Preparing for stretch run, Predators make major roster moves
Published on March 22, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. (March 22, 2005) -- In a single day, the Orlando Predators made three blockbuster moves to shake-up their roster for the remainder of the 2005 season. Orlando released defensive specialist Damon Mason, traded starting fullback/linebacker Rupert Grant to the Nashville Kats and signed NFL/AFL veteran Johnnie Harris in a whirlwind of activity.
Both the release of Mason and the trading of Grant were done to clear enough cap space to allow the Predators to sign Harris, a former AFL Defensive Player of the Year. "These moves were made to allow us to compete for an Arena Football League championship," Orlando Predators Head Coach Jay Gruden said. "It became obvious to me in the first half of the season that something was missing. We were a solid team and played very well at times but were not playing at a championship level. Johnnie Harris is a player that can help us to get to that level."
Gruden admitted that both moves were difficult. Mason played for the Predators from 1998-2001, helping the Predators to three consecutive ArenaBowl championship games and a pair of championships. He left for free agency the following year, but was re-acquired by the Predators prior to week 11 of the 2004 campaign. With Mason in the line-up, the Predators won six of their final seven games to qualify for the playoffs. Through eight games this season, Mason led the team with 49.5 tackles, had two interceptions and five pass break-ups. A veteran in his 8th year, Mason has 644.5 tackles with 12.5 tackles-for-loss, 16 forced fumbles, 15 fumble recoveries, 81 pass defenses and 28 interceptions. He was a second-team All-Arena selection three times.
"Damon Mason has meant so much to this organization and it's extremely difficult to let him go on both a professional and personal level. He's the type of player a coach loves to have on his team. He always goes full speed and we're going to miss him on the field and in the clubhouse."
With seven years experience, Mason becomes a free agent and can negotiate with any team in the league.
Grant, one of the league's premiere blocking fullbacks, became a defensive force last year when he tied the Predators team record with 9.5 quarterback sacks. This season, Grant had 12.5 tackles with two quarterback sacks in seven games. He also had three touchdowns rushing.
The loss of Grant is tempered somewhat with the fact that the Predators have two other outstanding fullbacks in second-year players Idris Price and Marlon Moye-Moore. Price has 14 tackles two quarterback sacks in six games this season; while Moye-Moore has five tackles and one pass break-up in four games. Price and Moye-Moore are the two leading rushers on the Predators team and have combined for 135 yards and seven touchdowns on just 30 carries this season.
In exchange for Grant, the Predators will receive future considerations from Nashville.
"All three of our fullback/linebackers could be starting for many teams in the league and we were blessed and cursed with having three good ones. The problem with that scenario is that we can only dress two each week when all three of them deserve to play."
In Harris, the Predators get a proven veteran who has found success at both the Arena and NFL levels. Originally signed by the Tampa Bay Storm in 1996, Harris recorded 38 tackles with six interceptions and two forced fumbles in just seven games. He played in both the AFL and Canadian Football League in the 1997 season, earning All-CFL honors with 61 tackles and five interceptions in 18 games.
Harris returned to the Storm in 1998, earned AFL Defensive Player of the Year honors with a league record 33 pass defenses and 11 interceptions. He had three interceptions in June 12 game against the Predators and also had an interception against Orlando in ArenaBowl XII.
His outstanding season earned Harris a contract with the Oakland Raiders. He would play with the Raiders from 1999-2001, before spending two years with the New York Giants (2002-03). His career stats included 58 NFL games played, with 14 starts. He compiled 156 total tackles with 10 pass defenses, five forced fumbles, one-half sack and five interceptions.
Harris, 6-2, 210, played college football at San Bernadino Community College and Mississippi State, starting all 12 games as a senior and helping the Bulldogs to the 1996 Peach Bowl.
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