Kats Lineman Minucci Signs With Titans
July 19, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release
NASHVILLE (July 19, 2005) - Nashville Kats lineman Joe Minucci, who led the team with five sacks and was named to the AFL's All-Rookie team last season, has been signed by the Tennessee Titans. The Kats have placed him on their exempt roster.
Minucci (6-3, 295) played in all 16 games for the Kats as a rookie in 2005, adding 19 tackles, four pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery to his team-leading sack total. The first-year player was also a standout on the offensive side of the ball, where he developed into one of the team's best blockers and caught two passes, both of which went for touchdowns. He was named to the league's All-Rookie squad, along with Kats teammates Aaron McConnell and Dan Alexander, and he participated in the ArenaBattle All-Star Skills Competition at ArenaBowl XIX in Las Vegas.
"We are all very proud of what Joe accomplished with the Kats an in the AFL," said Kats head coach Pat Sperduto. "We all hope that this next step in his pro career is as successful as his previous one was. He is a great player who works very hard, and I know that all Titans fans will enjoy having him on their team."
The former Delaware defensive lineman was an All-Atlantic 10 selection for the Blue Hens as a senior in 2002. He played one year with the Tennessee Valley Vipers of arenafootball2, earning All-af2 honors as a two-way lineman.
Minucci worked out for the Titans two weeks ago. Due to NFL rules, he had to clear waivers before the team could officially add him to their roster, which they did on Tuesday. He will compete for a roster spot with the Titans when the team starts training camp later this month. If he earns a roster spot with the NFL club, he will remain on Nashville's exempt list. If he is waived, then he will return to the Kats' active roster.
Minucci becomes the first Kats player in franchise history to sign with the hometown Titans. Nashville had six players who had previously played with the NFL club on its roster last season. K.S. "Bud" Adams, Jr., who owns both clubs, is one of six NFL owners who also have an ownership interest in an AFL team.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from July 19, 2005
- Kats Lineman Minucci Signs With Titans - Nashville Kats
- VooDoo announce tryout camp in Jackson, Miss. August 6 - New Orleans VooDoo
- Rampage to host youth football camp August 2-4 - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Rush hires Cowdrey as assistant coach - Chicago Rush
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