Predators reach roster limit, waive 13
January 23, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. (January 23, 2005) -- When Orlando opens the 2005 season at home against the Colorado Crush next Sunday, their roster will not be a lot different than the one that ended the 2004 season with seven wins in their last nine games. In fact, the Predators could have as many as 16 of the 20 players that lost to Chicago in last year's quarterfinals on the field next Sunday.
That became possible when Head Coach Jay Gruden announced his 2005 roster today, waiving 13 players to get down to the Arena Football League mandated 24-man roster. Ten of the 13 players waived were first-year Predators, including WR-LB Leroy McFadden, OS Kerry Watkins, QB Ryan Schneider, DS Jamie Hatley, FB-LB Chris Morrant, OL-DL Patrick Scott, OL-DL Joe Fantigrassi, OL-DL Deon White, and OL-DL Thomas Pittman.
In addition, the Predators waived AFL veterans WR-DB Andre Cooper, WR-DB Ernest Ross, and OL-DL Shawn King. Ross and King played briefly for the Predators last season; while Cooper played for the Predators in 2002.
Newcomers making the initial 24-man roster included WR-LB Justin Skaggs, OS Jerrian James, OS Jimmy Fryzel, and K Steve McLaughlin. Only McLaughlin has previous AFL experience among the group. James did play in the "arenafootball2" league; while both Skaggs and Fryzel were in NFL training camps last year. Fryzel is a former UCF star.
"When we were able to resign several key free agents from last year's team, I felt pretty good about our roster," Gruden said. "This is the same group of players that won seven of eight at the end of last season. We got most of those players back and we now have a veteran quarterback in Joe Hamilton with a full year of experience. In addition, Travis is healthy (offensive specialist Travis McGriff)."
Gruden added that if there was one disappointment in training camp it was finding depth on the line. "We lost two promising linemen to the NFL and none of the new acquisitions stepped up in training camp," Gruden said. "I feel good about our first six or seven guys, but hopefully we can find one or two more players in the coming weeks to give us that depth you need."
The roster transactions leave Orlando with 23 players on their roster, one under the AFL limit. Gruden will use the open spot for a lineman and could possibly make another roster move to free up an additional spot for a second lineman.
"It's certainly a fluid situation, Gruden added. "Our goal remains to find the best possible 20 players to open the season with."
PREDATORS NOTES: Sunday's season opener with Colorado will kickoff at 12 noon...the game will be televised on NBC Sports...The opener will mark the beginning of Orlando's 15th season in the Arena Football League...The only other original franchise still playing in the AFL is the Tampa Bay Storm, although Denver, New Orleans, Dallas and Columbus also had franchises in the league at that time that either folded or relocated...all four have teams in the league now...Predators season tickets for the 2005 season climbed over the 9,400 mark on Sunday...season tickets, starting at $54 for a 9-game package, are available by calling 407-44-PREDS...single game tickets are also on sale.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 23, 2005
- Kats Set Opening Week Roster - Nashville Kats
- Desperados finalize roster - Dallas Desperados
- Predators reach roster limit, waive 13 - Orlando Predators
- Preds conclude pre-season with scrimmage at Tampa Bay - Orlando Predators
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