Brigade adds four from pro ranks as staff continues to mold roster

Published on October 18, 2006 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Kansas City Brigade News Release


Kansas City, Mo. (Oct. 18) - It appears that the 2007 version of the Brigade will be as new to fans as the inaugural version was last season. The team on Wednesday announced the addition of four more free agents: wide receiver Talman Gardner and linemen Dan Koons, Damien Bauman and Stan Primus. The total for the Brigade in free agency now comes to 11 after the signing of seven players last week.

"These guys are players we've targeted because they have what we want for next season," head coach Kevin Porter said. "They will help us get better in every phase of the game."

Gardner (6-1, 210 lbs.) brings to the team two years of NFL experience with the New Orleans Saints. A seventh-round pick (231st overall) by the Saints in the 2003 NFL Draft, Gardner spent time on the practice squad as a rookie before making the active roster and appearing in 10 games with one start. He played in 11 games with one start in 2004 and became a valuable member of the special teams unit. Gardner played in the preseason in 2005 before being released and then joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.

"It feels great to get an opportunity to show my skills and help the team win," Gardner said. "Coach Porter is letting me compete for a job and it feels like a blessing. I just want to get in a rhythm with the quarterbacks and show what I can do."

A Parade All-American and USA Today All-USA Second Team selection out of New Orleans McDonough High School, Gardner had a stellar four-year career at Florida State. He won a national championship in 1999 with current Arizona Cardinals star Anquan Boldin and Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke. Garnder is 10th on the Seminoles career touchdowns list with 19 and is fifth on the single-season touchdowns list with 11.

Koons (6-3, 310 lbs.) joins the Brigade for his third season in the AFL after a two-year stint with the Philadelphia Soul. He appeared in eight games for the Soul at center and nose guard in 2006 and 15 games in 2005. Koons signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2004 and was released during training camp.

""I'm thankful for the opportunity to come and compete for a starting job," Koons said. "This is a new franchise and it should be very exciting. I come from Philadelphia where they had a good following from their fans and I look forward to playing in Kansas City. I've been waiting for an opportunity and this is it."

A three-year starter at center for the University of Louisville, he anchored a line that protected quarterback Dave Ragone, who won three consecutive Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year awards. Koons and the Cardinals went 11-2 in 2001 to claim the conference title.

Primus (6-4, 315 lbs.) moves up to the AFL after one season with the Tennessee Valley Vipers of af2. He played in seven games for the Vipers last season and returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown in his first appearance of the season.

Primus was an NJCAA Second Team All-American in 2002 at Nassau Community College where he did not allow a sack in 23 career starts. He transferred to Temple University and played two seasons, finishing his collegiate career in 2005.

Bauman (6-3, 300 lbs.) makes the jump to the AFL after a solid four-year career with the Omaha Beef of the National Indoor Football League and the Sioux City Bandits of the United Indoor Football League. He went to training camp with the New York Dragons in 2006. Bauman played tight end at the University of Nebraska.

"I'm glad they're bringing me in," Bauman said. "I think we're piecing together something that gives us a shot to compete and I'm glad to be a part of it."

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 18, 2006


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