Inside the Club Cherry Bomb

April 29, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release


DAVENPORT, Iowa — The Quad City Steamwheelers welcomed a familiar face to town on Tuesday when the team returned to practice. Offensive lineman/defensive lineman Jamaal Cherry was signed to a two-day practice waiver and eventually assigned to the team on Thursday by the arenafootball2 league office.

Cherry's return will help out an offensive and defensive line that struggled last weekend in Wilke-Barre, Pa. The Steamwheelers lost 40-27 to the Pioneers after what coach Rich Ingold described as, "failing to get to their quarterback and failing to protect ours."

Cherry returns for his second season after being assigned to the Steamwheelers on June 4 of last season. In seven regular season games for the ‘Wheelers, Cherry totaled 6.5 tackles, two tackles for loss and two sacks. In his Steamwheelers debut against Cincinnati, Cherry had two quarterback hurries.

Cherry had been scheduled to return as early as the second week of the 2004 season for the Steamwheelers, but due to countless AFL and CFL opportunities, Cherry did not return until this week.

He will join one of his close friends on the team and a recent assignee himself, lineman Jerry Montgomery. Montgomery and Cherry played against each other in high school in Nevada and almost attended college together. Key word being almost.

Cherry decided to stay out West and went to the University of California-Berkley. In his senior season for the Golden Bears Cherry had 16 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for a loss.

Montgomery decided to try and bear the Midwestern weather and attended the University of Iowa. Now the two are reunited, only this time it's on the same team.

Cherry will make his 2004 debut this weekend, when the ‘Wheelers host the Green Bay Blizzard. Cherry, as well as some other Steamwheelers veterans, will welcome 2003 Steamwheelers offensive specialist Randall Lane to town.

After donning the number 84 last season for the Steamwheelers, Lane is now dressing himself in the green and gray of the Blizzard and the number 3.

Kickoff for Saturday nights contest at The MARK of the Quad Cities is set for 7:30 p.m. Good tickets are still available and can be purchased at The MARK box office during normal business hours, or through TicketMaster at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 563-326-1111.

The arenafootball2 league is in its Fifth Anniversary season and serves as the AFL's developmental league. The arenafootball2 (af2) league consists of 25 teams in medium-sized markets with the purpose of training players, coaches and officials for higher levels of football. Several former af2 coaches have joined AFL teams and more than 175 players have advanced to the AFL over the past three years.

About Arena Football League

The Arena Football League, formed in 1986 is the second-longest running football league in the U.S. History and is in its 18th season. It is one the fastest growing sports, and recognized as one of the nation's most affordable and fan-friendly sports leagues. A network-TV sport, the AFL is currently celebrating its second season on NBC in 2004.

Several players have moved on to the NFL from the af2 including the ‘Wheelers standout defensive rush end in 2003, Asa Francis, who last month signed with the Buffalo Bills to play in NFL Europe this spring.



arenafootball2 Stories from April 29, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central