L.A. Avengers trade for quarterback John Kaleo
Published on November 2, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release
LOS ANGELES -- John Kaleo, the starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Storm during their 2003 ArenaBowl championship season, has been acquired by the Los Angeles Avengers via trade, head coach Ed Hodgkiss announced today.
In return for Kaleo, the Avengers sent wide receiver/defensive back Sean Morey and future considerations to the Austin Wranglers. After four years with the Storm, Kaleo quarterbacked the Wranglers to an 8-8 record last season in their inaugural campaign.
"John's a very experienced and confident player who will bring a great deal of swagger and leadership to the quarterback position," said Hodgkiss, who has led the Avengers to the playoffs in each of his three years at the helm. "He'll be able to step right in and do great things for us. We expect him to have his best season ever and also be a tremendous asset to us by helping mentor the younger quarterbacks that we'll have on our team."
Morey, who originally signed with the Avengers on Dec. 12, 2002, has yet to play in the AFL. He played in every game for the Philadelphia Eagles last season and is currently playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. An excellent special teams player, Morey also played in two games for the New England Patriots in 1999.
The Avengers will be the ninth team Kaleo has played for in his 12 seasons in the AFL. He ranks among the all-time greats in league history with 26,078 passing yards (No. 6 on the AFL career chart), 425 touchdowns (No. 5), 3,625 attempts (No. 6) and 2,162 completions (No. 5). Kaleo has also rushed for 44 scores in his AFL career (No. 11).
When the Avengers open training camp on Dec. 29, Kaleo will be the favorite to fill the shoes of Tony Graziani, who was L.A.'s starting quarterback for the past three seasons before signing a free-agent contract with the Philadelphia Soul on Oct 11.
"Replacing Tony Graziani was a priority and a concern for us," Hodgkiss said. "We have now filled that need and will move forward, working within the salary cap structure for the upcoming season, to set ourselves up for some long-term success.
"We have some of the most talented receivers in the league and run a very quarterback-friendly system," Hodgkiss added. "John has continued to improve over the course of his great career and will put up similar numbers to the quarterbacks that I have coached in the past."
Kaleo (6-foot, 205 pounds) signed a two-year free-agent contract with the Wranglers on Oct. 22, 2003, only four months after the Storm won ArenaBowl XVII. In 2004, Kaleo completed 352-of-565 for 4,020 yards and 80 touchdowns (with only 11 interceptions). He played against the Avengers last season, passing for 387 yards and seven scores, in an 81-70 loss at STAPLES Center.
During his ArenaBowl championship season with the Storm in 2003, Kaleo was 316-of-508 for 4,188 yards and 75 touchdowns, setting new Tampa Bay single-season records in each of those categories.
No stranger to the Southland, Kaleo played six games for the Anaheim Piranhas in 1997, throwing for 18 scores and running for 10 others. In addition to the Wranglers, Storm and Piranhas, he has also played for the New England Sea Wolves, San Jose SaberCats, St. Louis Stampede, Cleveland Thunderbolts and Albany Firebirds. Furthermore, the Milwaukee Mustangs, New Jersey Red Dogs and Memphis Pharaohs each held Kaleo's rights for a brief time due to trades and drafts.
"I'm very happy about this situation, coming to a class organization such as the Avengers," Kaleo said. "Casey Wasserman is the epitome of what an owner should be in the new shape of the AFL and where it is headed in the future. Now, I have to come in and produce, pick up where Tony Graziani left off and hopefully propel the team further in the playoffs and go for the championship."
At the University of Maryland, Kaleo set single-season Terrapin records as a senior in 1992, passing for 3,392 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also ran for five additional scores and led the Atlantic Coast Conference in total offense. That performance earned Kaleo Maryland's "Offensive Player of the Year" and "Most Valuable Player" trophies. Following the 1992 season, he played in the Blue-Gray Classic and was selected as the game's "Most Valuable Player" after throwing two touchdown passes.
Before transferring to Maryland, he played two seasons at Montgomery College (Rockville, Md.), where he was the 1990 JUCO Player of the Year after leading the Knights to an undefeated season, passing for 2,963 yards and 32 touchdowns, with only four interceptions. As a freshman in 1989, Kaleo threw eight touchdown passes in four games, before breaking his thumb. He was inducted into the Montgomery College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998.
Kaleo returned to Maryland and earned his degree in criminology in 1994.
Born in Washington D.C. on Feb. 5, 1971, Kaleo grew up in Davidsonville, Md., and graduated from Bowie (Md.) High School. He currently resides in Tampa, Fla., with his wife, Jamie, and their two sons, Parker and Carson.
The Avengers went 9-7 this past season and qualified for the ArenaBowl Playoffs for the third consecutive year. Los Angeles led the AFL in scoring (56.5 points per game) and averaged 12,590 fans at STAPLES Center for eight home games.
Fifty dollar deposits for 2005 Avenger season tickets are now being accepted at 1-888-AVENGERS or online at www.laavengers.com.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from November 2, 2004
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- L.A. Avengers trade for quarterback John Kaleo - Los Angeles Avengers
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