Bironas Inked by AFL's Carolina Cobras
Published on October 27, 2003 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Charleston Swamp Foxes News Release
NORTH CHARLESTON, NC â After spending the NFL preseason in Tampa Bay, the Charleston Swamp Foxes' kicker has landed a full-time position for the rapidly approaching Arena Football season. Rob Bironas signed with the Carolina Cobras on Friday of last week giving the Foxes their second signing of this off-season.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Bironas joined the Swamp Foxes' four games into the 2003 season and had an immediate impact. In 12 games, he set both the single-game and single-season records for field goals, while also becoming the career field goal leader for Charleston. He connected on a record 12-of-27 for the Foxes during the record setting 9-7 season.
Five of Bironas' 12 successful field goals were from 30 yards or longer, including a team-long 45-yard boot in the home win over Columbus. He was also a perfect five-for-five on attempts between 20 and 29 yards. Bironas finished third on the team in scoring, amassing 94 points with his leg.
Bironas most recently spent time on the roster of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL, playing in two games during the 2003 preseason, including kicking on Monday Night Football in St. Louis versus the Rams.
"(Rob) Bironas was a difference maker for us early in the season. He came in and sured up a unsteady position and helped us turn things around after an 0-3 start," said Swamp Foxes' head coach Rik Richards. "In this game, being able to have your kicker place the ball anywhere you want on the nets, forcing your opposition to then play it off the nets is huge.
He added, "Rob (Bironas) is a guy that, again, is too good for this level and it's good to see him getting this opportunity.
After lettering at Auburn, Bironas was a member of Georgia Southern's NCAA Division I-AA National Championship team in 2000. Following his season in Statesboro, GA, the kicker was signed as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers before being released prior to the start of the 2002 season.
The Cobras will begin their fifth season in the Arena Football League when the 2004 campaign kicks off the weekend of February 6-8. The franchise, which moved to Charlotte, NC last year after spending its first three seasons in the state capital of Raleigh, will look to improve on a dismal 0-16 performance last season.
arenafootball2 Stories from October 27, 2003
- Bironas Inked by AFL's Carolina Cobras - Charleston Swamp Foxes
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