Greg Hopkins Signs Two-Year Extension with L.A. Avengers
July 22, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release
LOS ANGELES -- Opting to forgo what presumably would be a lucrative foray into free agency this off-season, Greg Hopkins has signed a two-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Avengers.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound wide receiver-linebacker is in his seventh season in the Arena Football League, but first with the Avengers, who will host their first-ever playoff game on Saturday, July 27, at STAPLES Center against the Tampa Bay Storm.
Hopkins is currently the leading candidate for the AFL's "Iroman of the Year" award, which goes to the league's top two-way player. He leads the Avengers in scoring (202 points), touchdowns (33), receptions (102), receiving yards (1,285), all-purpose yards (1,377) and interceptions (five), and ranks among the league leaders in each of those categories. On defense, Hopkins has returned three of his five interceptions this year for scores, and has a total of 38.5 tackles.
"In my opinion Greg is the MVP of this league," Avenger head coach Ed Hodgkiss said. "He has been instrumental in the turnaround here in L.A. We are very excited to have him back. As long as I've been in the AFL, he's been there right with me and I'm happy to continue that relationship. If he wasn't around, it would be like having my left arm cut off."
Hopkins has been honored with weekly AFL awards four times this season, winning "Ironman of the Week" three times and "Offensive Player of the Week" once. He also was recently named the "Ironman of the Month (June)."
"Even though this season's not done yet, I'm having a great time here in Los Angeles this summer," Hopkins said. "Coach Hodgkiss has put together a great group and I'm looking forward to the future. I'll be out here for at least two more years and it could be something special.
"I've been through free agency for the past three years and signed one-year contracts each time. This time, however, I felt real comfortable staying out here with the guys we have in place. I don't think that playing anywhere else would benefit me more than staying here with the group we've got already."
The first-round AFL playoff game between the Avengers (8-6) and the Storm (6-8) on Saturday, July 27, is set to kickoff at STAPLES Center at 4:30 p.m. (Pacific). Tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets, the STAPLES Center box office or by calling 1-888-AVENGERS.
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