So how come he spent the 2000 NFL season working as a janitor?

Three tenths of a second, that's why.

Rashaan Salaam is one player who might be able to power his way into the NFL.(Allsport)

Copeland, like many players in the XFL, lacks the deep speed to be a consistent NFL receiver. But in the XFL, where a lack of speed is noticeable across the board, a player like Copeland can still stand out.

In the Xtreme's 39-32 double-overtime victory over the Chicago Enforcers, Copeland looked like the next coming of Jerry Rice. He made sensational grabs, plus the easy ones, and in doing so looked every bit the part of NFL receiver.

A closer inspection, though, reveals why he was cleaning toilets in the fall. On one pass play, Copeland caught a short pass with the idea he would quickly turn and run in an attempt to make a big play. When he did turn, he appeared to do it in slow motion, yet he still made good yardage.

Defensive speed is lacking too.

"It's a slow game," said Rick Mueller, the director of pro personnel for the New Orleans Saints. "The XFL sometimes looks like it's moving in slow motion. Copeland is a guy who doesn't have the speed, which is why he wasn't in the league. The guy playing with him, Darnell McDonald, is another 4.8 guy. They're all slow guys."

That makes it tough for the NFL scouts to evaluate the XFL players. The guys putting up the big numbers are likely just feasting on players who have no chance of playing in the NFL.

"The players in that league are all there for a reason." Mueller said. "Most of those guys have already been evaluated by the NFL. We know what's wrong with them, whether they're too small or too slow or whatever. I bet there's not a big influx of guys making the jump to the NFL."

The speed of the game is much more intense in the NFL, which is something even the casual fan watching the XFL can see. For a scout, it's even more apparent. Some college teams, Mueller said, actually play faster. That isn't to say that some of the XFL players won't make it back to the NFL, Mueller said. But the majority of the players have been let go already -- Copeland was cut by the Rams in 1999 -- for one reason or another.

Take the case of Chicago running back John Avery. He was a first-round pick of the Miami Dolphins, an explosive back coming out of Mississippi. He had breakaway speed and big-play ability. He failed miserably, and was cut by the Dolphins as well as two other teams.

The knock on Avery? He danced. So much so, that Miami players would sometimes sing an old Jackson Five hit when he carried the ball. The song? Dancing Machine. In the XFL, Avery can get away with the dancing because the speed of the game is slower, and in turn he has become the best offensive player thus far.

"Why?" said Mueller. "Because he's one of the only guys with any real speed."

The slow pace of the game can make NFL rejects look like XFL stars. A handful or so have stood out so far, but most have already had their chances in the NFL, and failed.

Some will get back, but don't expect the second coming of Kurt Warner. He went from Arena League to NFL MVP. There isn't anyone in this league who's going to do that.

But there is a handful of players who can make it back. In addition to Avery, here are five others who have a chance:

Charles Jordan, WR, Memphis -- He hasn't put up the numbers that Copeland has in the first two weeks, but he has something Copeland doesn't -- speed. Jordan always has been a guy who could get deep, but injuries slowed his NFL career. He played for both Miami and Green Bay, and put up some decent numbers as a receiver and a return man. He caught 27 passes in 1997 with Miami, so the ability is there -- if he can stay healthy.

Ty Talton, S, New York/New Jersey -- A former fifth-round pick of the Detroit Lions who played in 12 games in 1999, Talton has the size and cover skills to help somebody in the deep secondary. He had eight special teams tackles for the Lions and appears to have the ability to get back to a team that's looking for a young, athletic safety.

Rashaan Salaam, RB, Memphis -- The former Heisman Trophy winner has been one of the league's best offensive players, although his fumble going into the end zone Sunday was returned 98 yards for a touchdown. Salaam has been a powerful runner who has showed a little more burst in this league, which may have to do with the lack of speed. At any rate, he may deserve another NFL chance.

Jeff Brohm, QB, Orlando -- Brohm has five seasons of NFL experience, and was actually signed by the Cleveland Browns late in the 2000 season. He has been a backup to Steve Young and went to a Super Bowl with the San Diego Chargers as the No. 3 quarterback in 1994. He has completed over 60 percent of his passes in the NFL, which should be good enough in a league full of quarterbacks who dream of completing that kind of percentage. The knock on Brohm is that he is small at 6-foot-1 and his arm strength isn't great. He does have a feel for finding the open receiver, which should get him back to the NFL. In the XFL, he's the best quarterback in a league of bad ones.

Antonio Edwards, DE, Las Vegas -- Edwards had some productive NFL years and at 30 years old, he still might be able to help a team that needs a decent end. Edwards, who was released by the Broncos last summer, is never going to be a pass-rush star, but he can be a serviceable backup. In the XFL, he's one of the best linemen in a league devoid of pass rushers.