Kats get all-rookie QB Stoerner In three-team deal
October 6, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release
NASHVILLE (Oct. 6, 2005) - The Nashville Kats have acquired quarterback Clint Stoerner, the runner-up for the 2005 AFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, from the Dallas Desperados in a three-team deal that also brings WR/DB Jordan Younger to Nashville from San Jose.
The Kats sent veteran receiver Fred Coleman, who led Nashville in receiving last season, to San Jose, where he helped the SaberCats win an ArenaBowl title as a rookie in 2004. In exchange, San Jose sent Nashville Younger, an exempt player who is currently playing with the CFL's Toronto Argonauts, and OL/DL Devin Wyman. From there, the Kats dealt Wyman and DS Tony Scott to Dallas for Stoerner, who was selected to the AFL's All-Rookie team last season.
Stoerner (6'2, 210) had an outstanding rookie year in Dallas after spending three seasons with the Cowboys in the NFL. He started all 16 games for the Desperados in 2005, leading the team to an 8-7-1 record while shattering league rookie passing records in attempts (506), completions (322), passing yards (3,918) and touchdowns (77). He threw for four or more touchdowns in all but three games last season, and he also ran for 55 yards and two scores on 26 attempts.
The former University of Arkansas quarterback, who spent time with both the Cowboys and Miami Dolphins during four years in the NFL, will join Leon Murray, who was Nashville's starting quarterback for much of last season, and Scott Rislov in a battle for the Kats' starting job in 2006.
"We have said all along that we want competition at every position when we go to training camp in January," said Kats head coach Pat Sperduto. "Clint is a very good young quarterback that has a ton of ability and can come in and compete for the starting job. It's going to be a real battle for that job, because we have three really good ones in the fold right now, and we will be signing another one from the af2 ranks in the next few days."
In addition to Stoerner, the Kats also get Younger (5-10, 190), who has played the last two seasons in the CFL after spending the 2004 AFL season with the Indiana Firebirds. San Jose had acquired Younger, who played college ball at Connecticut, in last year's dispersal draft, but he had been on the team's exempt list ever since. He will now be placed on the Kats' exempt roster.
To get Stoerner, Nashville parted with Coleman, who led the team with 75 receptions for 847 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2005. Coleman, who signed with the Kats as a free agent last offseason after playing his rookie season in San Jose, started the year as Nashville's offensive specialist, but eventually became a two-way player with the arrival of T.T. Toliver in a midseason trade from Tampa Bay. Coleman now returns to San Jose, where he caught 55 passes and scored 17 touchdowns in 2004.
The Kats also dealt Scott (5-10, 190) in the deal, sending the veteran defensive specialist to Dallas. Scott only played two games for the Kats in an injury-plagued 2005 season after spending his rookie campaign in Colorado.
The trade comes just two days after Nashville got its first big free agent signing of the offseason, inking first-team All-Arena fullback/linebacker Frank Carter to a contract. Sperduto announced on Thursday that he anticipates finalizing several more free agent signings in the coming days.
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