Some NFL teams love the dream of finding gems from the XFL and not having to pay million-dollar contracts or signing bonuses for their services. The Cowboys love him but a scout from one of their divisional rivals said that Avery was too small to be an every-down back, fumbled too often and has not exhibited enough desire, adding that his team scouted Avery closely and unanimously agreed that he couldn't make their roster. One of the interesting things that is happening now is that since training camp, rosters are set at 80 players for each team with exemptions that could put you at no more than 90 players. Repeatedly, NFL scouts say, speed is lacking in the XFL and speed is what NFL teams most desire. Yet, there is the constant reminder of Kurt Warner rising from the Arena Football League and Brad Johnson emerging from the NFL Europe and Eric Swann from semipro football.
Experts can blow it.
Matt Millen, the Detroit Lions chief executive, said Wednesday. That's the question they'll have to answer. This XFL to NFL transition is like a bubbling minefield, but the pressure is on each NFL franchise to check its notes and tapes twice. If a Warner or Johnson or Swann surfaces during the NFL season from this XFL crop, plenty of NFL scouts and teams that passed entirely on the group will have been fooled. And heads will roll.