Sports stats



AFL I Arizona Rattlers

Rattlers Re-sign Four

June 30, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Arizona Rattlers News Release


PHOENIX - Four more players that would have been eligible for free-agency after today's signing deadline have re-signed with the Arizona Rattlers, head coach/general manager Gene Nudo announced today.

Wide receiver/defensive back Curtis Fagan and offensive specialist Darrell Jones agreed to a one-year contracts, while offensive/defensive linemen Steve Mascorro and Jeff Ruffin each inked two-year deals.

Fagan (6-0, 175 pounds) posted career-highs in receptions (40), receiving yards (610) and touchdowns (12) in his third AFL season and first in Arizona. Defensively, he had 21 tackles, a pass breakup, an interception and a sack in 11 games before injuring his ankle in Week 14 which forced him to miss the remainder of the year. Before joining the AFL, he was a four-year letterman at the University of Oklahoma where he won a national championship in 2000.

"Curtis was a very effective player up until he got hurt," said Nudo. "He is a guy that knows what winning is about, being a former national champion. We are glad to have him back."

Jones (5-8, 190) will be entering his second season with the Rattlers after a rookie campaign that was cut short by injury. He made the Rattler's roster after spending the first month of the season on the team's practice squad, recording nine catches for 185 yards in five games. On special teams, he returned 12 kicks for 317 yards. In his first game as a return man, Jones broke a franchise record by returning two kickoffs for touchdowns against Orlando on March 10, 2006. He followed up the performance with 176 receiving yards the following week in Las Vegas.

"He is a guy with unlimited potential," Nudo said. "In the short time he played, he proved to be the real deal."

Mascorro (6-5, 315) returns for his third season with the Rattlers after appearing in 11 games last year while registering three tackles and a sack. The two-year veteran is also close to receiving his real estate license.

"I think he's competed well the past two seasons and gotten the attention of other guys," Nudo said. "It will be good to have him back in Arizona, both as a player and a businessman."

Ruffin (6-4, 295), who joined the Rattlers late last season, tallied three tackles in three games. He played an instrumental role in Arizona's playoff win over Utah on May 20, 2006, registering three and a half tackles and two sacks in the win.

"He was extremely productive towards the end of the season," Nudo said. "We were glad to have him down the stretch, as he complimented other linemen like Wendall Gaines well."

With the signings, Arizona currently has 16 players on their active roster under contract.

Rattler season tickets for the 2007 campaign, which begins in January, are now on sale and can be purchased by calling 602-514-TDTD or online at www.azrattlers.com.

• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 30, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central