Firebirds' Bech out for Season
March 20, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Albany/Indiana Firebirds News Release
INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Firebirds of the Arena Football League announced that wide receiver/linebacker Brett Bech will miss the remainder of the 2003 season with a torn left rotator cuff, an injury that he sustained on February 23rd versus the Arizona Rattlers.
Bech had season-ending surgery Thursday afternoon in Birmingham, Alabama. Bech's surgery was performed by world-renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, who is internationally known for his scientific and clinical research contributions in knee, shoulder, and elbow injuries and is sought out by some of the world's greatest athletes for his expertise in athletic injuries. His recovery time is an estimated four to six months.
Bech initially injured his shoulder during week-three's contest versus the Chicago Rush and suffered further damage the following week versus Arizona. He was placed on the team's injured reserve list on February 28th and has missed the Firebirds' last three games against Colorado, Orlando, and Los Angeles.
Prior to the injury, Bech was the Firebirds' second-leading receiver with 21 receptions for 252 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, he recorded 3.5 tackles and was tied for a team-high with two interceptions. A late-season addition a year ago, Bech was in his second season with the Firebirds having accumulated 40 catches for 562 yards and eight touchdowns in only seven games played in a Firebirds' uniform.
The Firebirds are back in action on Sunday afternoon when they welcome the Tampa Bay Storm into Conseco Fieldhouse for a meeting of two of the oldest teams in the Arena Football League. Kickoff is slated for 12:00 noon with doors scheduled to open at 10:30 am. The game can be heard on the Firebirds' Radio Network, which includes ESPN Radio 950 AM, WPZZ 95.9 FM "The Point", ESPN Radio 1130 (Brazil), and ESPN Radio 1300 (Terre Haute).
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