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Brigade tweaks roster four weeks into season

March 26, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Kansas City Brigade News Release


KANSAS CITY (March 26) - Head coach Kevin Porter and his team left Denver after a Week 2 loss with a bad taste in their mouths. The Brigade beat itself in a 44-40 defeat to the Colorado Crush, reversing some of the positive momentum Kansas City built after beating the defending champion Chicago Rush to open the season. The staff felt changes were necessary to not only strengthen the roster but also keep the team focused on winning each game.

The first move, and the most notable, was the March 14 trade of former K-State quarterback Michael Bishop to the Grand Rapids Rampage, where he started his Arena Football League career. In return, the Brigade received second-year defensive lineman Jerry Turner (6-3, 270 lbs, Tennessee Tech). He previously played for the Las Vegas Gladiators in 2003, starting seven games. Turner also played four seasons in arenafootball2 for the Birmingham Steeldogs and Bakersfield Blitz. He set an af2 record for career sacks (37.5) and is the Steeldogs all-time sack leader (21.5). Turner was the 2006 af2 Lineman of the Year, earning Defensive Player of the Game four times and Defensive Player of the Week once, and led the league and the Blitz in sacks (16).

Also on March 14, the Brigade signed quarterback Jose Davis, wide receiver Ira Gooch and two-way lineman Chad Pegues. The team subsequently waived wide receiver James Jordan, linebacker Robert Douglas, who was previously on Other League Exempt status, and offensive lineman Tyshaun Whitson.

Davis (6-1, 200 lbs, Kent State) is making the fourth stop of his AFL tenure in his fifth season, having previously been with Grand Rapids, the Colorado Crush and the now defunct Indiana Firebirds in 2003. He started three games with Indiana, with six appearances overall, in a familiar role-backing up Brigade starter Raymond Philyaw. He was active for 16 games each in the 2004 and 2005 seasons with Colorado, appearing in nine games overall. Davis' most recent action prior to joining the Brigade came last year with Grand Rapids. He was the starter in the team's first two contests and played in four games overall.

Gooch (6-0, 195 lbs, Central Michigan) has three years of AFL experience, his most recent action coming in 2006 with the Columbus Destroyers, where he played in two games. Gooch played in 11 games and started four with the Austin Wranglers in 2006. Prior to an injury, Gooch achieved career highs in receptions (54), yards (722) and touchdowns (10). Gooch made his AFL debut in 2004 with the New Orleans VooDoo, where Porter was the defensive coordinator, appearing in 10 games. He played in 16 games for the Quad City Steamwheelers of af2 in 2003 and led the team in receiving with 91 catches for 1,465 yards and 37 touchdowns. Gooch also proved to be a valuable kick returner, adding three returns for scores. His 246 points and 2,785 all-purpose yards that season were also team highs. In his 2002 indoor football debut season with the Steamwheelers, Gooch set team and af2 records for all-purpose yards (3,472), combined kick returns (99), total kick return yards (1,576) and missed field goal return yards (317). His 226 points and 37 touchdowns were good for second in the league.

Pegues (6-2, 285 lbs, Illinois State) was with the Brigade for its inaugural season in 2006, appearing in four games with two starts. He started the 2007 season with the New Orleans VooDoo.

The practice squad was adjusted on March 14 as well, with linebacker Joseph Oniwor moving to the active roster to start against the Dallas Desperados in Week 3. Defensive lineman Marquess Ledbetter (6-3, 280 lbs, Utah) and wide receiver Cecil Moore (6-2, 230 lbs, East Tennessee State), both rookies, were signed to the squad after spending time in Brigade training camp. The final addition to the practice squad was quarterback Brett Dietz, who was signed March 15. A rookie, Dietz (6-4, 220 lbs, Hanover) had a prolific 2006 with the Louisville Fire of af2. In leading the team to a 9-7 record and a playoff appearance, Dietz earned Rookie of the Year honors, throwing for 4,217 yards with 90 touchdowns on a 71.2 completion percentage.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 26, 2007


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