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Wandering Goodson finds next opportunity in XFL
By GREG AUMAN © St. Petersburg Times, published January 12, 2001 The long, winding path that has been Tyrone Goodson's pro football career now looks to have direction again: first a layover in Las Vegas, then a few months with the upstart XFL's Memphis Maniax. Goodson, who was cut by the Green Bay Packers last summer and missed the 2000 season recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, was to report to Las Vegas for the Maniax' preseason camp this weekend, according to his agent, Richard De Luca. The former Central star's problems with the Packers were less about football and more about communication. At one point last summer, the team hadn't heard from him in six weeks. There are signs that communication breakdown might be continuing with Memphis. Goodson isn't joining the Maniax because he wants to; it's his only option for the next three months. De Luca said Goodson had submitted his name for the XFL's original draft, which required him to sign a contract in advance, but he wasn't listed among the players eligible for the draft. That seemed all right, however, as Goodson was later contacted by the NFL's Washington Redskins, who sought to sign him and allocate him to NFL Europe for additional grooming. This option seemed ideal -- Goodson had a good relationship with Redskins defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes, who was the head coach his first season in Green Bay. The Redskins needed receivers, and he'd have the chance to learn under veteran Pro Bowlers such as Andre Reed and Irving Fryar. Then things got complicated. Memphis selected Goodson with the 42nd pick in the XFL's supplemental draft on Dec. 29, and in doing so, picked up his exclusive rights until the XFL season ends in April. Goodson, who thought he was free of his XFL obligations, asked to be released from his contract, but the Maniax denied his request. De Luca said Wednesday that Goodson was on his way to the Maniax' preseason camp in Las Vegas -- where practice started on Jan. 3 -- and would make the most of his opportunity to shine in the XFL. The first-year league was created by the same people who made the World Wrestling Federation a phenomena that has posted better ratings than ABC's Monday Night Football. The league also has a television contract with NBC, where former pro wrestler and current Minnesota governor Jesse "The Body" Ventura is signed on as an analyst. The league promises more hits and excitement than the NFL -- there is no fair-catch option on punts, for instance. But a more physical environment might not be ideal for Goodson, who has spent six months rehabilitating his knee. Goodson, who has not played in a regular-season game since his senior year at Auburn in 1997, had not arrived at Maniax camp Friday, where Memphis scrimmaged against the Las Vegas Outlaws. Neither coach Kippy Brown -- a former Green Bay assistant coach -- nor the public relations staff knew if or when Goodson was coming to camp. When he gets there, he will find a healthy competition for roster spots, especially considering he's not among the 70 players currently on roster. Those 70 include eight receivers, including four with NFL experience: former Cowboys first-round pick Alvin Harper and league veterans Russell Copeland, Daryl Hobbs and Charles Jordan. Former Tennessee receiver Marcus Nash was a "territorial" Maniax pick, but he isn't on the roster. If Goodson makes the team, he will receive the league's standard non-quarterback salary of $45,000, plus a bonus of $2,500 for each game the Maniax win in their 10-game season. The Maniax' season opens Feb. 4 at the Birmingham Thunderbolts and finishes back in Las Vegas on April 7, with a postseason to follow. Tyrone Goodson timelineSPRING 1993: Goodson graduates from Central High School after being honored as a first-team all-state defensive back and the Times' North Suncoast Basketball Player of the Year. FALL 1997: Goodson finishes his college career at Auburn with more catches than any receiver in school history. He separates his shoulder late in the season, but leads the Southeastern Conference in yards per catch. APRIL 1998: Passed over in the NFL draft, Goodson signs as a free agent with the St. Louis Rams, only to be cut three months later before the preseason. After a fall away from football, he signs with the Green Bay Packers the next spring. FALL 1999: After being cut by the Packers in preseason, Goodson spends most of the year on Green Bay's practice squad. Twice he is elevated to the Packers' 53-man roster, but both times he's listed as inactive before games. FEBRUARY 2000: Goodson is disappointed to find out the Packers won't be allocating him to NFL Europe. They don't want him to play overseas because they fear he will get injured. As it turns out, he claims he hurt his knee during a team minicamp that spring. JULY 2000: Goodson is waived by the Packers after he failed a physical. They hadn't heard from him in seven weeks, when he missed an appointment with a team doctor and had arthroscopic knee surgery with a non-team doctor in Missouri. DECEMBER 2000: Goodson is selected by the Memphis Maniax with the 42nd pick in XFL's supplemental draft. Memphis refuses to release Goodson from his contract to allow him to potentially sign with the NFL's Washington Redskins. -- Compiled by Greg Auman
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