Dallas, the only 2002 expansion franchise in the 16-team Arena FootballLeague, had the opportunity to select unprotected players from the remaining15 AFL teams. The Cobras had a total of six players that were leftunprotected for the draft: OS Marlon Estes, FB/LB Kevin Jefferson, OL/DLCurtis McGee, OL/DL Allen Mogridge, OL/DL Matt Norwood and QB Brandon Streeter.
Norwood (6-2, 290, Middle Tennessee State) was selected by the Desperados inthe seventh round. A rookie in 2001, he played in seven games (missed threegames late in the year with a right thumb injury) and totaled four tackles.A standout center at Middle Tennessee State, Norwood got his start inarenafootball2 (af2) with the Tennessee Valley Vipers in 2000.
Dallas also selected McGee (6-5, 305, Georgia Tech) in the 14th round.McGee also played in just seven games after joining the Cobras midwaythrough the season. A natural offensive lineman, McGee totaled just twotackles but did manage to rack up 1.5 sacks on the defensive side of theball. Prior to joining Carolina, McGee had short stints on the practicesquads of several NFL clubs before playing two seasons in NFL Europe and one season in the now-defunct XFL.
The Cobras are preparing for next week's AFL dispersal draft (Monday,December 10), where they have four of the top 21 selections (picks No. 4,No. 5, No. 20 and No. 21). The dispersal draft will have 82 playersavailable from four contracted teams (Milwaukee, Oklahoma, Florida andHouston).
In other off-season player transactions, the Buffalo Destroyers, who tradedfor Cobras quarterback Fred McNair last week, signed unrestricted free agentfullback/linebacker Jason Bratton. Bratton led the Cobras in rushing lastseason with 112 yards and scored a career-high 10 rushing touchdowns.
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