Rush announces 2007 roster
February 27, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
Seventeen members of the 2006 ArenaBowl XX champion Chicago Rush - including QB Matt D'Orazio, FB Bob McMillen, WR Bobby Sippio and lineman John Moyer - have returned to defend their title, as the team today announced its 2007 opening day roster.
The group will be joined by just one AFL veteran who was not with the team last season - lineman E.J. Burt - and seven rookies, including former Chicago Bears wide receiver Ahmad Merritt.
"I am excited about getting things started this week," said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. "As we have done every year, we made some changes to our roster from last season, injecting some new blood and energy into our lineup. Overall, I think we might be better now than when we won the title last June."
In order to finalize its roster, the Rush waived WR/LB Etu Molden - the team's all-time leading receiver. In his three seasons in a Rush uniform, Molden caught 264 passes for 3,132 yards and scored 71 touchdowns. He was named to the league's All-Rookie team in 2004 and the All-Ironman team in 2005. Last season, despite missing four regular season games due to injury, he still led the Rush with 67 receptions.
Also waived were DB Trey Bell, WR Jonathan Carter, QB Brett Dietz, OL Jon Doty, DL Kinji Green, DB Todd Howard, WR CJ Johnson, OL Chris Johnson, OL Joe Johnson, OL Tim Popowski, OL Marques Sullivan and FB Lionel Williams.
In addition, linemen Frank Moore and Demetrios Walker, and wide receiver Kevin Beard, will open the season on the team's Injured Reserve list. Under AFL rules none of the players will be eligible to be activated until after Week 4 of the season.
Finally, FB/LB Charlie Cook was forced to retire after being diagnosed this off-season with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy - an abnormal thickening of the heart wall. It is the same condition that afflicted former Loyola Marymount University basketball star Hank Gathers.
The Rush opens its season March 4 at Kansas City on ESPN on ABC at 11:30 a.m. The team's home opener at Allstate Arena is set for 7 p.m. Friday, March 9, against San Jose. Fans wishing to purchase tickets to the San Jose game, or any one of Chicago's eight home games, may order by calling Ticketmaster at (312) 559-1212, or by visiting the Ticketmaster Web site at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets also may be purchased in person at any Ticketmaster outlet or the Allstate Arena box office. Fans interested in season or group tickets can call the Rush at (877) RUSH-TIX or visit the team's Web site, www.chicagorush.com.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 27, 2007
- San Jose SaberCats game notes - San Jose SaberCats
- New York Dragons game notes - New York Dragons
- Tampa Bay Storm game notes - Tampa Bay Storm
- The OSC Interview: Philadelphia Soul offensive coordinator Connell Maynor - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- Jerseys Bar and Grill to Host Weekly Gladiators Radio Show - Las Vegas Gladiators
- AFL Preview Show Tonight on ESPN2 - AFL I
- VooDoo announces radio partnership with Entercom - New Orleans VooDoo
- Las Vegas Gladiators game notes - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Chicago Rush game notes - Chicago Rush
- Colorado Crush game notes - Colorado Crush
- Rush announces 2007 roster - Chicago Rush
- Furrey's Big Ride: AFL Vet Coasts Into Detroit - OSC Original by Warren McCarty
- Utah Blaze game notes - Utah Blaze
- Columbus Destroyers trim opening day roster to 22 - Columbus Destroyers
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.
