Gladiators trade for Paul LaQuerre, add eight others
October 11, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release
LAS VEGAS, NV, October 11, 2005 - The Las Vegas Gladiators acquired OL/DL Paul LaQuerre from the Tampa Bay Storm and came to terms on a free-agent contract with former University of Oregon quarterback Jason Fife on Tuesday, it was announced by Gladiators' General Manager Dan Dolby. Per club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
The Gladiators also signed several players who starred at the Arena Football 2 level. Inking deals with Las Vegas were WR/DB Terrance Quattlebaum, OL/DL Nate Grace and FB/LB Lavell Mann from af2 champion Memphis; DS Nick Davis (Tulsa Talons); K Eric Houle (Rio Grande Valley); and Ronnie Kaymore from WB/Scranton.
In exchange for LaQuerre, Las Vegas sent lineman Thaddeus Bullard to Tampa Bay.
LaQuerre (6'2", 290, Boston College) was a member of the Gladiators in 2003. He was named the Gladiators lineman of the year that season, recording 13 total tackles, three tackles for a loss of seven yards and one forced fumble. He was sent to Grand Rapids following that year in the deal that brought Clint Dolezel to Las Vegas. He started and played in all 16 games for Grand Rapids in 2004.
Fife (6-4, 225, Oregon) played last season for the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe. He was allocated to NFL Europe by the Detroit Lions, with who he signed with in 2004. He finished his career at the University of Oregon with 3,702 yards and 30 touchdowns through the air.
Quattlebaum (5-10, 180, West Virginia State) helped lead the Memphis Xplorers to the af2 championship. In 13 games, he scored touchdowns on receptions, interception returns, fumble returns and kick returns. On the season, Quattlebaum caught 18 passes for 220 yards and 3 touchdowns while returning three kicks for 26 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Quattlebaum had two interceptions, one of which he returned for a TD and recovered one fumble for a touchdown to go along with 31 tackles. He spent time with the New Haven Ninjas and Charleston Swamp Foxes of af2 in 2004.
Grace (6-6, 330, Southern Mississippi) was a mainstay on the af2 champion Memphis Xplorers line in 2005, totaling two sacks and eight tackles.
Mann (6-1, 300, Colorado State) played in 2005 for the af2 champion Memphis Xplorers. He was second on the Xplorers with 2.5 sacks from the linebacker position. Mann was an honorable mention for all-conference during his senior season at CSU. He started in all 13 games that season, recording 39 tackles, seven for a loss, and five sacks. In his junior season, he played in 14 games including the Liberty Bowl against TCU.
Houle (5-8, 190, Saginaw Valley State) has spent the last two seasons kicking for the Rio Grande Dorados of af2. He converted 144 of 169 PAT attempts (85%) over the two-year span. He finished third in the af2 in scoring by a kicker with 123 points and led the af2 in field goals made with 17 in 2004.
Kaymore (6-0, 190, Texas A&M-Kingsville) spent 2005 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of af2, tying for the team lead with three interceptions and finishing second with 72 tackles.
Davis (5-10, 200, Texas A&M-Kingsville) spent the 2005 season with the Tulsa Talons of af2. He led the Talons with 4 interceptions and 94.5 tackles in 14 games.
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.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 11, 2005
- Destroyers obtain lineman Dan Rumishek from Kansas City, Britton waived - Columbus Destroyers
- Rampage sign two ArenaBowl XIX champions - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Gladiators trade for Paul LaQuerre, add eight others - Las Vegas Gladiators
- SaberCats sign af2 Ironman Floyd, Kuhn - San Jose SaberCats
- Storm Cheerleader Finals Open to Public - Tampa Bay Storm
- Kats resign three - Nashville Kats
- Chris Madigan hired as director, corporate communications - AFL I
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