Cobras Make Roster Moves as They Gear Up for Georgia Force
April 24, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Carolina Cobras News Release
RALEIGH, N.C. (April 24, 2002)- The Carolina Cobras tweaked their roster on Wednesday as they prepare for a visit to Atlanta, Ga. to take on the Georgia Force this Friday, April 26, 7:30 p.m. at Philips Arena. The game can be heard live in the Raleigh area on WRBZ 850 The Buzz Sports Radio with Gary Hahn and Tony Haynes on the call.
The Cobras today re-signed quarterback Lance Funderburk (6-5, 225, Valdosta State), inked lineman Marcus Keyes (6-3, 280, North Alabama) and released lineman Elliott Fortune (6-4, 295, Georgia Tech). Funderburk, who was released following the preseason, rejoined the club on Wednesday. He will join Connell Maynor and Aaron Sparrow as the three quarterbacks on the Cobras 24-man roster. Sparrow, who started the Cobras season-opener last week versus Dallas, is suffering from a bruised sternum and shoulder and is listed as questionable for Friday's Southern Division game versus the Force.
Funderburk entered the 2002 season as the Cobras No. 1 quarterback but dropped to No. 3 after training camp. He played the 2001 season in Carolina as a back-up to Fred McNair, who was traded to the Buffalo Destroyers in the off-season. Last year Funderburk played in all 14 games, mostly as the holder on all placements, but did complete 16 of 24 passes for 243 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions.
Keyes, entering his second season in the AFL, joins the Cobras after being released by the Force on April 15. He played the 2001 season with the Florida Bobcats, where he played in 13 games and totaled 8.0 tackles and an interception from his defensive end position. After a stellar career at NCAA Division II North Alabama, he was drafted by the NFL Chicago Bears in 1995 and spent two seasons in the Windy City.
Carolina will open Southern Division play on Friday against Georgia. The Force, who relocated from Nashville to Atlanta this off-season, will be playing their second home game in a row. Friday's game will be the first road contest of the season for Carolina (0-1). The third-year Cobras have struggled away from home over the past two seasons, finishing with a 3-11 (.214) mark away from the Entertainment & Sports Arena. Carolina is 3-4 all-time in the month of April, including a 57-44 loss last week to the expansion Dallas Desperados at the ESA. Georgia (1-0) knocked off the Orlando Predators, 67-49, in their season-opener last week in Atlanta.
The Cobras return home to the ESA to take on the Tampa Bay Storm next Saturday, May 4, 7 p.m. at the Entertainment & Sports Arena. For ticket information call 1-877-4-COBRAS or log on to www.cobrasfootball.com.
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