Kats Sign Hammond, 14 Others

Published on October 19, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release


NASHVILLE (Oct. 19, 2004) – The Nashville Kats have brought back yet another of their original players. Wide receiver/linebacker Darryl Hammond, who has played more seasons in the Arena Football League than any other player in the game's 18-year history, was introduced as the latest addition to the Kats' rapidly expanding roster at a press conference on Tuesday. He signed a free agent contract with the team after playing last season with the Austin Wranglers.

"Darryl brings so much to this organization," said Kats head coach Pat Sperduto. "He is an excellent football player and a great leader. We are fortunate to have him with us."

Hammond (6-3, 220) played all five seasons with the original Kats, helping to lead the team to the playoffs five times and to two ArenaBowls. He is a 14-year AFL veteran who has played in the league longer than any other player. Hammond ranks third, all-time, in career tackles with 488 and 10th in receiving yards with 7,675. He caught 47 passes for 427 yards and 12 touchdowns for Austin in 2004.

The three-time all-arena selection spent two seasons with the Georgia Force after the Kats were sold and moved in 2001. He signed with Austin last season, and now returns to Nashville, where he has continued to reside during the offseason.

The addition of Hammond brings to three the number of former Kats who have joined the new edition of the franchise. He joins lineman James Baron and wide receiver/defensive back Jarrick Hillery as former Kats on the team's current roster.

In addition to signing Hammond, Sperduto also announced the signing of 14 more players, including veterans Fred Coleman, an offensive specialist from San Jose, and Charlie Morris, a lineman from Arizona. Coleman (6-0, 200), who earned a Super Bowl ring with the New England patriots in 2002, had an outstanding rookie year for the SaberCats last season, catching two TD passes in the team's ArenaBowl XVIII victory. Morris (6-2, 290) is a five-year veteran who has played in three consecutive ArenaBowls with the Rattlers.

Coleman and Morris join a slew of signees from the arenafootball2 ranks. In all, the Kats inked seven players that played last season in the arena football developmental league.

Those players are quarterback Tim Hicks (6-4, 250), lineman Nate Bandy (6-5, 285) and

fullback/linebacker Kevin Nagle (6-1, 255) of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers; linemen Joe Minucci (6-3, 295) and Chris Royle (6-2, 295) of the Tennessee Valley Vipers; wide receiver/defensive back Gabe Amey (6-3, 210) of the Hawaiian Islanders; and wide receiver/linebacker Robert Garth (6-3, 230) of the Green Bay Blizzard. Three of those players – Hicks, Minucci and Bandy – were All-af2 selections in 2004.

Two more free agent signings – wide receiver/defensive back Angel Estrada (6-0, 200) and defensive specialist Joey Flora (6-0, 200) – come to the Kats after playing in the National Indoor Football League. Estrada led that league with 14 interceptions in 2004, while Flora broke up 22 passes on the year.

The Kats also signed two players who were in camp with the Tennessee Titans last Summer. Lineman Aaron McConnell (6-3, 285) and wide receiver/defensive back Rich Musinski (6-0, 205) return to Nashville after having promising rookie camps for the Titans in 2004.

Rounding out the signings is lineman Ryan Roth, who played last season at Southeast Missouri State. He is the only player on the Kats' roster not to have any previous experience in the professional ranks.

With today's signings, the total number of players on the Kats' active roster moves to 35. Teams can carry up to 37 players on their active rosters into training camp in January, but must cut down to 24 players in time for the start of the regular season.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 19, 2004


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