Avengers acquire WR-DB Siaha Burley
December 11, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release
LOS ANGELES -- Siaha Burley, a proven star in the Arena Football League who has racked up a total of 4,547 all-purpose yards in the past two seasons, has been acquired by the Los Angeles Avengers in a trade with the Orlando Predators. In exchange for Burley, the Predators will receive a player to be named later, Avenger head coach Ed Hodgkiss announced today.
In a separate transaction, the Avengers also released defensive specialist Mark Ricks, who was with the club for the past two seasons and is the team's all-time leader in interceptions.
No active AFL player has gained more all-purpose yards in the past two years than Burley, who earned AFL All-Rookie honors in 2001 after finishing with 2,719 all-purpose yards (No. 2 in the AFL), despite missing two games and part of a third due to injuries. He led Orlando with 88 catches for 1,135 yards and 26 touchdowns, and topped the league with 1,425 kickoff return yards. In one game versus the Indiana Firebirds, Burley had 371 all-purpose yards (11 receptions for 149 yards and four touchdowns, and nine returns for 222 yards and another score). Last season, he battled injuries once again, but still caught 78 passes for 907 yards and 17 touchdowns on his way to 1,828 all-purpose yards.
Burley (5-foot-10, 185 pounds) has played the offensive specialist spot for most of his AFL career, but will be a wide receiver-defensive back with the Avengers. He played sparingly at that position during his two seasons with the Predators, making a total of nine tackles.
"Siaha gives us another big-time impact player on offense," said Hodgkiss, who led the Avengers to an 8-6 record and No. 5 seed in the AFL playoffs last season in his first year with the club. "We already have (wide receiver-linebacker) Greg Hopkins and (offensive specialist) Chris Jackson, who are both established elite offensive players in this league, and Siaha give us another one. We're looking for him to do some great things at the wide receiver-defensive back spot and provide quality depth at offensive specialist. In addition, we are really excited about him being an explosive kick returner for us."
In two seasons (1997-98) at the University of Central Florida (Orlando, Fla.), Burley was the favorite target of quarterback Daunte Culpepper. As a junior in 1997, he was sixth in the nation in receptions per game and 10th in receiving yards per game. A year later, Burley led the Golden Knights in receptions for the second consecutive season with 88 catches for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns. In 1998, he also was the team's top punt returner, averaged 131 all-purpose yards per game and caught 10 passes for 266 yards in a single contest.
After college, Burley signed a free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins. Later, he participated in training camp with the Seattle Seahawks (1999), St. Louis Rams (2000) and Dallas Cowboys (2001).
Burley attended Westwood High School in Mesa, Ariz., where he was a star on the football, basketball and track & field teams. He was an all-state and all-city selection in football on both offense and defense as a senior in 1994. After graduating from Westwood High, Burley moved on to play two seasons (1995-96) at Mesa (Ariz.) Community College, before transferring to Central Florida.
Ricks (5-10, 175) leaves the Avengers as the franchise's all-time leader in interceptions with nine. In 2001, he made a big splash in his hometown of Los Angeles, picking off eight passes on his way to first team All-Arena honors.
In his seven-year AFL career (with five different teams), Ricks has made 33 interceptions, ranking him at No. 7 in league history. He also has 2,983 yards in kick returns, 379 tackles and 99 pass breakups. Ricks was a football standout at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles and Santa Monica (Calif.) College, before enrolling at Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, Mich.).
Avenger season tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by calling 1-888-AVENGERS or online at www.laavengers.com. The 2003 season kicks off on Sunday, Feb. 2, at STAPLES Center versus the New Jersey Gladiators.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from December 11, 2002
- Condors and Pepsi Team Up for Prize-Winning Promotion - San Jose SaberCats
- SaberCats Sign Coleman and Roe; Re-sign Wagner, Reed and Cobbs - San Jose SaberCats
- Avengers acquire WR-DB Siaha Burley - Los Angeles Avengers
- McEwen Returns, Hall Added to Rampage Coaching Staff - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Pair Sold to Major League Clubs - Portland Forest Dragons
- Carpenter, Jackson Return To Buffalo - Buffalo Destroyers
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