Avengers sign offensive lineman C.J. Blomvall
Published on January 10, 2008 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release
LOS ANGELES -- Offensive lineman Carl-Johan Blomvall, who played two seasons with the Hamburg Sea Devils of NFL Europa, signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Avengers on Thursday.
"In looking at NFL Europa tape, we were impressed with Blomvall and brought him in for a workout, and he did extremely well," Avenger head coach Ed Hodgkiss said. "He's a physical player with a great deal of toughness and we feel like he has the versatility to play all three offensive line positions, guard, center and tight end."
After the Sea Devils won World Bowl XV with a 37-28 victory over the Frankfurt Galaxy, Blomvall (6-foot-2, 305 pounds) was signed by the Green Bay Packers on July 28, 2007, but was released just prior to the start of the regular season.
A native of Sweden, Blomvall was a two-year starter at Temple University (Philadelphia, Pa.), where he served as team captain as a senior in 2004.
Prior to his arrival in the United States, he served in the Swedish Marine Corps in 1999, and was stationed in Stockholm.
On Thursday, the Avengers also announced the release of four players, including wide receiver Lenzie Jackson, who caught 83 passes for 903 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.
"In the salary cap era, it's unfortunate that sometimes we have to let go of players who have been very important to our success," Hodgkiss said. "We wish them the best of luck."
Jackson, a four-year AFL veteran who also played three seasons in the NFL (1999-2001), was with the Avengers for the past two seasons.
The other three players released were wide receiver Nichiren Flowers, linebacker Michael Craven and wide receiver Chris Doering.
Flowers (6-2, 205, Nevada) played in only two games last season as an AFL rookie, catching six passes for 125 yards and one touchdown. Craven (6-1, 235, Stanford), who was also a rookie in 2007, played in just one game and had four tackles. Doering (6-4, 200, Florida), a veteran of five NFL seasons, never played for the Avengers after being acquired in 2004 via a draft that dispersed players under contract with the Carolina Cobras.
This past season, the Avengers finished second in the Arena Football League's Western Division, compiling a 9-7 regular-season record before defeating the Utah Blaze, 64-42, at STAPLES Center to register the franchise's first postseason victory.
Avenger 2008 season tickets, which include nine games played at STAPLES Center, are on sale now at 1-888-AVENGERS or www.laavengers.com.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 10, 2008
- Rattlers trade for NFL vet OL Johnathan Ingram - Arizona Rattlers
- Avengers sign offensive lineman C.J. Blomvall - Los Angeles Avengers
- Dragons Mini Camp Underway - New York Dragons
- Avengers set to open training camp at Oaks Stadium on February 4 - Los Angeles Avengers
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