af2 Single Game Sack Leader Headed to NFL Europe
January 23, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa â Quad City Steamwheelers former defensive specialist Asa Francis is still a little surprised right now. After passing a physical on Tues., Francis signed a contract with the Buffalo Bills to play in NFL Europe this spring.
The 6'3" 225 lbs. Francis tried out with the Bills shortly after the conclusion of the 2003 Steamwheelers 14-3 National Conference championship season. Steamwheelers head coach Rich Ingold set up the tryout.
Ingold called Bills President/General Manager Tom Donahoe and told him of Francis' potential. "I told him that I had a prospect for him," Ingold said. "Ten minutes later, Donahoe had Director of Pro Personnel John Guy on the phone with me and Asa was on a plane the next day.
"I feel fortunate that Donahoe respects my opinion and Asa is the type of guy that I felt that I could recommend knowing he would go there and give it a great shot."
So Francis was off to Buffalo, N.Y. in hopes of earning a spot with the Bills. After the two-day tryout, the Bills informed Francis that they would be in touch, usually not the words that players want to hear.
"With the season that Asa had last season coming off the rush end and I thought that he deserved the chance," Ingold said.
As the months went by, Francis had not heard anything, so he thought that nothing would come of it. Francis went about his normal life in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. and made a quick stop in the Quad Cities during that span.
Then early last week, the phone rang at Francis' house. On the other end was the Bills. They flew Francis in for a physical and once he cleared that, he officially signed with the team on Wednesday morning.
"I was shocked," Francis said. "I didn't think that I was going to hear from them ever again."
According to Francis' agent, Martin Prince, the NFL Players Association should have received the contract on Thurs. By rule, all NFL teams must send a copy of all contracts to the NFLPA within 24 hours of the player signing.
Francis will now wait for the Feb. 8 draft to find out where he is going. Once he finds out where he is playing, he must report to camp, in Europe, by Feb. 29. The NFL Europe season opens on April 3.
Francis, who joined the Steamwheelers in 2003 as a fullback/linebacker, finished the season with 41.5 tackles (31 solo), 14.5 going for a loss of 96 yards. Francis added a 17-yard interception returned for a touchdown, two pass breakups and four forced fumbles.
After playing the first nine games at fullback/linebacker, Francis suggested to Ingold that he move to defensive specialist. Francis felt that the team would be better off if he could concentrate on just defense.
Ingold agreed and moved Francis to rush end. The move would prove to work out perfectly. In his third game at defensive specialist, Francis set an af2 single-game record for sacks when he got after Hawaiian Islanders quarterback Mike Tillis five times.
"That was big," Francis said of the move to defensive specialist. "I got to do what I wanted to do and it really helped the team out."
Four players recently held the record of 4.5 sacks, with the most recent coming from Cape Fear Wildcats E.J. Burt on July 8, 2002, against the Albany Conquest.
The New Mexico Military Institute graduate Francis received ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors for that games performance. He won the award two weeks later for his performance at home against San Diego. Francis had 4.5 tackles (three solo), three for a loss of 11 yards. He also had two sacks for losses of nine yards to earn the honor.
Due to Francis' size, he was smaller than most Arena Football League fullback/linebackers and most AFL teams reserve the defensive specialist spot for their safeties. So the opportunity to play in NFL Europe could not have worked out better for Francis.
"I have always said from day one that he is more of an outdoor guy, it's great to see the accolades he received last year has given him the chance to compete at the highest level," Ingold said. "He's just has to be able to adjust to the outdoor game, which he has been away from in a while."
"This is a big opportunity," Francis said. "I am real happy that I am getting to put the pads on at the highest level of professional football. This is my chance to prove to everybody what I know in my heart I can do and I am excited to prove that. Talk is cheap."
NFL Europe (NFLE) is a developmental league for the National Football League. The league is composed of six teams: Amsterdam Admirals, Rhein Fire, Cologne, Franfurt Galaxy, Berlin Thunder and Scottish Claymores. The season kicks off on April 3 with the 10-week regular season concluding on June 6. World Bowl XII will be held a week later on June 12.
Players who are productive in the NFLE typically move back to the NFL, in Francis' case, Buffalo, at the conclusion of overseas play.
The arenafootball2 league is in its Fifth Anniversary season and serves as the AFL's developmental league. The arenafootball2 (af2) league consists of 26 teams in small- to medium-sized markets with the purpose of training players, coaches and officials for higher levels of football. Several former af2 coaches have joined AFL teams and more than 175 players have advanced to the AFL over the past three years.
The Steamwheelers are gearing up for their Fifth Anniversary season as well, as they are one of the charter members of the league. Season tickets are currently on sale starting as low as $54. Fans looking to purchase season tickets may contact Steamwheelers Director of Ticket Sales Brian Forth at 563-324-4888 or toll free at 1-866-STEAMTIX.
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