Quick hitters: week four
February 27, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
HOT STARTS: Eight expansion teams, including this year's New Orleans VooDoo and Austin Wranglers, started their existence with at least two wins in the 18-year history of the Arena Football League. The EARLE BRUCE-led St. Louis Stampede had the best start, going 5-0 in 1995. Prior to this season, all expansion teams that started the season 2-0 have made the playoffs. With a win this Sunday at Las Vegas (on NBC), New Orleans will have the second-best expansion start ever at 4-0. The only true expansion team to win an ArenaBowl title was the Detroit Drive in 1988.
TEAM YEAR START FINAL RECORD
St. Louis Stampede 1995 5-0 9-3
Iowa Barnstormers 1995 3-0 7-5
New Orleans VooDoo 2004 3-0 ???
Austin Wranglers 2004 2-0 ???
Cincinnati Rockers 1992 2-0 7-3
*Dallas Texans 1990 2-0 6-2
Nashville Kats 1997 2-0 10-4
New Jersey Red Dogs 1997 2-0 9-5
*Dallas lost in ArenaBowl IV to the Detroit Drive.
LIVING IN A FANTASY: Entering this weekend's games, Orlando WR/LB CORY FLEMING is the top player in AFL Fantasy, currently racking up an average of 42.5 fantasy points each week (two games). New York WR/DB WILL HOLDER banked 41 points last week with a standout performance -- nine receptions for 105 yards and four touchdowns -- moving him into the No. 5 spot (31.3 FP/G).
TOP AFL FANTASY POINT PLAYERS
PLAYER, POSITION TEAM FP/G
Cory Fleming, WR/LB Orlando 42.5
Charlie Davidson, WR/DB Austin 33.5
Shane Stafford, QB Tampa Bay 33.3
Cornelius White, WR/LB Columbus 32.0
Will Holder, WR/DB New York 31.3
PHOENIX MAINSTAY: Arizona head coach DANNY WHITE, the Rattlers' first and only head coach in the team's 13-year history, holds the longest tenure of any AFL head coach with one team. Since White joined the Rattlers, on Oct. 10, 1991, the five professional sports teams locally have had a combined 21 coaches.
TEAM NUMBER OF COACHES SINCE â91
Phoenix Suns, NBA 7
Arizona Cardinals, NFL 4
Phoenix Coyotes, NHL 4
Phoenix Mercury, WNBA 4
Arizona Diamondbacks, MLB 2
DOLEZEL 500: Las Vegas' CLINT DOLEZEL needs one touchdown pass this Sunday to become only the fourth professional quarterback to reach the 500 career passing touchdowns. Dolezel surpassed the 25,000 career-passing yards last week in the Gladiators 51-14 win over his former team, Grand Rapids. Las Vegas hosts New Orleans this Sunday on NBC at 3 p.m. ET.
TOP 5 CAREER PASSING TOUCHDOWNS LEADERS
PLAYER, TEAM TDS
Aaron Garcia, New York* 561
Andy Kelly, Detroit* 560
Sherdrick Bonner, Arizona* 543
Clint Dolezel, Grand Rapids* 499
Jay Gruden, Orlando 392
* Active
TOP 5 CAREER PASSING YARDS LEADERS *
PLAYER, TEAM YARDS
Andy Kelly, Detroit 28,532
Sherdrick Bonner, Arizona 27,563
Aaron Garcia, New York 27,510
Clint Dolezel, Las Vegas 25,165
Todd Hammel, Philadelphia 24,393
* All currently active
FEEL THE RUSH: Heading into Week 4, five AFL teams are averaging more than 30 rushing yards per game. By comparison, only one team finished the 2003 season averaging more than 30 rushing yards each game, the San Jose SaberCats. The top five rushing teams have combined for 24 rushing touchdowns to date. The undefeated Chicago Rush lead the AFL with a 42.0 average and seven ground scores. The top individual rusher is New Orleans VooDoo FB/LB DAN CURRAN, who is averaging 6.1 yards per carry and is tied for a league-best four rushing touchdowns. Two of the top five rushing teams go head-to-head this Sunday on NBC at 3 p.m. ET, when the Indiana Firebirds host the Chicago Rush at Conseco Fieldhouse.
TOP 5 RUSHING LEADERS
TEAM YDS/GAME TDS
Chicago 45.5 7
San Jose 42.0 4
Philadelphia 34.0 3
Indiana 33.0 4
Georgia 30.5 6
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 27, 2004
- John Elway to appear on NBC as guest studio analyst - AFL I
- L.A. Avengers sign NFL veteran Jason Moore - Los Angeles Avengers
- Destroyers add Venisee to active roster - Columbus Destroyers
- Caldwell placed on IR, Rush brings Allen back - Chicago Rush
- Road, sweet road - Georgia Force
- Man of Modesty; T.J. Hill Making Big Plays for Gladiators - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Philadelphia Soul acquire OL/DL La'Zerius White - Philadelphia Soul
- Crush activate stukes - Colorado Crush
- Time Warner To Broadcast Cobras Home Game - Carolina Cobras
- John Elway to appear as AFL on NBC guest studio analyst - AFL I
- Rush news - Chicago Rush
- Must-see matchups: week four - AFL I
- Quick hitters: week four - AFL I
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