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Rampage Add Three AFL Newcomers

November 22, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


Grand Rapids, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League announced today the signing of kicker Matt McNew and defensive specialists John Barnes and Chris Bayne. All three AFL newcomers signed two-year contracts.

McNew (6-5, 215, Notre Dame) recently completed his first professional season with the Norfolk Nighthawks of arenafootball2. He finished the 2002 season with 98 points, the tenth highest total in the league. McNew was also the third most accurate kicker in extra point attempts, connecting on 83% (62-of-75) of his tries. After a stellar four-year career on the Notre Dame soccer team, McNew migrated over to the football field his senior season. McNew's leg strength earned him a kickoff specialist position for an Irish team that finished the 2000 season with seven consecutive wins and a BCS bid to the Fiesta Bowl.

"Although Matt spent four years in South Bend as a sweeper on the soccer team, he has a great leg and his workout with us in Texas was as impressive as I've seen," said Michael Trigg, Rampage head coach and director of football operations. "Matt showed great field goal range and accuracy to go along with his booming leg, and his experience in af2 makes him an exciting prospect for us in 2003."

Barnes (5-10, 180, Arkansas - Pine Bluff), a former defensive standout at the University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff, enters his first season of professional football. As a senior, Barnes was named the Golden Lions' Defensive Player of the Year, leading the team in tackles with 85. He also registered four interceptions, three sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recovers. For his collegiate career, the 23-year-old Texas native accumulated 255 tackles and eight interceptions.

"Barnes gave us a great demonstration of his physical presence and aggressiveness at our workout in Texas last month. He is a strong and confident player with knockout power from the corner position," Trigg said. "His potential is limited only by his inexperience in the AFL."

Bayne (6-1, 215, Fresno State), a seventh round (222nd overall) draft choice of the Atlanta Falcons in 1997, played in 23 games in two seasons (1997-98) with the Falcons. Although he was primarily used as a special team's player, Bayne was a part of the Falcons' 1998 NFC championship team. Last season, the former Fresno State standout returned home to play for the Fresno Frenzy of af2. In 14 games with the Frenzy, Bayne led the team in tackles (62) and defended passes (16). Bayne's other playing experience includes stints with the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe and Las Vegas Outlaws of the XFL.

"Bayne comes highly recommended to us from our NFL contacts and scouts. He has good size, plays physical in the secondary, and closes on the ball very well," said Trigg. "Along with Barnes, Bayne may be a player to keep an eye on during training camp."

After opening the 2003 season with back-to-back road contests, the Rampage kick off their home schedule with a 3 p.m. NBC affair against the New York Dragons on Sunday, Feb. 16. Full season and mini-plan ticket packages are currently available by calling the Rampage office at 1-888-595-4878.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from November 22, 2002


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