). Oteman Sampson is the No. 3 quarterback for the match-up with the Outlaws.
Except for Cunningham, the Demons will open with the same starters as took the field at Memphis. Terrance Joseph, a former standout with the San Jose Sabercats, will take over for Destefano at strong safety, Skipper said. Also, former Stanford star Carl Hansen returned to the lineup at right defensive tackle.
A crowd in excess of 35,000 is expected to watch the Demons, who pace the XFL in attendance. A sellout crowd of 38,253 witnessed San Francisco’s opener three weeks ago when the Demons whipped Los Angeles, 15-13.
Both San Francisco and Las Vegas will bring 2-1 records into the contest. Tickets for the game will go on sale at Pac Bell Park at 11:00 a.m. Sunday or can be purchased by calling 1-866-4XFLTIX or accessing www.sfdemons.com on the web.
