Marcus Nash is finally in the right place
March 18, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release
By Tom Ando, LVGladiators.com
It could have been ugly. Real ugly. Losing an Offensive Specialist with the play making ability of Terrill Shaw would have sent almost any Arena Football League team into an immediate state of panic, scrambling to find a player to fill in, but not the Las Vegas Gladiators. In Marcus Nash, they have a more than formidable replacement.
He's coming off a game in which his sixteen receptions for 192 yards, both team records, and four touchdowns paced the Gladiators as they pulled off an overtime victory over the Arizona Rattlers. It was the big win the Gladiators needed and Nash was named Arena Football League Co-Offensive Player of the Week, but accolades are nothing new for a guy who has hauled in passes from the likes of Peyton Manning and John Elway. The statistics don't matter to him; neither does the award, just the increasing number in the win column.
"It feels good but it's all about winning because you can catch twenty passes and lose then it's all for not anyways," says Nash. "I'm pleased with how I play but not really satisfied. I want to get better and I want to win more. If I don't catch any balls and we win, that is fine with me."
Winning is also somewhat of a constant throughout Nash's career. He has two Super Bowl rings to prove that, but what makes Las Vegas the right situation for him is the opportunity to make big plays and contribute to the winning.
While with the Denver Broncos, Nash felt like he was never able to open up and show the sort of big play skills that he possesses.
"I was at a place where I didn't feel comfortable and I never got a chance to be the type of receiver Marcus Nash can be."
Following just two seasons, the Broncos traded Nash to the Miami Dolphins, where he was released him soon after.
"I was confused and disappointed," says Nash. "I didn't understand what was going on and was asking âwhy?' and all of that stuff but God has a plan for all of us."
Nash would then sign with the Baltimore Ravens, where he would win his second Super Bowl ring in 2000, but in 2001, a broken jaw limited his chance to see more playing time. In 2002, he was released by the Ravens, but was not sore on his years spent sporting the black and purple.
"It was a better situation and I felt comfortable," says Nash. "It was good for me to get out there get loose and I think I made myself a better receiver than I was in college."
While in college, Nash was a star at the University of Tennessee where he was the favorite target of Manning and finished his stellar career with 177 receptions for 2,447 yards and 20 touchdowns, good for second all time in school history. During his senior season, he was an All American, catching 77 passes for 1170 yards and thirteen scores, which earned him enough recognition to be drafted by the defending World Champion Broncos.
"You always dream of playing professional football and everything like that," says Nash. "So draft day came and they always have projections on where you're going to go, so I started thinking âwill I go first round, will I go this pick or that pick?' It was a nervous situation, but once I got drafted I kind of settled down and got some relaxation because I was going somewhere and I was going to be playing football, so it was a really good feeling."
Back to Nash's journey to the Gladiators, after being released by the Ravens, he weighed out his options and signed with the Canadian Football League's Winnipeg Blue Bombers but after breaking his ribs he was sent home where he trained and waited for somebody to give him a chance.
That phone call would come from of the Detroit Fury, who were in need of a big play threat for Quarterback Andy Kelly. They got one in Nash as he would catch 69 passes for 866 yards and 24 touchdowns, which are great numbers for a guy that was both battling injuries and just getting a feel for the game.
After the season, Nash was a free agent and the potential to play for the most explosive offense in the Arena Football League sounded like a good idea for the 28 year old receiver.
"I liked the fact that they were going to give me the opportunity to do well. Clint Dolezel was signed and Shaw was coming in so it was a situation for me to get another year under me and try well."
Shaw has been with Dolezel for three seasons, but it didn't take the All Arena Quarterback long to discover the amazing talents of Nash.
"The first word that would come to mouth would be Beast," says Dolezel. "There aren't many guys his size who can do what he can do. Most guys don't have hand in hand what he has. Usually a guy will have the size and be slow or they will be small and really fast but he has both. Why he is not in the NFL is beyond me and I'm excited to have him on my team for sure."
The feeling is mutual as Nash puts Dolezel in a class with some of his other Quarterbacks throughout the years.
"He is definitely up there and I have had some Hall of Fame Quarterbacks throwing to me with Peyton and Elway and Clint is right up there with the rest of them. He probably has the quickest release out of all of them and some of the throws that he makes, a lot of Quarterbacks in the NFL can't make."
On the season Nash has a league leading 56 receptions for 552 yards and eleven touchdowns and he hopes to continue his assault on opposing defenses this week when the Gladiators face the 4-1 San Jose Sabercats on the road.
"It's a big game," says Nash. "They are one of the best, if not the best team in the league right now and it's a good chance to show the Arena Football League what kind of a team we have because we've had some tough losses here and there but as a whole, we're a really good team."
Making so many big plays for the Gladiators may lead to Nash getting one more shot at the NFL and he believes he can return to the hundred yard field.
"If anybody gives me an opportunity and gives me that chance. I'll be back."
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 18, 2004
- Colorado Crush waive Wade Davis - Colorado Crush
- Marcus Nash is finally in the right place - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Rush signs Moore, releases Allen - Chicago Rush
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