L.A. Avengers acquire AFL star Joe Douglass

January 31, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release


LOS ANGELES -- Joe Douglass, a proven star in the Arena Football League, has been acquired by the Los Angeles Avengers in a trade with the Colorado Crush for future considerations, head coach Ed Hodgkiss announced today.

Douglass (5-foot-11, 185 pounds), who will be a wide receiver-linebacker with the Avengers, adds yet another accomplished pass catcher and veteran leader to team that already features some of the AFL's top players.

"We had been looking for a receiver with AFL experience to give us depth alongside Greg Hopkins and Chris Jackson," said Hodgkiss, who is in his third season at the helm of the Avengers. "Joe Douglass is somebody we had targeted, as he has been productive wherever he has been. After watching him in our workouts with Colorado earlier this week, we approached the Crush about a potential trade. I'm excited to land a receiver with his credentials and veteran savvy."

In his four previous seasons in the AFL, Douglass amassed 248 receptions for 3,059 yards and 56 touchdowns, in addition to 204 kick returns for 3,849 yards and six more scores. He also has rushed for five touchdowns in his career and scored once on an interception return.

Ironically, Douglass has been particularly effective in games against the Avengers. In three previous encounters with Los Angeles, he caught 25 passes for 364 yards and six touchdowns, which averages out to 8.3 catches, 121.3 yards and two touchdowns per game. He also returned 12 kickoffs for 176 yards in those three games versus the Avengers.

Last season, Douglass led Colorado with 2,515 all-purpose yards (more than 1,000 yards ahead of his nearest teammate). He started 15 games for the Crush, catching 79 passes for 1,031 yards and 15 touchdowns. After two seasons with the Chicago Rush, Douglass was selected by Colorado with the first pick of the 2003 AFL Expansion Draft.

In his first season with the Rush in 2001, he caught 99 passes for 1,287 yards and 26 touchdowns on his way to being named Chicago's "Co-Most Valuable Player." Douglass finished the season among the league leaders in 12 different categories, including all-purpose yards (fourth) and points scored (fifth), and was a finalist for the AFL's "Don't Blink! Player of the Year" award. His 2002 season was cut short by injury, but he was leading the AFL in all-purpose yards per game (236.5) at the time.

Douglass began his AFL career with a world championship season with the Orlando Predators in 2000, leading the team with 1,644 all-purpose yards. He scored at least one touchdown in each of Orlando's three postseason wins, including a pair of scores in the 41-38 victory over the Nashville Kats in ArenaBowl XIV.

He was originally signed by the AFL's Buffalo Destroyers in 1998, but never played for them before being traded to Orlando for quarterback Browning Nagle and offensive specialist Vernon Turner.

Prior to establishing himself as a standout in the AFL, Douglass participated in training camp with the New Orleans Saints in 1998, and then played overseas with the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe. He was named first-team All-NFL Europe after catching 38 passes from quarterback Kurt Warner. In 1999, Douglass participated in training camp with the New York Jets before returning to Amsterdam, where he was league's second-leading punt returner (11.6 average).

After transferring from Oregon State University (Corvallis, Ore), Douglass became an All-America wide receiver at the University of Montana (Missoula, Mont.), where he caught 82 passes for 1,469 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior in 1996, setting school records in each of those categories. Douglass also led the Grizzlies to two NCAA Division I-AA championship games.

Born on Jan. 21, 1974, Douglass attended South Salem (Ore.) High School, where he was a four-year letterman in basketball and the 1991 Oregon "Player of the Year" in football after rushing for 2,170 yards and 36 touchdowns. He and his wife, Liz, reside in Salem, Ore., during the offseason.

The Avengers kick off their 2004 season against the Arizona Rattlers on Sunday, Feb. 8, at America West Arena in Phoenix. Game time is set for noon (Pacific) and the contest will be televised live on KNBC Channel 4.

Following another road game on Valentine's Day against the Las Vegas Gladiators, the Avengers will play their home opener at STAPLES Center on Sunday, Feb. 22, versus the San Jose SaberCats. Both of those games also will kick off at noon and be televised on KNBC.

Nine-game season ticket packages and single-game seats can be purchased by calling 1-888-AVENGERS or online at www.laavengers.com.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 31, 2004


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