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AFL Veteran Taplin Assigned, Bady Acquired From Green Bay

May 13, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Lightning have been assigned WR/DB Justin Taplin and acquired DB Lawrence Bady from the Green Bay Blizzard in exchange for future considerations, Head Coach Doug Murray announced today.

Bady was officially placed on the team's "refused to report" list (travel).

"Just represents the changeover and makeover of our football team as we try to get better at a quicker pace," said Murray. "His height creates a lot of match-up problems and he's a well-known player who will bring a lot of credibility to our offense."

Taplin, who turns 29 on May 22, has spent four years (2004-07) of his Arena Football League career with the Arizona Rattlers, Utah Blaze and Georgia Force, registering 31 receptions, 377 career receiving yards and eight touchdown receptions. The Tempe, Ariz. native proved effective on the defensive side of the ball, tallying 43 career tackles and two interceptions. In 2006, Taplin recorded a career-high 29 tackles and three pass breakups with Utah and helped guide the team to an Arena Bowl playoff berth. Additionally, Taplin was part of a 2004 Rattlers team that advanced to Arena Bowl XVIII.

The 6-foot, 185-pound receiver and defensive back spent four years (1998-2002) of his college football career with Arizona State University (NCAA), appearing in 40 career games for the Sun Devils while tallying 499 receiving yards, 31 receptions, four touchdown catches and 349 return yards. Taplin led Arizona State with 157 punt return yards as a 2001 junior and ranked fifth in the Pac-10 Conference with 8.7 yards per punt return.

Bady, 25, appeared in one game for Green Bay, registering two catches and 15 receiving yards while posting two tackles on the defensive side. The Vacaville, Calif. native previously competed at Boise State University (NCAA) during his college football career, ranking third on the Broncos with 30 receptions and 466 receiving yards as a 2004 senior while adding one touchdown catch. Bady spent his high school football career at local Will C. Wood High in Vacaville.

"Lawrence comes as a highly-recommended talent," said Murray. "We're hoping his return to a local scene can create a higher comfort level with him. He's already familiar with a lot of our players which should make for an easy transition into our system."

The Lightning return to play at home with a Week 8 matchup against the Amarillo Dusters, beginning at 7:00 p.m. from Stockton Arena on Saturday, May 17. The game can be heard on radio at 1420-AM KSTN and seen online, free-of-charge, through www.stocktonlightning.com (courtesy of NifTy Online TV).

Season tickets and individual tickets for the 2008 Lightning regular season are on sale now. For more information on season tickets, merchandise, or other information, please call the Lightning at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonlightning.com.

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