Derrell Mitchell’s request surprised Scott Casterline.
The Atlanta Falcons had released Mitchell after training camp in 1996, and now the former Texas Tech wide receiver was telling his agent to get him a job with whatever team. Could be in the Arena Football League. Could be in the Canadian Football League. As long as it was football ... .
“He was shocked to hear that,” Mitchell remembered this week. “Young Americans, we all have the dream of the NFL — NFL or nothing.”
Casterline knew the general manager of the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts, and got his client a spot.