Rating Free Agents
Ken Gill
Saturday October 27, 2001
Quarterbacks (2001 key stats)
1- Mark Grieb, SJ - #1 rated passer, 2,343 yds, 47 tds
2- Andy Kelly, Nas Led Kats to last 2 Arena Bowls, 2,699 yds, 47 tds
3- Scott Semptimphelter, Det 3,508 yds, 76 tds, 20 ints (new AFL record)
4- Jeff Loots, Okl. - #6 in passer rating, 834 yds, 18 tds, played for Rush and Wranglers
5- Todd Hammel, Hou 2,221 yds, 34 tds
6- Ron Lopez, Okl. 2,714 yds, 39 tds
7- Connell Maynor, NJ 6th in AFL in rushing, 135 yds, 2,644 yds passing, 40 tds
8- Donnie Davis, Milw. 784 yds, 11 tds
9- Robert Hall, Hou sat out 2001 season
10- Charles Puleri, Det backed up Semptimphelter in Detroit, had no stats
At a Glance- Mark Grieb is obviously the biggest name and the best franchise quarterback available. Kelly is right there behind him because of his great consistency, but his age and durability will be the big question. Scott Semptimphelter stepped up bigtime late last season for the expansion Detroit Fury and I look for Detroit to do all they can to hold onto him. Todd Hammel almost retired last season but is still the AFL all-time passer and could be an excellent backup for a contender. Jeff Loots looks like the new starter in Oklahoma if they keep him. Loots is a journeyman but has played well when hes had the chance. Ron Lopez lost some confidence and had some nagging injuries last season, but given a chance, he can assert himself as an AFL starter again. Connell Maynor, a former Arena Bowl MVP just fell into a bad spot last season and could never really get his accuracy straightened out. Davis, Hall and Puleri look to be back-ups wherever they wind up.
Fullback/Linebacker (2001 key stats)
1- Andre Bowden, TB 91 yds rushing, 4 rec, 30 tkls
2- Jason Bratton, Car 112 yds, 13 tkls
3- Rick Hamilton, Orl 80 yds, 3 tds, 21 tkls
4- Travis Pearson, LA 70 yds, 3 rec, 9 tkls
5- Travis McDonald, Okl. 61 yds, 2 rec, 17 tkls, 1 sack
6- Anthony Hicks, Nas 7 yds rush, 2 rec, 12 tkls, 1 sack
7- Tommy Dorsey, Orl 11 yds, 10 tkls, 1 sack
8- Marcellus Mostella, GR 13 yds, 11 tkls
9- George Del Ricco, NJ 57 yds, 5 rec, 20 tkls
10- Mike Jones, SJ 30 yds, 1 rec, 4 tkls
11- Derrick Chachere, Buf 16 yds, tkls, 1 sac
12- Tony Burse, Buf 9 tkls, 1 sack
At a Glance- Some of the all-time AFL rushers are available in the free agent market this season, and at the top of the list is the AFLs 2nd leading rusher of all time, Andre Bowden. Bowden who made the All-Arena 1st team in 2001 will be 34 when the season opens, but is still a top FB/LB. Jason Bratton is a punishing runner (22nd all-time), as well as a solid defensive player for Carolina. Rick Hamilton is a steady player and it would shock me if he left central Florida. Pearson is the leagues 4th all time leader in rushing and has always posted solid numbers. Hicks and Mostella were the 3rd string FB/LBs on the this years Arena Bowl teams, who are the deepest at this position in the league. If these two look elsewhere they could see more playing time. Del Ricco is a tough hammer that has bounced around a bit but could help a team as a number two FB/LB. The same goes for Dorsey. Jones, Chachere, and Burse seem to be at the tail end of their careers, but could help a team with depth at this position.
Offensive Specialist
1- Lamont Cooper, Okl. 70 yds rushing, 111 rec, 1,418 yds, 22 tds, 92 returns, 1,951 yds, 6 tds
2- Tyronne Jones, Nas. 55 rec, 832 yds, 21 tds, 23 returns for 339 yds
3- Ben Bronson, Hou 26 rec, 415 yds, 6 tds
At a Glance- Not much quantity here but you cant ask for more quality Offensive Specialists. Lamont Cooper just is simply the best return man in the business right now and he doubled as the 4th leading receiver in the AFL last season. Tyronne Jones had some minor injuries but this guy always seems to shine in the big games. He has put up big numbers on a team loaded with talent at WR, if he is the main weapon on a team he could be a league leader in receiving. Ben Bronson has been snake bit -- he broke his leg late in 2000 season but still was the 3rd in the league in receptions, and posted those stats in three games in the 2001 season before breaking the same leg. Many questions about whether he can return to his old form, but no one has the heart and determination that Ben Bronson has.
Wide Receiver/ Defensive Back
1- Curtis Ceasar, Fla. 54 rec, 715 yds, 18 tds, 8 tkls
2- Terence Davis, Hou. 100 rec, 1,316 yds, 13 tds, 12 tkls
3- Jay Jones, Ind. 50 rec, 719 yds, 13 tds, 47 returns, 927 yds, 42 tkls, 4 int
4- Cornelius White, Car. 51 rec, 585 yds, 12 tds, 40 tkls, 2 int
5- Ty Law, Tor. 38 rec, 553 yds, 11 tds, 4 rushes, 33 tkls
6- Corey Johnson, Car 1, 169 return yds, 5 tds, 5 int, 58 tkls, 7 rec
7- Muhammad Oliver, Arz 21 rec, 342 yds, 6 tds, 44 tkls
8- Adrian Lunsford, Nas. 74 tkls, 4 int, 3 rec
9- Jerrick Bledsoe, Arz 49 tkls, 4 int
10- Chris Lawson, Chi 39 tkls
11- Otis Mounds, NJ 23 tkls, 1 int
12- Kerry Hayes, Fla. 9 rec, 134 yds, 1 td, 2 tkls
13- Wayne Wade, Milw - .DNP in 2001
At a Glance- In my opinion Curtis Ceasar is one of the best big WRs in this league, I question Dave Ewarts decision not to activate him in some critical games down the stretch in 2001. Ceasar is virtually unstoppable on the fade routes and can get down the field fast for the long balls. Whoever gets this big guy will have a great player on both sides of the ball. In the absence of Ben Bronson in Houston, Terence Davis stepped up and proved to be a big time performer as he finished 5th in the AFL in Receiving in 2001. Jay Jones posted some great numbers on a team where he is the 3rd option on offense; he is a great returner and a very good defensive player. Jay could be let loose in Indy because of salary cap problems with the team trying to sign Hopkins, so he could be on the move. White, Law, Johnson, and Oliver are solid players that would fit well on any team. Lunsford, Bledsoe, Lawson, and Mounds are WR/DB but perform much better on the defensive side of the ball. Hayes is a backup while Wade was a good player but did not play in 2001.
Wide Receiver/ Linebacker
1- Greg Hopkins, Ind. 6th in AFL in Receiving, 100 rec, 1,216 yds, 18 tds, 56 tkls, 2 int, 0.5 sack
2- Cory Fleming, Nas. 21 rec, 274 yds, 4 tds, 7 tkls, 4 int
3- Shalon Baker, SJ 35 rec, 456 yds, 5 tds, 46 tkls, 1 int
4- Darryl Hammond, Nas 60 rec, 708 yds, 10 tds, 36 tkls, 2 int
5- Bernard Holmes, Fla. 85 rec, 1,131 yds, 19 tds, 747 kick return yds, 13 tkls
6- Damon Bowers, Hou. 31 rec, 384 yds, 5 tds, 16 returns, 30 tkls, 1 int, 11 rushes, 2 tds
7- Carl Sacco, Ind. 3 rec, 26 tkls, 3 int, 1 sack
8- Thomas Bailey, Orl. 26 rec, 317 yds, 7 tds, 3 returns, 1 return td, 15 tkls, 1 int
9- Melvin Phillips, Okl. on IR in 2001
At a Glance- Plenty of talent available at this position. Personally, I think Greg Hopkins is the toughest WR/LB in the AFL and though he has not won it yet, he is the definition of the Ironman award. Greg might be the most sought-after free agent this off-season and it will be tough salary cap wise for Indiana to re-sign him. His stats speak for themselves. Cory Fleming was hurt much of last season but had a very good post-season and should be back to his old self in 2002. The only problem with signing this big WR/LB is he might want to return to Nashville when they decide to field a team again. Shalon Baker might be the smallest player in the league but that certainly doesnt stop him from having great seasons year after year. On a team where there are far too many great receivers, Shalon still managed to get 35 receptions and had 45 tackles, which tells you how tough this guy is. Darryl Hammond is simply a future AFL Hall of Famer, and is one of the all time leaders in tackles. He also led the Nashville Kats last season in receptions. The only question is his age, 34, but he is still in great shape as he enters his 12th AFL season. Bernard Holmes turned into the top receiver for Florida last season and has had very good numbers since coming into the AFL. Damon Bowers comes out of the Wayne Chrebet mold. People keep telling him he cant play in this league but he has continually proven them wrong on the field with his spirited play. If a team is looking for a fireplug, Damon is their guy. Carl Sacco is a poor mans Greg Hopkins. Playing behind Hop, Sacco didnt get much playing time, but he makes big play after big play on defense and has the tools to be an offensive weapon. If Indiana loses the Hopkins sweepstakes, look for them to really make an effort to keep Carl. When Thomas Bailey was released early last season by Grand Rapids we all thought the coaching staff had lost their minds; little did we know they had a plan. But Bailey hooked up with Orlando and posted some good numbers and played defense, something he didnt do in Grand Rapids. The Preds should re-sign him. But if they dont, any team looking for a good WR/LB needs to look at Thomas Bailey. Melvin Phillips was on the IR for 2001 and looks to be a backup WR/LB for a team willing to take a chance on him.
Offensive Lineman/ Defensive Lineman
1- James Baron, Nas 13 tkls, 4.5 sacks, 9 rec, 42 yds, 2 tds
2- Ernest Allen, Orl 29 tkls, 5.5 sacks
3- Kyle Moore-Brown, Ind. 5 tkls, 1.5 sack
4- Tom Briggs, Okl. 20 tkls, 5 sacks, 1 rec for 1 td, 1 int
5- Otis Moore, NJ 18 tkls, 5.5 sacks, 6 rec for 56 yds
6- Sai Poulivaati, SJ 11 tkls, 1 sack
7- Robert Gaddy, Nas. 7 tkls
8- Oscar Sturgis, Arz 15 tkls
9- Rich McKenzie, Orl. 7 tkls, 1 sack
10- Eric Miller, Okl. 12 tkls, 1 sack, 1 int
11- Connell Spain, Tor. 22 tkls, 1.5 sacks, 1 rec
12- Hugh Hunter, Milw 15 tkls, 3 sacks, 7 rec
13- Reggie Lee, Orl 5 tkls, 2 sacks
14- Deryl Lane, Fla. 23 tkls, 1 sack
15- Ramon Luster, Buf. 7 tkls, 1.5 sacks
16- Lorenzo Reed, Okla 21 tkls, 2 sacks, 2 rec, 1 td
17- Mathias Vavao, Hou 7 tkls, 0.5 sack, 5 rec
18- Jerry Sharp, NJ 11 tkls
19- Kelvin Ingram, Arz 11 tkls, 1 sack
20- John Dixon, Buf. 12 tkls
21- Faamoemoe Soli Jr., Hou. 11 tkls, 1 sack
22- Cory Stone, NY 15 tkls, 1 sack
23- John Dewitt, LA 4 tkls
24- Murray Garrett, Hou 9 tkls, 1 sack, 2 rec.
25- Akaba Delaney, Okl. 6 tkls
26- Kevin Johnson, LA 1 tkl
27- Willie Wyatt, TB 6 tkls, 1.5 sacks
28- Webbie Burnett, Tor 4 tkls
29- Brian Drummy, Arz 1 tkl
30- Matthew Steeple, Fla 9 tkls
31- Larry Jones, Buf 10 tkls
32- Joe Burgos, NJ 1 tkl
33- Sylvester Bembery, TB 1 tkl
At a Glance- Its difficult to rate a position that has no statistics on one side of the ball. But it is easy to see who the top 4 are at this position. Though he is not noted highly for his blocking skills, James Baron is the fiercest and most dominate pass rusher this league has ever seen. He is the only defensive lineman I have ever seen that can take over a game in Arenaball. His stats are down but that is because he is constantly being double-teamed. Whoever signs Baron is getting the best defensive player in league history. Ernest Allen might be the best lineman on both sides of the ball. After making 2nd team All-Arena last season, this much-traveled veteran has found a home in Orlando, and if Jay Gruden wants to have a successful return at quarterback in 2002, he better make sure Allen stays in Orlando. Kyle Moore-Brown is a pillar in the Indy line, he has posted modest defensive statistics but his blocking skills and leadership make Moore-Brown a top-notch lineman. Tom Briggs is what people would call the best linemen no one knows about. Tom will get a lot of offers as he is a very good blocker as well as a ferocious pass rusher, if Oklahoma wants a contender this season, their top priority will be to sign Tom. Otis Moore might have been the only bright spot on the Gladiators last year. Moore put up solid numbers with a very poor team. It will be interesting to see if New Jersey can hold on to him as they have said they will be very active in the free agent market. When healthy, Rich McKenzie is a top-notch pass rusher, but keeping him healthy was a problem last season. Poulivaati, Gaddy, Miller, and Sturgis are more top quality linemen that will be sought after highly as no one could ever have enough pass rushers. The rest are all good players, with Bembery possibly thinking retirement again.
Defensive Specialist
1- Mark Ricks, LA - 3rd in AFL with 8 Ints, 57 returns for 951 yds, 49 tkls, 1 td, 49 tkls
2- Shea Showers, NY 6 ints, 87 tkls
3- Kevin Gaines, Fla 42 tkls
4- Carlos Brooks, Car 58 tkls, 2 int
5- Barry Dillard, Okl 3 tkls, injured most of the season
6- Lamont Woods, Okl Injured, no stats
At a Glance- Mark Ricks was 1st team All-Arena in 2001, and also had very good numbers as a kick returner. In the Arena League, maybe the biggest need is a good DS and he is one of the best. Los Angeles will really make an effort to keep him as they try to build a winner. Shea Showers, playing on an offensive powerhouse, quietly put up some great numbers in 2001. Kevin Gaines has the size to be a great DS but he never seems to stay put for long. If he can focus on his play, he could turn into one of the best DS in the league. Carlos Brooks is a veteran in the AFL and seems to have found a home in Carolina, but like I said, good defensive specialists are hard to find and many teams need to upgrade their defensive backfield, so look for Carlos to shop around. Dillard and Woods being injured is probably the reason Oklahoma failed to make the playoffs in 2001. Look for Oklahoma to re-sign them for a solid foundation on defense.
Kicker
1- Steve McLaughlin, Nas. 23 of 36 on FGs, and Led AFL in kicking with 152 pts
2- Daron Alcorn, SJ 21 pts in limited time with San Jose
3- David Cool, Orl 2nd in AFL in kicking- 131 pts, 20/38 FGs, 6 tkls
4- Remy Hamilton, Milw 6th in AFL in kicking 118 pts, 18/41 FGs
5- Carlos Huerta, SJ 23 pts , injured during the season
6- Kyle Pooler, Arz 7 pts in limited action with Arizona
7- Pete Elezovic, Chi 97 pts, 9/33 FGs, 10 tkls
At a Glance- Steve McLaughlin led all kickers in scoring in 2001 and I am still scratching my head as to why Mike Black beat him out for 1st team All-Arena last season. Heck, he didnt even make second team, which makes no sense to me. Steve has been a good kicker through the years and came into his own last season. The question with him (and all Nashville free agents) is: Will the move to Atlanta make them fly the coop to another team? Daron Alcorn has arguably the strongest leg in the league. He only played a little last season in San Jose and an off-season job might keep him from going anywhere else. David Cool won the Arena Bowl as time ran out in 2000, has been a very consistent kicker for years, and a team with questions at this position might look to Cool for stability. Remy Hamilton has had a few down years but last season turned it around and was 6th in the league in scoring. His field goal percentage was still low but he has to be given a look at by anyone needing a kicker. Carlos Huerta, is accurate but his leg strength and durability has always been in question, he seems to get beat up on kickoffs all the time. Pooler always seems to end up in Arizona and considering his off-season job is there, I think the Rattlers will keep him if he wants to stay in the desert. Elezovic started with Buffalo in 2001 but was cut and ended up in Chicago and had a decent season. If he can turn it around and have a year like he had when he was in Albany he can be a top kicker in the AFL again.
Ken Gill is a former staff member at ArenaFan Online.
