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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

AFL Q&A: Arizona's Sherdrick Bonner and New York\'s Aaron Garcia

February 24, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


Two of greatest AFL quarterbacks of all-time and former teammates – Arizona's SHERDRICK BONNER and New York's AARON GARCIA – face off in the "SnakePit" this Sunday on NBC (3 p.m. ET) when the Rattlers host the Dragons at America West Arena.

Bonner and Garcia both rank among the top five in all career-passing categories. They are two of only three pro football passers to surpass 500 career touchdowns (Detroit's ANDY KELLY has passed for 560 scores). Now in his 10th AFL season, Garcia has passed for the most touchdowns by any player in pro football history – 561. He is the only quarterback in pro football to pass for 100-or-more touchdowns in a single season, accomplishing the feat twice, in 2001 (104) and in 2003 (100). Bonner, in his 11th season, ranks third on the all-time list with 543.

Bonner, who joined the Arizona roster in 1993, was the Rattlers starting quarterback in 1994 and guided his team to ArenaBowl VIII championship over the Orlando Predators. Bonner joined the NFL's Miami Dolphins during the offseason and the Rattlers brought in Garcia, who earned the starting position for the 1995 season. Bonner returned to Rattlers that same season and was slated as No. 2, behind Garcia, on the depth chart. But when Garcia went down with an injury, Bonner stepped in as the Rattlers headed into the playoffs. Garcia was traded the following season, but has found his home with the Dragons, shattering numerous AFL records along the way. Bonner has since led the Rattlers to the playoffs every season, including three ArenaBowl appearances (1997, 2002, 2003) and a second ArenaBowl title in 1997.

Bonner's all-time record when facing Garcia is 4-2. The last time these two profilic passers met on the field was on July 14, 2001, when Garcia and the Dragons claimed a victory to sweep a two-game regular-season series against Bonner and the Rattlers.

Both passers conducted the following Q&A together:

Q: Aaron, talk about breaking into the AFL with Sherdrick in 1995. What was that experience like? GARCIA: Wow, I don't even know if I can talk about that! Sherdrick was a big help to me, he taught me how to be a professional. I'm talking about both on and off the field. In certain types of situations, you really need to know how to get rid of the ball and that was something I was able to learn from him.

Q: Sherdrick, what parallels, if any, do you see in your respective careers? BONNER: (Aaron) has just taken the game to a whole different level. He's up there with (San Jose quarterback) MARK GRIEB and those types of guys that have been around. He's breaking tons of records now, and he is just playing on an astronomical level. I think he's just taking any little thing I may have helped him with and figuring it out himself. I give him credit as one of the top quarterbacks in the League.

Q: What are the qualities that each other possess that make him one of the top all-time passers in AFL history? How do you stop him? GARCIA: There are a couple things, but one thing is his quick release, which is very necessary in this League, probably more than any other. The other thing is his relationship with other people. He brings people around him to a higher level also. I really don't like talking this good about him, you know that, right?

BONNER: I don't think you can stop him; you've got to just work on stopping other people. The first thing is that he is tenacious. He has this fire in him. He's very successful and with his ability and that ‘no-fear' attitude, it makes him very tough to deal with. He is one of the toughest quarterbacks in the League.

Q: What was the most memorable moment from the 1995 season when the two of you were with the Rattlers? BONNER: We learned how to be on a team. We were really close teammates and we were very close to our team and Aaron has gone on to other teams and taken those same kinds of qualities of having a team that's really close. I think you just do a lot better in certain situations and cities with teams. We were so close, we worked hard and we played hard. That was the most memorable thing for me.

GARCIA: For me, often when you have two quarterbacks, it can get competitive. It can be a difficult situation. Sherdrick and I hit it off right from the start and we had a friendship more than anything. I think that when we are both done playing, that's the kind of thing that will mean more to me than anything else. In ‘95, we were just having a good time together and working hard and trying to be the best quarterbacks we could be.

Q: What are some things that you do to stay on top of your game? BONNER: I work out four days a week with a coach in the morning before I go to practice, and that's pretty crucial. It's hard work but it keeps us ready and it helped a lot with last year's team. I have to keep my body in shape because when you get old, you have to do that kind of thing to stay healthy. It's a lot of strength and conditioning.

GARCIA: I try to stay in the weight room and get cardio in everyday and just try to get through little injuries, bumps and bruises that come with this game. There's also mental rehearsal for me. This game is so quick, there's really no time in a live game situation to think about things. You really have to know what you're going to do.

Q: Coming from 100-yard football to the AFL, what is the one thing about the AFL that you think gets overlooked or is the biggest surprise as a player? BONNER: The ability of the athletes. These guys are tremendous athletes. A lot of guys in our league could go play in the NFL, but I don't think a lot of the guys from the NFL can play in the AFL. It's a tough game and it's tough to play both ways. The quality of athletes in this league is overlooked.

GARCIA: The increased pressure to execute and score all the time in the AFL and not make mistakes all game long. On the 100-yard field, you can play not to make a mistake or you can play for field position. In the AFL, you can score on all possessions and still lose the game.

Q: What traits are a must for an AFL quarterback? BONNER: I think patience and a quick-release. It's a game that is going to humble you, so you just have to be patient and be able to learn from your mistakes and adapt to different situations.

GARCIA: I think all AFL quarterbacks should possess quick decision-making abilities as well as mental and physical toughness.

Q: When was the first time you ever played football? BONNER: My junior year in high school (in Azusa, Calif.). I actually played wide receiver.

GARCIA. I started my freshman year in high school (at Grant High School in Sacramento, Calif.). I played quarterback once coaches figured out that I couldn't tackle anybody.

Q: Which AFL arena do you think is the toughest to play in? BONNER: I think Tampa (St. Pete Times Forum) is very tough. San Jose (HP Pavilion) is really tough, but the toughest one ever was really in Des Moines, Iowa – ‘the Barn.'

GARCIA: America West Arena. They have some of the best fans – they're loud and they always pack the house. Rattler fans really understand the game and get into it.

Q: Who is the toughest AFL player you've faced in your career? Why? BONNER: I think overall, it would have to be (San Jose DS/KR) CLEVAN THOMAS. He's so good at what he does. He changes his game, so I think he is just the toughest guy I've faced.

GARCIA: I'd say (Chicago OL/DL) JAMES BARON. He has the ability to really control the line of scrimmage and to take over a game.

Q: What two AFL teams would you like to see in the ArenaBowl this year? BONNER: It would be nice if we could keep it a conference thing, so I would say Arizona and L.A.

GARCIA: New York and L.A.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 24, 2004


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