Gladiators ink seven as AFL free agent signing period begins
Published on October 4, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release
LAS VEGAS, NV, October 4, 2005 - The Las Vegas Gladiators added substantial firepower on the both sides of the ball by inking deals with former ArenaBowl champion FB/LB Matt Kinsinger and defensive specialists Antuan Simmons and Traco Rachal on the first day of the AFL free agent signing period. In addition, the Gladiators re-signed WR/DB TJ Hill and FB/LB Rodney Filer and came to terms with Arena Football 2 ArenaCup Champion QB Brian Jones and OS Kevin Prentiss. Per club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
"Adding these talented football players to our roster is the first step in putting a competitive football team on the field in 2006," stated Head Coach Ron James. "These are the first of several signings that will fill holes and add to what we believe will be a strong contender in the AFL Western Division."
Hill (5-9, 195, Northeastern) will enter his fourth season with Las Vegas. He played in six games for the Gladiators in 2005 after coming off a 2004 knee injury. Playing on both sides of the ball, Hill totaled 18 tackles and five breakups on defense and he caught 11 passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns on offense.
Filer (6-3, 249, Iowa) returns for his second season with Las Vegas. He set career highs in 2005 in rushing yards (105), rushing yards per game (7.5), receptions (12) and receiving yards (124) despite missing two games with injuries. Defensively, he totaled 20 tackles, including 2.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Kinsinger (6-2, 260, Slippery Rock) spent the last four seasons, winning two ArenaBowl championships, with the San Jose SaberCats. Kinsinger led the SaberCats in rushing and rushing touchdowns in 2005, gaining 80 yards and scoring nine TDs. He also set career highs with six receptions for 79 yards. He torched the Gladiators in two games last year, rushing for three touchdowns and making his first career interception.
Rachal (6-0, 200, Texas A&M Commerce) will begin his second season in the AFL and first with the Gladiators. He spent the 2005 season with the Los Angeles Avengers, finishing with 26.5 tackles and af2 Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 while playing for the Laredo Law, tying for the league lead with 10 interceptions.
Simmons (5-10, 200, USC) spent his rookie season in the AFL with the Los Angeles Avengers in 2005. He led the Avengers with 79 tackles and had two interceptions in 14 games. The former USC Trojan also spent time in training camp with both the San Diego Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL.
Jones (6-2, 205, Toledo) spent the last two seasons as the quarterback for the Memphis Xplorers of af2, leading them to the 2005 ArenaCup championship. During their championship season, Jones played in 15 games, completing 245 of his 388 pass attempts (63.1%) for 3384 yards and 69 touchdowns, while tossing only 7 interceptions. He also led the Xplorers on the ground, rushing for 229 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Prentiss (5-8, 155, Mississippi State) is a two-time All-af2 performer for the Memphis Xplorers. Last season, in winning an af2 championship, Prentiss caught 103 passes for 1627 and 40 touchdowns. He also returned 54 kicks for 1419 yards and four scores. In 2004 with Memphis, he set multiple franchise records, including eight kick returns for touchdowns.
"We are going to be aggressively active in the free-agent market and bring the best talent within the salary cap to Las Vegas to play an aggressive-style of Gladiator football," said Gladiators GM Dan Dolby.
Gladiators' 2006 season seats are on sale now. Fans interested in purchasing Gladiators' season seats can do so by calling the Gladiators office at 702-731-4977 or by going online at www.UNLVtickets.com.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 4, 2005
- Destroyers open free agency period by signing five AFL veterans - Columbus Destroyers
- Gladiators ink seven as AFL free agent signing period begins - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Soul land top two free agent linemen - Philadelphia Soul
- L.A. Avengers trade Luis Almanzar to Austin Wranglers - Los Angeles Avengers
- Bon Jovi not Soul'd out for you - Philadelphia Soul
- Dahnel Singfield joins Dragons' backfield - New York Dragons
- Kats sign All-Arena FB/LB Frank Carter - Nashville Kats
- Kansas City to join AFL as 18th team for 2006 - AFL I
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