(30 October 2000) – The Orlando Rage made Louisville’s Jeff Brohm its first selection in the XFL’s Player Allocation and Selection System draft.
Brohm isn’t short on experience. He spent six seasons in the NFL, including last season with the Denver Broncos, where he was the team’s number three quarterback. He is somewhat familiar with the Florida area, having spent all of 1998 on injured reserve for the Tampa Bay Bucs. Brohm also saw action in five games for the San Francisco 49ers in 1997. He completed 16 of 24 passes for 164 yards and no touchdowns.
For his NFL career, Brohm completed 37 of 58 passes for 353 yards and 1 TD. He had much more success in college at Louisville. There, Brohm threw for 5,451 yards and 38 touchdowns in two seasons as a starting quarterback. He was signed by the San Diego Chargers as a free agent in 1994, where he was the team’s third quarterback and a member of the Chargers Super Bowl team.
“We were keying on a quarterback in the first round,” Rage Head Coach Galen Hall said. “Jeff was one of two quarterbacks we really wanted and we were thrilled when he was available when our turn arrived. He has an outstanding arm and has NFL experience.”
Scott Milanovich was the top pick of the draft. The former Maryland quarterback was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Xtreme. Of the eight first round selections, quarterbacks accounted for six of the picks. In addition to Milanovich and Brohm, first round quarterbacks included Casey Weldon (#2 to orlando) Marcus Crandell (#3 to Memphis), Chuck Clements (#5 to Las Vegas) and Charles Puleri (#7 to New York/New Jersey. Former Indiana running back Vaughan Dunbar was the first non-quarterback selected). San Francisco picked Dunbar while; former Miami Dolphins running back John Avery from Mississippi State went eighth to Chicago. Following the selection of Brohm, the Rage concentrated on picking players that could get to the other team’s quarterbacks. Orlando selected four linemen in its next eight picks. The top players selected included Jonathan Brown, a former third round pick of the Green Bay Packers and one of the all-time sack leaders at the University of Tennessee with 25. Orlando also added former Florida State defensive end and Lake Wales star James Roberson; who logged five seasons in the NFL.
“It’s no secret that games are won in the trenches,” Hall added. “We’re pleased with the quality of linemen were able to obtain in the first 10 rounds and territorial picks.”
Hall also went for familiarity. Five of Hall’s first 10 selections (Dan Collins, OL; Derrick Clark, RB; Roberson; Stephen Fisher, DB; and Jeremy Akers, OL) played under Hall for the Rhein Fire of NFL-Europe.
“It’s always a plus to get players familiar with your season,” Hall added. “These guys were all good players for me in Rhein and they know my system. They will be a step ahead in training camp.” JEFF BROHM, QB
1st Round (4th Overall)…6-1…205…Louisville…originally signed by San Diego Chargers as free agent out of Louisville…spent season as #3 quarterback…member of Chargers Super Bowl team…spent three seasons with San Francisco 49ers…completed 37 of 58 passes for 353 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT…record-setting quarterback at University of Louisville…starter for two seasons, Brohm threw for 5,451 yards in career with 38 touchdowns…earned MVP honors for both junior and senior seasons.
DAN COLLINS, OL
2nd Round (13th Overall)…6-4…300…played four seasons at Boston College (1994-98)…signed as a free agent with New England Patriots in 1999…played one season in NFL-Europe under Galen Hall with Rhein Fire, where he was a starter on Fire’s World Bowl championship team…signed an attended training camp with Seattle.
JONATHAN BROWN, DE
3rd Round (20th Overall)…6-4…265…appeared in all 16 games with Green Bay Packers in 1999…recorded 39 tackles (21 solo) from defensive line position…was 3rd round pick of Packers in 1998…appeared in 5 games in rookie season…was first round pick of Berlin Thunder in 1999…finished season with 30 tackles, 2 FR and 1 PD with Thunder…played four seasons with University of Tennessee…finished career with 25 career sacks with Volunteers.
DERRICK CLARK, RB
4th Round (29th Overall)…6-1…235…signed with Denver Broncos as undrafted free agent in 1994…caught 9 passes for 47 yards (5.2 avg.)…had 3 kick returns for 34 yards (11.3 avg.)…played five seasons for Rhein Fire…played college football at Garden City CC, Florida State and Evangel College…native of Apopka, FL.
RICKY BELL, DB
5th Round (36th Overall)…5-10…195…All-ACC selection at North Carolina State…free agent signee of the Jacksonville Jags in 1996…appeared in 12 games…returned 6 kickoffs for 119 yards (19.8 avg.)…played in 19 games, mainly on special teams, for Chicago Bears in 1997-98.
JAMES ROBERSON, DE
6th Round (45th Overall)…6-3…275…Florida State…originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the New Orleans Saints in 1995…also appeared in camp with Green Bay that season…signed by Rhein Fire and played under Galen Hall during the 1996 NFL-Europe season…recorded 3 sacks for Rhein…signed by Houston, where he played in 15 games and recorded 3 sacks…would play in 25 games and make 16 starts over next two seasons for Tennessee…signed as free agent with Jacksonville, playing 2 games for Jags in 1999…has 6 sacks and 21 starts in 42 career NFL games.
MARIO BAILEY, WR
7th Round (52nd Overall)…5-9…175…played four seasons at the University of Washington, earning 1st team All-America honors in 1991 and helping the Huskies to a national championship…drafted in the 6th round by the Oilers…spent time with New York Jets in 1993…had second stint with Oilers in 1994, spending ½ season on active roster…played six seasons in World League for Frankfurt, capturing two World Bowl titles…attended training camp with
STEPHEN FISHER, DB
8th Round (61st Overall)…5-10…183…North Carolina….played corner and returned kicks for Rhein Fire last year, playing on World Bowl championship team….attended camp with Dallas Cowboys.
JEREMY AKERS, OL
9th Round (68th Overall)…6-5…305…played and lettered four years at Notre Dame, playing both guard and tackle…signed and spent rookie NFL season on Atlanta’s practice squad…released by Atlanta in 1998 pre-season…logged time in camp with Denver and Dallas in 1999 and also played with Rhein Fire of NFL-Europe…attended training camp with Oakland Raiders in 2000.
JOE CUMMINGS, LB
10th Round, 77th Overall)…6-2…245…University of Montana…originally signed by Eagles as 1996 free agent…spent majority of 1996 season on San Diego Chargers practice squad…also spent time with Buffalo and Green Bay in NFL…has played in 28 career NFL games with 4 starts…also played for Barcelona in NFL Europe in 1998.
