Avengers Score in Dispersal Draft

Baseball is still figuring out how to make contraction work. The Arena Football League already has done it.

Four teams--Florida, Houston, Milwaukee and Oklahoma--were eliminated for the 2002 season. The players from those teams were made available in a dispersal draft Monday, and the Avengers drafted four players and traded for another.

The Avengers traded their first-and second-round selections to Indiana for its first-and second-round picks and receiver-defensive back Kevin Ingram, who played last season for new Avenger Coach Ed Hodgkiss.

With those picks, the Avengers drafted linemen Sean McNamara (Houston) and Tony Plantin (Milwaukee) and defensive specialists Derek Grier (Milwaukee) and Chris White (Houston).

“These acquisitions fill a lot of holes,” Hodgkiss said. “McNamara and Ingram can challenge to be starters. Grier and White are depth guys, probably as defensive back first or defensive specialist.

“Now we’ve got to find some young guys new to the Arena league that can grow into the game. But today was much better than an expansion draft. We have experienced guys that I know are quality players.”

The Avengers also released four players, most notably lineman Victor Hall, an All-Arena first-team selection in 2000. Also waived were lineman Kevin Carroll, receiver-linebacker Brian Greene and receiver-defensive back Darren Hughes.