Crush re-sign offensive specialist Damian Harrell
July 1, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Colorado Crush News Release
Denver, Colo. - The Colorado Crush have re-signed four key members of their 2005 ArenaBowl Championship team - including 2005 AFL Offensive Player of the Year Damian Harrell, defensive specialist Delvin Hughley and offensive/defensive linemen Hugh Hunter and Maurice Anderson, the team announced today.
"We're very excited as an organization to get four free agents signed," said Colorado Crush head coach Mike Dailey. "Damian Harrell, Hugh Hunter, Delvin Hughley and Maurice Anderson all were instrumental in our championship win. We're excited about having them for the future and I am looking forward to working with them to defend our championship next year."
Harrell (6-3, 200, Florida State) is an original member of the Crush and finished the regular season with 1,486 receiving yards (4th in the AFL) on 122 catches (4th in the AFL). His 41 touchdowns were the second-most in the league, while he ranked second in the league in 3rd-down receptions (24). This season marks the fifth straight that Harrell has finished with over 1,200 receiving yards. For his efforts, Harrell was named both AFL Offensive Player of the Year and All-Arena First Team.
Hughley (5-11, 195, Jacksonville State), a starting DS for the Crush in all 16 regular season games and throughout the playoffs, tied for third in the AFL with 21 pass breakups and ranked second on the Crush with 75.5 tackles to go along with two interceptions. Hughley just completed his third AFL season and is in his second stint with the Crush after leading the team in tackles in its inaugural 2003 campaign before being part of a trade with the Indiana Firebirds that brought head coach Mike Dailey to Colorado.
Hunter (6-2, 265, Hampton) capped off his eighth AFL season, and second in Colorado, with his first ArenaBowl title. Hunter appeared in 12 regular season games for the Crush, totaling 17.0 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and forcing two fumbles while also helping anchor one of the best offensive lines in the league. The former sixth round pick of the New York Jets (168th overall in 1996) spent two seasons each with the AFL's Nashville (1998-99) and Milwaukee (2000-01) franchises before joining Coach Dailey in Indiana (2002-03) and following him to Colorado.
Anderson (6-3, 296, Virginia) saw his first AFL action this season after spending the entire 2004 season on the Crush's injured reserve list with a right knee injury. Anderson played in eight regular season games, registering three tackles and two pass breakups on defensive, and making three catches for 21 yards while playing on the offensive line.
Teams had an exclusive negotiating window with their free agents from the conclusion of the season until 3 p.m. MT today to re-sign their free agents. Free agents not signed prior to the deadline will become unrestricted and cannot be signed until the free-agent signing period begins September 14.
The Crush have three players who remain unsigned and thus will be unrestricted free agents - OL/DL Bryant Shaw, backup quarterback Jose Davis and reserve fullback/linebacker Chad Dukes.
The Colorado Crush won their first ArenaBowl Championship with a 51-48 victory over the Georgia Force in ArenaBowl XIX in Las Vegas on Sunday, June 12.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from July 1, 2005
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- Gladiators re-sign Konopka - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Crush re-sign offensive specialist Damian Harrell - Colorado Crush
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