(January 29, 2000) – The San Francisco Demons, all 45 players strong, made a triumphant return to the Bay Area Sunday and will begin preparation for their XFL season opener Tuesday morning at Diablo Valley College.
To reduce its roster to the mandated 38 active players and seven others on the practice sqauad, San Francisco placed 10 players on waivers and transferred two others in injured reserve.
The Demons actually went farther than was necessary because they actually only have 37 players on their active roster pending the addition of another player this week. That player is rumored to be all-star wide receiver Robert Gordon of the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
In addition, San Francisco will go with just two quarterbacks for the first week of the XFL season, former California signal callers Mike Pawlawski and Pat Barnes.
Center Curtice Macfarlane, the Turlock native and former San Jose State standout, was placed on injured reserve after suffering a left knee injury in Friday’s final scrimmage against Las Vegas. Surgery will not be required at this time, but he will be inactive for at least the first three weeks of the season.
Also placed on the injured reserve list was wide receiver J.T. Thomas (leg), a veteran of four NFL seasons with the St. Louis Rams. He joins five others on the injured list from injuries earlier in training camp: tight end Sean Manuel (knee), quarterback Kevin Feterik (broken thumb), defensive tackle Barry Mitchell (knee), receiver Mike Adams (knee) and offensive tackle Ben Nichols (foot).
Offensive players placed on waivers were fullback Ryan Christopherson (Wyoming) and receivers Floyd Turner (Northwestern State), Lee DeRamus (Wisconsin) and Darran Hall (Colorado State).
Former Cal cornerback Derrick Gardner was one of six defensive personnel waived. The others were defensive tackle Pene Talamaivao (Utah), linebackers Kevin Jefferson (Lehigh) and Barrin Simpson (Mississippi State) and cornerbacks Lee Cole (Arizona State) and Cordell Taylor (Hampton).
The Demons were required to declare their seven inactive players Sunday, meaning they will practice this week, but not be available to face the Los Angeles Xtreme Sunday at Pacific Bell Park in the 1:00 p.m. season opener.
Placed on the practice squad were halfbacks Terry Battle and Derek Brown, wide receiver Tydus Winans, tight end Joe Kavanaugh, offensive tackle Harvey Goins and linebacker Sam Manuel.
Coach Jim Skipper said he would announce his starting quarterback along with his complete projected lineups after Tuesday’s first practice. The Demons take the field at 10:15 a.m. and will finish with practice at approximately 2:00 p.m. Saturday’s final practice will be conducted at Pacific Bell Park at 12:00-12:50.
Demons season and individual-game tickets are available by calling 1-888-4XFLTIX or at www.sfdemons.com or www.tickets.com on the internet or in person at Pacific Bell Park or Giants’ Dugout stores.
