Double trouble

Published on May 13, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release


ORLANDO, Fla. (May 13, 2004) -- This is not how Orlando Predators Head Coach Jay Gruden envisioned preparing his team for a stretch run to make the playoffs. On Thursday, Gruden learned that offensive specialist Travis McGriff and WR/DB Sean Riley, the team's second and fourth leading receivers, would be lost for an extended period of time – perhaps for the rest of the season – because of injuries sustained during last Sunday's 45-40 win over New Orleans.

McGriff, who missed the first six games of the 2004 season with a hamstring injury, suffered a torn ulna collateral ligament in his left thumb while tackling VooDoo defensive specialist Calvin Coleman after an interception. He remained in the game and caught a 21-yard touchdown pass, which provided the winning margin for the Predators.

He underwent an MRI by team physicians on Tuesday and saw a hand specialist on Wednesday. Both confirmed the need for surgery, with an estimated 2-6 weeks of recovery time. The Predators have three regular season games remaining.

"It's an injury that will require immediate surgery," Head Trainer Kevin Mercuri said. "In order for Travis to regain full range of motion of his thumb, the ligament must be reattached immediately. Recovery time is based on the severity of the tear and athlete's individual recovery time. Many athletes are able to play with a cast after this type of injury, but for a wide receiver, that's not really an option."

McGriff was the Predators second leading receiver with 473 yards and 12 touchdowns, despite missing almost half the season with a hamstring injury. His totals included 34 receptions for 473 yards (13.9 avg.) to go with 468 yards on kickoff returns and an additional touchdown. He was averaging more than 139 all-purpose yards per game.

"Obviously this is a serious setback for our team," Gruden said. "When Travis returned, we started playing a lot better -- winning five of seven games. Injuries are a part of the game and it's going to be important for someone to step up and fill the void."

That void will not be filled by Riley, who ran back kickoffs for the Predators when McGriff missed the first half of the season. Riley suffered a severe right ankle sprain and will miss at least the next two games and possibly the rest of the season. Riley had 240 yards and four touchdowns on 15 receptions. He was the team's deep threat, averaging 16 yards per reception and also had 146 yards on kickoff returns.

Riley was placed on the team's injured reserve list on Tuesday and is not eligible to play until the team's regular-season finale against Los Angeles on May 23.

The latest rash of injuries could not have come at a worse time for the Predators. After a 3-5 start, Orlando has won four of their last five games to move into a tie for the eighth and final playoff spot. But the Predators lost leading rusher Marlon Moye-Moore to a season-ending knee injury on Apr. 25 and the team's leading sack leader and two-time All-Arena selection Jermaine Smith has missed the last two games with a knee injury. In addition, hamstring injuries have caused WR/LB James Bowden and DS Michael Brown to miss the last five and eight games, respectively and rookie WR/DB Lin-J Shell missed last week's game with a bad shoulder. Bowden, Shell and Brown are not expected back this week; while Smith is questionable.

"Right now, we are dangerously thin at wide receiver," Gruden added. "We are down to two healthy receivers in Bret Cooper and Cory Fleming and we have to find them some help."

That help could come from AFL rookie Anthony Bright, who is expected to re-sign with the Predators today. The 6-1, 170-lb., speedster played two seasons in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers (2001-02) and went to camp with both the Houston Texas last year and was signed in the pre-season by the Predators. He played two years of "arenafootball2," catching 168 passes for 2547 yards and 53 touchdowns for the Jacksonville Tomcats. He was waived in the pre-season by the Predators.

"Anthony is an incredibly gifted athlete," Gruden said. "He also had a bad hamstring before the start of training camp and never had an opportunity to show us what he could do."

Bright is one of the fastest players ever signed by the Predators. He did not play college football, opting instead to attend Valencia CC in Orlando on a basketball scholarship. Just 27-years-old, Bright is in his sixth season of professional football, having signed with the Houston Marshalls of the Spring Football League after his sophomore season at Valencia.

Orlando, 7-6, will face the Austin Wranglers, 8-5, in a key Southern Division match-up on Sunday at 3 p.m. (Radio: WQTM 740 AM). The team will then face New York at home on May 23 and Los Angeles on the road. All three of the Predators final opponents are currently in the top eight, meaning the Predators control their own destiny. "Win out and we're in," Gruden added. "We are taking these games one at time and everyone has a playoff atmosphere to it."

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