Five 'Cats garner All-Arena honors
June 25, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. (June 25, 2008) - San Jose SaberCats DB MARQUIS FLOYD, K A.J. HAGLUND and LB STEVE WATSON were named to the 2008 All-Arena First Team while FB BRIAN JOHNSON and DB CLEVAN THOMAS earned Second Team honors, the league announced today.
The accolade is the first end of season award for Floyd, Watson and Johnson while Haglund earned his second after being selected to the All-Arena Second Team as a rookie last year. Thomas has been named to three straight All-Arena teams with First Team honors in 2002, 2003 and 2007 and Second Team tributes in 2006 and 2008.
"Every one of these players is absolutely deserving of what they received," head coach and general manager Darren Arbet iterated. "But each of them understands what our ultimate goal is and that is winning another championship."
Floyd (6-2, 192, West Georgia) started all 16 games in his third season with the SaberCats and compiled a team-high 10 interceptions, which was good for second place among league leaders. He finished the year with a career best in total tackles (79.0), and was selected as the AFL's ADT Player of the Month for May after amassing 5 INTs, 5 PBUs and 33.0 tackles in five games.
Most likely the top candidate for Kicker of the Year honors, Haglund (5-8, 175, Central Oklahoma) was named the league's Kicker of the Month in March, April and May. He matched the AFL record for consecutive made FGs with 12 and set the FG accuracy mark after converting 21-of-25 (84.0) attempts. Haglund also broke his team kick scoring record set in 2007 (158 pts) with 179 points, which is the second-highest total in league history, and established a team record with 59 straight PATs made.
Watson (6-3, 250, SW Missouri State) accumulated the most sacks by any linebacker in the AFL with 9.0 solo takedowns, which tied for the fourth-most among leaders. The second-year player set a team record with 3.0 sacks in Week 14 against Los Angeles. Watson ended the season with 57.5 tackles, 9.0 sacks, 3 FFs and 3 FRs.
Tabbed as one of the league's premier blocking fullbacks, Johnson (6-2, 280, New Mexico) completed his fifth AFL season with San Jose. The former Lobo carried the ball 51 times for 51 yards and 7 TDs. In 12 games played, Johnson also contributed in the receiving category, catching 6 passes for 86 yards and a score.
Thomas (5-10, 199, Florida State) was recently named the ADT Defensive Player of the Month for June after totaling 2 INTs in each of the final two games of the regular season. His season total of 9 INTs moved him into a second place tie with Durwood Roquemore on the AFL all-time interception leaderboard with 50 career picks. Thomas returned a pair of his INTs for scores this year and finished the 16-game season with 84.0 tackles, 18 PBUs, 9 INTs, 3 FFs and 3 FRs.
The SaberCats begin defense of their ArenaBowl title on Saturday, July 5, in a Divisional Round playoff contest against an opponent to be determined. Tickets are available and can be purchased at the HP Pavilion ticket office, all Northern California Ticketmaster locations, by phone at (408) 998-TIXS and online at ticketmaster.com.
A premiere franchise in the Arena Football League, San Jose has won three ArenaBowl championships and captured eight Western Division titles, nine consecutive playoff appearances and owns the league's best regular season record this decade.
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