Firebirds Sign Veteran Defensive Back
Published on October 30, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Albany/Indiana Firebirds News Release
INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Firebirds announced today that they have come to terms with free-agent defensive back Scotty Lindsey. Lindsay has played three years in the Arena Football League, spending last season with the Georgia Force as a defensive specialist.
Lindsay is a three-year veteran of the AFL, playing two years (2002-03) for the Force after spending one (2001) with the Houston Thunderbears. He finished last season strong as a defensive specialist for (8-8) Georgia and helped them to the quarterfinals of the 2003 ArenaBowl playoffs. In the season finale against Tampa Bay, Lindsey recorded a game-high 10.5 tackles and two pass deflections. During the two playoff games he picked up 12.0 total tackles and two passes defended.
Lindsey finished the 2003 season with 46.0 tackles, three interceptions, nine pass deflections and one forced fumble. During his rookie season with Houston, he recorded 39.0 tackles, 11 pass deflections, one forced fumble and one recovery. He was inactive for the majority of 2002, but picked up 4.5 tackles and a pass deflection in limited action. Lindsey came to the AFL after leading Stephen F. Austin to the Southland Football League championship as a cornerback. During his senior season, the Houston, TX native started all 11 games, recording 45 tackles (27 unassisted), two interceptions, six pass deflections and one fumble recovery.
The Firebirds have also signed two free-agent rookies that played in arenafootball2 in 2002, WR/LB Mel Long and FB/LB Rashon Burns. Long was a 2nd Team All-af2 American Conference selection at WR/LB for the Mohegan Wolves, where he played under Indiana Assistant Head Coach Mark Stoute. Long led the Wolves in receptions (81), receiving yards (1,277), touchdowns (29) and scoring (180 pts). Long played for University of Toledo and finished as the school's all-time leader in receptions (175), receiving yards (2,188) and touchdown receptions (21). Long caught at least one pass in every game of his career (46 straight games) for the Rockets. Long is the son of Melvin Long, Sr., who played defensive line for Toledo and is the first consensus All-American in MAC conference history and the school's only College Football hall of Fame representative.
Burns played last season with the Albany Conquest, after spending part of the 2003 training camp with the Firebirds. He played WR/LB/FB and DE, seeing action in nine games for the Northeast Division champions and recording six total touchdowns (five rush, one rec.). Burns was a stand-out tight end during his senior season at East Carolina University, before being named the #18 tight end of the 2001 NFL Draft. In his final two seasons for the Pirates, Burns made the most of his first "real" opportunity after being shuffled around between linebacker, H-Back and fullback. That season he recorded 45 catches for 482 yards including five for touchdowns.
Firebirds' season tickets for the 2004 season are on sale now and can be purchased by calling a Firebirds' ticket representative at 317.472.8080. Firebirds merchandise is also available at Home Court Gift Shop. For merchandise information, please call 317.917.2755.
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