Iron Sign Former NFL Nose Tackle Zarnell Fitch
December 15, 2009 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Milwaukee Mustangs News Release
MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Iron announced today that it has signed former NFL and First-Team All-af2 nose tackle Zarnell Fitch to its roster. Fitch comes to the Iron after spending time with three NFL teams while also playing in NFL Europe and af2.
"I am extremely excited to add Zarnell Fitch to our roster today. He is a very good football player that brings athleticism and power to the heart of our defensive line," stated Iron General Manager Jason Clark. "Several Arena Football 1 teams heavily recruited Zarnell over the past few weeks. The fact that he chose to play in Milwaukee speaks very highly for our organization and the reputation of Coach Landsee and his staff when it comes to developing young players and winning football games. Not only is Zarnell a tremendous talent and a proven winner when he straps on his helmet, but he is a high character individual who leads by example, both on and off the field. Iron fans will enjoy having Zarnell in Milwaukee and watching him go to work on every play."
Fitch, 26, continues his arena football career with the Iron after spending 2009 with the Green Bay Blizzard of the af2 as a dominant presence on its defensive line. Fitch was the only nose tackle in af2 to be named a defensive lineman on the American Conference All-af2 First-Team with his performance last season when he played in all 16 regular-season games for the Blizzard, collecting 38.5 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, one blocked kick and one safety. In the post-season Fitch started all three games for Green Bay totaling 4.5 tackles and one tackle for loss.
"Really it was a no brainer to sign with Milwaukee after seeing the guys they are signing like Nate Forse and Tiger Jones. I always pride myself on being a winner and I wanted to put myself in the best position to win games," said Fitch. "I think it was more important to go somewhere that I know I will be coached well and where I know we're going to play the physical type of football that I like to play, especially after having played with the Baltimore Ravens and other teams where we played the up-tempo and physical type of football that I am accustomed to."
Originally signed by the New York Jets of the NFL as a free agent, Fitch has spent time with three NFL teams. In 2006 after being signed by the Jets, he was allocated and spent the season with the Frankfurt Galaxy of the NFL Europe. With the Galaxy he played in all 11 games making 28 tackles, one sack and one interception during the regular season. Fitch was dominant in World Bowl XIV where he had a team-high five stops and one sack as the Galaxy claimed the title.
After the 2006 season Fitch was released by the Jets and eight days later signed by head coach Brian Billick and the Baltimore Ravens. He would spend the entire 2007 season on Baltimore's practice squad and was placed on the 53-man active roster for five games. After returning to TCU as a video graduate assistant for the football team, Fitch was signed by head coach Joe Gibbs and the Washington Redskins but was released later that season.
A Corsicana, TX native, Fitch began his collegiate career at Navarro Junior College (TX) before transferring to Texas Christian University for his final two years. As a senior on TCU's Mountain West Conference Championship team in 2005, Fitch played a prominent role in all 12 games totaling 24 stops, four tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions and three pass break-ups. His second interception of the year came in the 27-24 TCU victory over Iowa State in the EV1.net Houston Bowl.
The Milwaukee Iron have ascended to the highest level of Arena Football as a member of Arena Football One. Downtown Milwaukee and the Bradley Center will come alive in 2010 as the Iron host legendary Arena Football League opponents such as the Arizona Rattlers, Cleveland Gladiators, Iowa Barnstormers, Orlando Predators, Tampa Bay Storm and more. Iron season tickets are currently on sale, starting as low as $50. For ticket information, please contact the Iron ticket sales office at 1-888-MKE-IRON (653-4766).
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Arena Football League Stories from December 15, 2009
- Shock add AFL vet DB Jason Harmon - Spokane Shock
- Arena Football Tryouts Coming To Los Angeles And Atlanta - Spokane Shock
- Iron Sign Former NFL Nose Tackle Zarnell Fitch - Milwaukee Mustangs
- Vipers Sign Former Auburn OL Crittendon and AFL vet DB Ahmad Hawkins - Alabama Vipers
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