Big recruiting weekend for Preds
October 1, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release
ORLANDO -- The most frequently asked questions from the casual Arena Football League fans often include "Where do you get your players from?" and "Is there a draft?" The answer to the first question is "The NFL waiver wire" and because of this, holding a draft of eligible players on the league level is not feasible. The end result means that Arena Football League teams like the Orlando Predators must "recruit" players.
"It's really not a whole lot different from the college system," Predators Assistant Head Coach and Director of Player Personnel Bret Munsey said. "With the salary cap, most teams have the same payroll, so the trick becomes convincing a great player that he is better off in Orlando than the other AFL cities."
"Things like the personalities of the head coach and his assistants, the front office, what type of city it is to live in, what type of fan support you have and what are the prospects of competing for a championship all become important factors in the equation," Munsey said.
And just as colleges have big recruiting weekends, the Predators are following that format for the first time this weekend -- when they will bring in 15-20 potential players to town on Oct. 2-3 for a private workout and possible contract discussions.
"These are some of the top skill players from the NFL waiver wire, AFL free agents and af2 free agents that we have been targeting since we've been able to talk with free agents," Munsey said. "In the past, we would bring some guys in individually and other times we often would just negotiate and sign with them via phone and overnight mail with no face to face meetings. This year, we thought it might be beneficial to bring them in as a group, work them out and let them see what Orlando and the Predators organization is all about."
The team currently has 16 players under contract for the 2005 season, including "Ironman of the Year" Cory Fleming, "Defensive Player of the Year" Kenny McEntyre, "Kicker of the Year" Jay Taylor, defensive specialist Damon Mason and key linemen EJ Burt, Reggie Lee and Justin Cleveland.
The Predators can bring up to 35 players to training camp in January and must get down to 24 players by opening week.
In addition to the recruiting weekend planned, the Predators will hold two open tryouts on Oct. 23 and Dec. 4 at the Citrus Bowl. The team is guaranteeing at least one player from those two camps will be signed and given a $500 signing bonus..
Last year, WR/DB Lin-J Shell attended the open tryout camp and was signed and eventually made the Predators 24-man roster.
"You work hard to find players, but there's always that one player that comes out of nowhere," Munsey added. "That's why we pay so much attention to our free agent camps. You just never know where you are going to find players."
Athletes interested in the free agent tryout camp can obtain more information on www.orlandopredators.com or by calling 407-44-PREDS.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 1, 2004
- Crush sign two-time Kicker of the Year Clay Rush - Colorado Crush
- Georgia Force sign top free agents on first day - Georgia Force
- Columbus Destroyers sign three former Buckeyes as free agency begins - Columbus Destroyers
- Colorado Crush to hold Crush Girls audition - Colorado Crush
- Wranglers set open tryout date - Austin Wranglers
- Big recruiting weekend for Preds - Orlando Predators
- Free agent signing period opens today - AFL I
- Wranglers bring back Briggs and Pesavento, sign Hurst - Austin Wranglers
- Rampage Sign Avery, Anes and Coleman - Grand Rapids Rampage
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