Predators' Hamilton Pulling For Colts
Published on January 13, 2006 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release
Joe Hamilton's full attention is on the Orlando Predators. As a third-year starting quarterback he feels the responsibility of taking a veteran leadership role on an Orlando Predators team that has 21 first-year players in camp.
But for at least this weekend, a small part of Hamilton's heart will be in Indiana, where the Indianapolis Colts will be taking their first step in the NFL playoffs towards a possible championship.
And Hamilton will be rooting for them to do just that. As a member of the Tampa Bay Bucs, Hamilton spent three years under Head Coach Tony Dungy. After a breakout rookie season in the Arena Football League in 2004, Hamilton was signed by the Colts and Dungy.
Considered a long shot to make the team, Hamilton played well in camp and Dungy announced that the former Georgia Tech star had made the team as Peyton Manning's back-up. He would spend the first two weeks on the Colts active roster, before being waived and re-signed to the team's practice squad. In all, he spent the first seven weeks of the NFL season on the Colts roster before being waived.
Rather than being bitter about being released, Hamilton took it in stride. He spoke highly of Dungy and the Colts organization and thanked them for giving him another shot in the NFL. "I think Coach Dungy is one of the best coaches in the entire NFL," Hamilton said. "The NFL is a business and individual teams are going to make whatever choices they feel they have to make to put themselves in the best position to win. There was no bitterness when I was released. I put it in God's hands and thanked them for the chance to play in the NFL."
Two years later, Hamilton reflected on Coach Dungy and the Colts. "Coach Dungy has had to go through an awful lot this year and the way he has portrayed his leadership to his players and all those around him has been extraordinary," Hamilton said. "But even with all those things hanging over him, you know he's going to have the team ready to play this weekend. They certainly are my pick to win the AFC and I will be rooting for Coach Dungy personally."
But while Dungy and the Colts are the sentimental pick of many NFL fans to win the Super Bowl, Hamilton believes the tragic events surrounding Coach Dungy and his son will have little to do with the final result.
"You would like to think good things always happen to good people, but that's just not the way it works. If that's the case, Coach Dungy's son would not have died. Although his team has rallied around him, I think the reason they are going to win is because they are a great team, they have a great coach, and they are going to be prepared to play."
Turning his attention to his team, Hamilton said this year will be challenging for the Predators after the loss of veterans Cory Fleming to a trade and Reggie Doster, Mike Brown and EJ Burt to free agency.
"I think we may have more overall talent in some areas this year," Hamilton said. "At wide receiver we have more depth and more guys that can get downfield. It seems like we have a fair number of rush guys. But we're going to miss a Cory Fleming and we're going to miss an EJ Burt. But the fact of the matter is you are going to lose guys to free agency. It's going to be important for guys like myself, Kenny Mac, and the other veterans to step up and make more plays."
Hamilton added that while some of the younger receivers have show some promise, it was still too early to tell how much the team would miss Fleming. "Way too early to tell. We have some talented receivers in guys like Scott Cloman and Marquise Walker, but they are going through some growing pains. Hopefully they'll keep improving as the season advances. Neither will replace a Cory Fleming, because players like that are so rare. But collectively, I think we'll be able to score points in the red zone."
PREDATORS PRACTICE NOTES: WR/LB CLIF DELL went down in Friday's practice with a knee injury...early diagnosis by head trainer KEVIN MERCURI suggested an ACL injury but the extent would not be known until after Dell was examined by team physicians...Head Coach JAY GRUDEN said he would work him team lightly on Saturday..."We've been throwing a lot at them lately," Gruden said. "You could sense they were getting a little leg weary. We'll go light for the next day or so."...the team will travel to Tampa Bay on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. scrimmage with the TAMPA BAY STORM.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 13, 2006
- Training camp continues as team returns to field - San Jose SaberCats
- Destroyers and Rush practice together - Columbus Destroyers
- Brigade to Open Practice to Public on Monday - Kansas City Brigade
- Predators' Hamilton Pulling For Colts - Orlando Predators
- Georgia Force Add to Coaching Staff - Georgia Force
- Countdown 'til ignition: day six - Utah Blaze
- Destroyers Meet Rush In Scrimmage - Columbus Destroyers
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