Preds lead Arena Football League with five on All-Arena Team
Published on June 2, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. (June 2) -- Cory Fleming, who shattered all of Barry Wagner's single season receiving records, and Kenny McEntyre, who led the Arena Football League in interceptions, head a list of five Orlando Predators players named to the All-Arena Team on Tuesday. The five Predators named were the most from a single team among the 19-member Arena Football League. Los Angeles had three players named; while Colorado, New Orleans, San Jose and Tampa Bay had two each.
Fleming had the most prolific year ever by an Orlando Predators receiver. He set single season marks for receptions (131), yards (1,620) and touchdowns (33), breaking Wagner's records of 99 receptions, 1,527 yards and 31 touchdowns from the 1997 season. He added one touchdown rushing.
Defensively, Fleming had 18 tackles, with 1 quarterback sack, 1 interception and four pass defenses. He had nine kickoff returns for 119 yards and one touchdown. It marked Fleming's fourth time (three first-team, one second team) on the All-Arena team. Joining Fleming on the first unit of the All-Arena where teammates Defensive Specialist Kenny McEntyre and kicker Jay Taylor.
McEntyre, a leading candidate for the league's "Defensive Player of the Year" award, led the team in tackles with 85.5, tied for the league lead in interceptions with nine and also had 11 pass defenses. McEntyre was named to the first unit for a fifth consecutive year, one short of the league record for most consecutive selections held by Wagner, who was named to the first unit six consecutive years from 1991-96.
Taylor, who was named to the All-Rookie team yesterday, was the only rookie named to both units. He set an Arena Football League record by hitting 72% of his field goal attempts (18 of 25), obliterating the old record for best field goal percentage of 63.9% set in 2001 by Nashville's Steve McLaughlin. Taylor was also the league-leader in extra point accuracy, converting 79 of 85 attempts (92.9%). He has made his last 38 extra points, setting a new team record for consecutive point-after-touchdowns. He finished third in the league in scoring for kickers, despite missing one game with injury.
Named to the second-unit from the Predators were FB/LB Rupert Grant and OL/DL Jermaine Smith. Grant tied an Orlando Predators single season record with 9.5 quarterback sacks, the most in the Arena Football League by a linebacker. He also was the team's third leading rusher with 151 yards and he scored six touchdowns.
Smith recorded seven sacks and earned second team honors, despite missing the last five games with a knee injury. Orlando's three first-team selections were the most since the Predators placed five players on the first unit of the 1994 All-Arena team.
The first and second units of the All-Arena team include:
ALL-ARENA FIRST TEAM
POSITION PLAYER, TEAM
Quarterback Tony Graziani, Los Angeles
Fullback/Linebacker Dan Curran, New Orleans
Offensive/Defensive lineman Tom Briggs, Austin
Offensive/Defensive lineman Bryan Henderson, Arizona
Offensive/Defensive lineman John Moyer, Chicago
Wide receiver/Linebacker Cory Fleming, Orlando
Wide receiver/Defensive back Kevin Ingram, Los Angeles
Offensive specialist Marcus Nash, Las Vegas
Defensive specialist Kenny McEntyre, Orlando
Defensive specialist Omarr Smith, San Jose
Kicker Jay Taylor, Orlando*
* Indicates Rookie
ALL-ARENA SECOND TEAM
POSITION PLAYER, TEAM
Quarterback Mark Grieb, San Jose
Fullback/Linebacker Rupert Grant, Orlando
Offensive/Defensive lineman Tim Martin, New Orleans
Offensive/Defensive lineman Jermaine Smith, Orlando
Offensive/Defensive lineman Nyle Wiren, Tampa Bay
Wide receiver/Linebacker Lawrence Samuels, Tampa Bay
Wide receiver/Defensive back Will Pettis, Dallas
Offensive specialist Damian Harrell, Colorado
Defensive specialist Rashad Floyed, Colorado
Defensive specialist Kevin Gaines, Georgia
Kicker Remy Hamilton, Los Angeles
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 2, 2004
- Sabercats' Smith Named to 2004 AFL First Team; Grieb Named to Second Team - San Jose SaberCats
- Drive to ArenaBowl XVIII Playoffs begin Saturday - AFL I
- Graziani and Ingram selected to AFL "All-Arena" first team - Los Angeles Avengers
- Chicago Rush game notes - Chicago Rush
- Samuels, Wiren named to All-Arena team - Tampa Bay Storm
- Briggs selected to All-AFL First Team - Austin Wranglers
- Los Angeles Avengers game notes - Los Angeles Avengers
- Floyd, Harrell named to AFL's All-Arena Second Team - Colorado Crush
- Orlando Predators game notes - Orlando Predators
- Moyer named First Team All-Arena - Chicago Rush
- San Jose SaberCats game notes - San Jose SaberCats
- Georgia Force's Gaines named to All-Arena Second Team - Georgia Force
- Preds lead Arena Football League with five on All-Arena Team - Orlando Predators
- Bryan Henderson named First Team All-Arena - Arizona Rattlers
- Arizona Rattlers game notes - Arizona Rattlers
- Colorado Crush game notes - Colorado Crush
- Desperados Pettis Named Second Team All-Arena - Dallas Desperados
- Marcus Nash earns First-Team All-Arena honors - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Arena Football League names All-Arena Teams - AFL I
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