XFL Los Angeles Xtreme Press Release 9
 
 
 
 
 
Press Release 9
Xtreme strengthen offensive line in Supplemental Draft

From left to right - Al Tanara (Personnel Director), Jim Barker (Offensive Coordinator), Al Luginbill (Head Coach) The Los Angeles Xtreme offensive line just got deeper. Much deeper. The Xtreme selected eight players on Friday, three of them linemen, in the XFL’s first supplemental draft. The linemen selected include: Derrick Graham, Jerry Crafts and Bruce Beaton. Collectively the trio alone adds 25 years of pro experience in both the NFL and the CFL to the Xtreme’s roster.


“We did exactly what we wanted to do out of the supplemental draft,” said Al Lugibill, Xtreme Head Coach. “We improved ourselves in the positions we needed improvement, most importantly the offensive line.”

Friday morning, the Xtreme selected Graham, 33, with the eighth and final pick of the first round. A veteran of nine seasons in the NFL, Graham last played for the Oakland Raiders, seeing time in 12 games during the 1998 season. Graham played in 99 games in his NFL career suiting up for the Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, and the Raiders.

“Derrick Graham gives us an experienced person in the offensive line that has started on numerous occasions in the NFL.” Said Coach Luginbill. “We feel we got an experienced player and those at this point are difficult to find. To be honest, I was surprised he was still there at the eight spot.”

Next up, with the ninth overall pick, the Xtreme chose the 33-year-old Jerry Crafts. The former Oklahoma Sooner adds six years of NFL experience including stints with the Buffalo Bills and the Philadelphia Eagles. Crafts spent the last two years of his career in NFL Europe and the CFL.

Selected with the 53rd pick, Beaton, 32, has spent his entire pro career and most of his life in Canada. Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Beaton did not begin playing football until he attended Arcadia University. (His high school in Port Hood was too small to field a football team.) Regardless, Beaton still managed to enjoy an 8 year career in the CFL making the all-star team 4 times during stints with Ottawa, Calgary, Montreal and Edmonton.

The Xtreme also selected former San Diego Charger wide receiver Chris Penn (25th overall). Penn played six season in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Chicago Bears and most recently with the Chargers (1999). Penn averaged 13 yards per carry on 131 receptions along with 11 touchdowns in his NFL career. Penn already joins a deep receiving corps that includes former NFL players Darnell McDonald, Damon Gibson and Damon Dunn.

In addition to the draft, the Xtreme also used its final two territorial selections to pick up former San Diego St. kicker/punter Noel Prefontaine and defensive lineman Matt Keneley from USC. Prefontaine is expected to be given a shot to become the Xtreme’s third quarterback.

The Xtreme have until Saturday, December 30 to finalize its 70 man roster for its upcoming training camp which opens Wednesday, January 3, 2001 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The following are the Xtreme’s eight selections from the 2000 XFL Supplemental Draft:

PLAYER - POS - COLLEGE - OVERALL - PICK
Derick Graham - OL - Appalachian St. - 8
Jerry Crafts - OL - Oklahoma - 9
Clifton Abraham - DB - Florida St. - 24
Chris Penn - WR - Tulsa - 25
Jeff Cummins - DE - Oregon - 39
John Fisher - DB - Missouri Western - 40
Bruce Beaton - OG - Arcadia University - 53
Donald Bloomfield - DT - Clemson - 54

 
 

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