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Extreme Add Four Afl Players

January 20, 2009 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Bloomington Extreme News Release


Bloomington, IL (January 20, 2009) - Bloomington Extreme General Manager Bart Rogers announced today the team has signed four new additions with ties to NFL and Arena Football League to their roster. The signings continue to bolster the Extreme roster up for the 2009 Inaugural Indoor Football Season.

Robert Redd (WR - 5'10", 200) who started his career at Bowling Green State University and finished his NCAA career with the Falcons as the all-time leader in career receptions (211), receptions in a season (83) and career receiving yards (2,686) comes to the Extreme with high flying statistics and 6 years of pro football experience. Redd led his Arena Football team the Cleveland Gladiators last season with 1,523 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. That was good for ninth overall all in receiving in the entire Arena Football League. During his pro career Redd has received time with the Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League in their training camps, as well as one year in the NFLE with Berlin and two years in the AFL with the Colorado Crush and Cleveland Gladiators. The last name Redd is no stranger to professional football as Robert's uncles Ronnie Redd and Ray Redd played in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons.

"Robert Redd is a playmaker as you can see by his past stats in his career," says Extreme Head Coach Kenton Carr. "To get a caliber of player of his nature with those stats in the AFL last season, is a huge step to continuing a winning tradition here with the Extreme. He's going to be a ton of fun for our fans to watch at U.S. Cellular Coliseum this upcoming season and a fun guy for our coaching staff to build plays around."

"After Coming off the year we had last year making it to the UIF Title Game and coming up just short was a great feat in itself for our young franchise," Extreme General Manger Bart Rogers says. "Our coaching staff has worked hard in the off season to take our on field product to a level our fans have never seen before and hopefully to a level to reach our ultimate goal in bringing an IFL Championship Trophy to Bloomington/Normal. Players like Robert Redd, will help lead and set the standards for those returning that they must work that much harder to attain that goal."

John Mohring (LB - 6', 225) comes to the Extreme looking to bolster their defensive side of the ball. This four year Georgia Southern University graduate finished the book on his collegiate career as fifth all time in school history with 302 sacks. He was named to the American Football Coaches Association Division 1-AA All American team in 2006, after finishing third in the Southern Conference with 93 tackles. John participated in rookie mini-camps with the NFL's Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2007. He then moved to the AFL2's Alabama Steeldogs, where he help vault the Steeldogs into the playoffs and led all players with 8.5 tackles in their lone playoff game. Last season he moved up to the Arena Football League and played for the Orlando Predators. John as well comes from a rich NFL heritage where his father John played for the NFL's Cleveland Browns and cousin Mike played for two NFL teams the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers.

"We are thrilled to add John to our defensive core. His speed and hard-nosed style of football is exactly what our fans in Central Illinois pay to see," Carr says. "He's looking forward to being a true linebacker in the IFL and I would hate to be a running back or receiver facing his hits week after week."

Ryan Bowers (DB - 6'1", 210) is no stranger to professional football and the indoor style of play. He comes to Bloomington with 6 years of service to his name with the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL, NFLE Amsterdam in 2005, AFL years of service with Indiana Firebirds, Orlando Predators (ranked 4th on team with 62 tackles) and last season with the Cleveland Gladiators. Bowers also played for the AF2 Green Bay Blizzard posting 102 tackles including 86 solo stops to lead the team. He also finished third overall in the entire AF2 with 10 interceptions for the year and finished runner up for the defensive player of the year in the AF2. The Presbyterian College standout safety lettered all four seasons and as a senior was named to Don Hansen's Football Gazette's All American team.

"The signing of these players along with all the other top players we have signed so far this off-season, shows our commitment to how important it is to not only succeed on the field, but to also put on a great show for our great fans. These players can flat out make plays and lay the hits play after play," Rogers said. "Ryan is a ball hawk and is a tremendous hitter. The experience in the indoor game is so valuable."

Tramain Hall (DB/WR - 5'10", 190) career started at NC State as a Wolfpack. He played three seasons at NC State and ranked sixth in all-time school history with 125 career receptions and 12 touchdown receptions. He was a finalist for the Maxwell Award, which recognizes college football's top receiver of the year. He originally signed with the National Football Leagues Tennessee Titans and entered their training camp in August before being cut. Hall has had stints in NFL camps with the Titans as well as the New Orleans Saints.

"Tramain has tremendous athleticism and ability," Carr says. "NFL guy, who now has a new challenge inside with the indoor football game."

All players have signed standard Indoor Football League contracts and will be in camp starting end of February.

"Having the caliber of players we signed today is taking our on field product up a notch or two for our great fans in Central Illinois." Extreme General Manager Bart Rogers said. "We have more exciting announcements and player signings in the days ahead. Head Coach Carr and Assistant General Manager Ted Schmitz have worked their tails off selling these players on our organization, fan base, arena and area. They all had other options to call home but, chose the IFL for the style of football that is played and the talent level of opponents week after week. We all are very excited to kick off on March 7th and couldn't be happier with how the team is shaping up!"

Extreme season tickets are on sale now. The season tickets include eight home games starting at only $88. Make sure to get your tickets today. This is going to be a season that you will not want to miss...Opening Night is March 7 vs. Saginaw Sting.

To place an order or for more information about season tickets, please contact Kevin James at (309) 434-2658 or kevinjames@uscellularcoliseum.com

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