XFL Orlando Rage Press Release 5
 

 
Press Release 5
Rage mini-camp starting up

For the first time ever, Head Coach Galen Hall will get a chance to work with his entire team as the Orlando Rage conducts a full squad mini-camp at the Citrus Bowl Complex, Dec. 11-16.

Hall is anticipating 70 players showing up for the camp, which will include two daily workouts at Tinker Field. The players were selected by the Rage during an October draft. Regular season training camp opens January 3, 2001; while the season opener is February 3 against the Chicago Enforcers.

"This will be the first time our 70-man roster will be in one place," Hall said. "I am anticipating an extremely busy week for the players as they learn our system. It will also be an opportunity for the players to make an impression with the coaches. The competition for roster spots will start with the first day of mini-camp."

Linebackers Joe Cummings and Kiuusama Mays, defensive backs Stephen Fisher, Lawrence Wright and Louis Riddick, and linemen Bill Duff, James Roberson and Cheston Blackshear are among the notable players that will be in training camp with the Rage.

Cummings and Mays are two veteran linebackers with extensive NFL backgrounds. Cummings, a former University of Wyoming star, was a regular with the Buffalo Bills from 1998-1999, before being waived in the off-season. Mays logged 30 NFL games and recorded 41 tackles with Minnesota and Green Bay before being cut by the Packers in training camp last year. Mays and Randy Moss were the only two Minnesota rookies to play in every game during the 1998 season.

Riddick spent six seasons in the NFL, most recently with the Oakland Raiders. A 9th round pick of the San Francisco 49ers, he also played for the Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns. Fisher played for Coach Hall's Rhein Fire team in NFL-Europe last spring. He posted 21 tackles, 11 pass defenses and a team-leading three interceptions in helping the Fire to a league championship. Wright was selected by the Rage as a territorial selection from the University of Florida. A former winner of the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's premier college defensive back, Wright was a two-time All-SEC performer and helped the Gators win a National Championship in 1996. He was with the Cincinnati Bengals from 1997-99.

Duff was claimed by the Rage from the Player Allocation and Selection System pool after being release a few weeks ago by the Cleveland Browns. He led the Berlin Thunder (NFL-Europe) in sacks last season with four. Blackshear is another territorial pick of the Rage. The former Florida Gators star was a second team All-SEC selection in 1999 and went to camp with the Carolina Panthers last year. Roberson was a former Florida State star who played three years in the NFL, recording 78 total tackles and five quarterback sacks.

Former Orlando Predators Rick Hamilton, Damon Mason and Ty Law will attempt to make the transition back to the outdoor game after playing the last three seasons in the Arena Football League. Hamilton, a linebacker, has four years of NFL experience (Jets, Redskins and Lions); while Mason has led the AFL in tackles for the past two years. Both players were selected in the XFL's Player Allocation and Selection System (P.A.S.S.) draft in October. Law, who scored a career-high 14 touchdowns for Predators last season, was added to the Rage roster from the P.A.S.S. pool on December 5. All three played key roles in Orlando's 35-16 (.686) run over the past three seasons, which included three consecutive AFL championship game appearances and a pair of league championships.

The Rage will work out at 3:30 p.m. on Monday (Dec. 11). The team will conduct two workouts (8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.) on Dec. 12-14 and Dec. 16. The schedule for Friday, Dec. 15 includes two workouts at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. All practices are open to the public and will be held at Tinker Field. WTKS' popular "Monsters of the Midday," featuring Russ Rollins, will broadcast its Friday show from Tinker Field during Friday's practice and the team will conduct a "Meet the Rage" party on the field. There is no admission charge and the public is invited to attend.






 
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