SHEHEE AND MCCULLOUGH XFL OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK NY/NJ CB ELOMS PICKS OFF DEFENSIVE HONORS

Tuesday, April 10, 2001

STAMFORD, CONN. – The XFL today named the Los Angeles Xtreme RB tandem of Rashaan Shehee and Saladin McCullough as its Offensive Players of the Week and New York/New Jersey Hitmen CB Joey Eloms as its Defensive Player of the Week for week 10, the final week of the regular season.

The Los Angeles duo combined for 155 yards rushing in the Xtreme's 24-0 win over the San Francisco Demons on Saturday, helping clinch the Western Division Title. McCullough rushed for 73 yards on just eight carries for an average of 9.1 yards per carry and one touchdown before leaving the game late in the second quarter with a pulled right hamstring.

Shehee, who saw his first action since losing his starting job to McCullough in Week Six, picked up the slack, rushing for 92 yards on 17 carries.

The Xtreme will host the Chicago Enforcers on Sunday (7:00 p.m. ET on UPN) in the semifinal round of the XFL playoffs. Orlando hosts San Francisco in the other semifinal (Saturday, 8:00p.m. ET on NBC). The winners advance to "The Million Dollar Game"ä on Saturday, April 21 (8:00 p.m. ET on NBC).

The ball-hawking Eloms saved his best effort for the Hitmen's final regular season contest: intercepting two passes, notching a pair of solo tackles, and recording five passes defended in the 22-0 win in Birmingham on Sunday.

The two interceptions also established a new team mark and Eloms' total of four picks are good for the No. 2 overall ranking in the XFL for its inaugural season. Eloms' third-quarter theft resulted in a NY/NJ score, when the cornerback alertly lateraled the ball to teammate Donnie Caldwell as he was being tackled. Caldwell raced untouched down the sideline for a 46-yard touchdown.

Despite the win, the Hitmen failed to qualify for the post-season when Chicago defeated Orlando later that night.

Runner-up on offense was Chicago QB Kevin McDougal. Runner-up on defense was Chicago LB Jamie Baisley. Both players had won Player of the Week honors the week before.