Kats Add Montgomery To Secondary
June 27, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release
NASHVILLE (June 27, 2005) - The Nashville Kats have signed veteran defensive specialist Monty Montgomery, head coach Pat Sperduto announced on Monday.
Montgomery (6-0, 195) was signed after spending the last two months on the team's Refused To Report list. Montgomery, who played six years in the NFL and was an AFL All-Rookie selection in 2004, was waived by the New Orleans VooDoo on April 11. The Kats then claimed him off of waivers, but he was not activated. Montgomery was due to become a free agent this Fall.
The former All-Conference USA defensive back from the University of Houston has played with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints. He has played in 59 games in his NFL career, recording 143 tackles, 3.5 sacks, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. His most recent stint in the NFL came when he was signed by the Saints in 2004 after posting an outstanding AFL rookie season for the VooDoo.
Montgomery started all 16 games for the VooDoo in 2004, recording 85 tackles, one tackle for loss, a sack, five interceptions, 25 passes defensed, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. He led New Orleans, who won the league's Southern Division title that season, in tackles, INT's and passes defensed. His 25 broken-up passes ranked him second in the AFL in that category, and his 81 solo tackles were the third-most in the league that season.
After playing with the Saints during the AFL offseason, Montgomery returned to the VooDoo and played in five games with the team in 2005 before being waived in April. He had 20.5 tackles, eight passes defensed and an interception.
"We are very excited to have Monty on board," said Sperduto. "He is a special player who can do things that not many defensive backs in this league can do. Last year, after playing with the VooDoo and going straight to the Saints, then going right back to the VooDoo again, he was just to the point that he was burnt out. He is looking forward to making a fresh start here next season, and we are happy to have him."
Montgomery will join several other Kats players currently under contract on the team's protected list when the Arena Football League holds an expansion draft this Fall. By rule, each AFL team will be able to protect a certain number of its players under contract or on other league exempt from being available for selection in the draft. Last season, when the Kats came into the league, each team was able to protect 16 players. Nashville currently has 18 players under contract and four on other league exempt.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 27, 2005
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- Anthony, Holder, Horacek and "Zeus" sign two-year contracts - New York Dragons
- Kats Add Montgomery To Secondary - Nashville Kats
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