Moye-Moore's season ends
Published on April 28, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. (April 28) -- FB/LB Marlon Moye-Moore, one of the Arena Football League's most promising young rookies, will miss the remainder of the season after injuring his left knee during Orlando's 64-49 win over Dallas on Sunday.
Moye-Moore tore several ligaments and tendons in his left knee after being hit on the goal line in the process of recovering a kickoff that hit the net. Moye-Moore caught the ball on the second bounce and scored a touchdown that put the Predators up 61-42.
On the play, he was hit as he was crossing the goal line and landed awkwardly on his leg â causing his knee to collapse. Head Trainer Kevin Mercuri said Moye-Moore suffered complete or partial tears of his posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), popiteal tendon, lateral collateral ligament (LCL), and anterior cruicate ligament (ACL).
"Monday's MRI conferred that Marlon sustained severe damage to several tissue areas of his left knee. Fortunately there were no bone fractures. The plan right now is to let the swelling go down and let some of the fluid get out of the area. We are tentatively scheduling surgery for next Thursday," Predators Head Trainer Kevin Mercuri said. He went on to add that Moye-Moore faces a long recovery. "This type of injury usually takes six to eight months to totally rehab. Obviously there are a lot of factors that could either lengthen or shorten that estimate."
Moore was off to an outstanding rookie season. Although he only played in nine of Orlando's 11 games, he ranked second in the Arena Football League in rushing with 179 yards and was tied for third in yards per carry with a 4.4 average. He had six rushing touchdowns. The former University of Maryland star also had 11.5 tackles on defense with a fumble recovery and a blocked kick.
"Losing Marlon is a significant blow to us," Head Coach Jay Gruden said. "He was a solid young player that was getting better and better each week. Our running game was starting to click and he was at the center of that success. Hopefully he'll be able to fully recover and get back on the field by next season."
"Marlon could get to the corner as quick as any fullback I have ever seen in Arena Football," teammate and 11-year AFL veteran Bret Cooper said. "We're going to miss him on the field. He was a terrific runner and his pass blocking and pass rushing were improving every week. There's no question in my mind that was headed to stardom in this league."
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