New Orleans VooDoo News and Notes

Published on April 15, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release


• VooDoo MAKE ROSTER MOVES: The VooDoo made several roster moves in preparation for this week's home contest against the Columbus Destroyers. On Saturday, April 10, the team activated FB/LB Michael Blair from the injured reserve list and subsequently waived Blair. On Monday, April 12, the team signed QB John Rayborn to the active roster from the practice squad and placed FB/LB Tremaine Neal on the injured reserve list with a shoulder injury.

Rayborn, (6-3, 240, UTEP), appeared in four games and started two for the Columbus Destroyers this season, completing 50-of-85 pass attempts for 553 yards and nine touchdown passes and six interceptions. Rayborn has also seen action as a backup for the Detroit Fury and Indiana Firebirds. He enjoyed his finest season with the Macon Knights of af2, where he played for VooDoo defensive coordinator Kevin Porter in 2002. He was named to the All-af2 team as he completed 281-of-428 pass attempts for 3,700 yards and 79 touchdowns while also rushing for 84 yards and 19 scores.

• VooDoo MILESTONES: The following individual marks could be set by VooDoo players this Sunday vs. Columbus:

With 10 passing yards, QB John Fitzgerald will reach the 5,000 yard passing mark for his career. Fitzgerald needs 100 yards passing to surpass his prior career-high of 1,907 yards which he set in 2002 with the Carolina Cobras. OL/DL B.J. Cohen needs one touchdown reception for 10 in his career. FB/LB Dan Curran needs six yards to reach the 200-yard mark for the season. Curran is currently the AFL's leading rusher with 194 yards and 13 touchdowns through nine games. Last year's leading rusher in the AFL, Los Angeles's Chad Dukes, ran for 223 yards and 12 touchdowns in 14 games. OL/DL Tim Martin needs one reception to tie his career-high total of five in 2003 with the Dallas Desperados. Martin has already set a career high with two TD receptions. DS Chris Pointer currently has a team-high 47 tackles and needs three tackles to reach the 50-tackle mark.

• SUNDAY'S VooDoo GAME NOT AVAILABLE ON TELEVISION: The VooDoo game vs. Columbus on Sunday April 18 will not be televised. Due to a decision by the NBC network reducing the weekly number of games to be televised from five to two, the network has decided to eliminate this game from its broadcast schedule. All of the VooDoo's previous nine games were available on television.

• VooDoo ON THE AIRWAVES: VooDoo and AFL fans will enjoy plenty of chances to watch the newest team in New Orleans both live and on various on radio and television programs throughout the 2004 season.

Every VooDoo game will be broadcast on WWL 870-AM or WSMB 1350-AM. The Voice of the VooDoo, Chris Kenyon, will handle the play-by-play. Various local celebrities and selected Saints coaches, players and front office personnel will serve as color analysts. Sunday's game will be broadcast on WSMB and Saints tight ends coach Bob Palcic will serve as color analyst. WWL will broadcast The Mike Neu Show with VooDoo Head Coach Mike Neu each Tuesday from 9-10 pm as Kenyon and WWL's Kenny Wilkerson co-host. Fans can call into the show or submit questions for Coach Neu through the club's official web site, GoVooDoo.com.

Up to 10 of the VooDoo's 16 regular season games are scheduled to be telecast by NBC (WDSU-TV 6 in New Orleans). Cox Sports Television will telecast most of the remaining VooDoo games on regional cable with each telecast starting with a 30-minute pre-game show. Todd Kalas will handle the play by play and Harry McCulla will handle sideline reporting duties. Various local celebrities and selected Saints coaches, players and front office personnel will serve as color analysts. Cox will air Inside VooDoo with Mike Neu, a 30-minute show, each week. Inside VooDoo with Mike Neu will air this week on Thursday, April 15 from 5:30-6 pm and will be replayed on Sunday, April 18 at 10 a.m.

• PHOTOS AVAILABLE TO MEDIA: Action photos of the Orleans VooDoo are available for use by local, opponent and national media by contacting Justin Macione of VooDoo Media Relations at (504) 731-1848 or at macionej@saints.nfl.com.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 15, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central