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Storm Off-Season Report I

September 11, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


Tampa - The Arena Football League recently announced that the free-agency signing period for the 2009 AFL season will begin Wednesday, October 15. Teams will be permitted to contact free agents beginning Wednesday, October 1.

There are currently 171 AFL players available for free agency, including 2008 AFL MVP Matt D'Orazio who led the Philadelphia Soul to its first ArenaBowl title this past season. There are seven current free agents who played with the Tampa Bay Storm this past season; DL Tom Briggs, QB Stoney Case, K Seth Marler, C Marcus Owen, DB Traco Rachal, WR Lawrence Samuels and LB Nyle Wiren.

The Storm cannot renew talks with these players or any other free agent until the start of October. That does not mean that League rosters will remain static until that time as teams are able to make trades. The dead period for trades starts approximately in mid-season and ends the Monday after ArenaBowl.

A strong nucleus from this past season is set to return for the 2009 season, including most of the offense. A total of 20 players are signed for 2009 including six starters from the most productive offense in team history. On the defensive side of the ball five starters are signed for next season.

Returning Players

Here is a breakdown of the 20 players currently under contract from this past season; five defensive backs, four defensive lineman, four wide receivers, three offensive lineman, three fullback/linebackers and one quarterback.

Quarterback (1) - Brett Dietz

Dietz (16 games-16 starts, 377 com., 586 att., 4,574 yd., 86 td., 12 int.) just completed his second season. The 2007 AFL Rookie of the Year did not suffer a sophomore slump as he led the most prolific offense in franchise history as the team set a franchise record for touchdowns scored and total points. Along the way, Dietz tied the franchise single-season mark for touchdown passes thrown (86) and became the fastest quarterback in League history to reach 4,000 yards passing.

Free agent: Stoney Case

A four-year AFL veteran, Case backed-up Dietz the entire season and started three games in 2007.

Fullback/Linebackers (3) - Torrance Marshall, Terrence Royal and Phil Glover

Marshall (15-15, 73 att., 100 yd, 23 td., 24 tkl, 2 sk., 1 fr) set the franchise single-season rush touchdown mark for the second consecutive season. A fiery player, he plays on both sides of the ball and earned Ironman of the Month in April of 2008 and All-Ironman honors this past season. Royal (2-2, 1 att., 2 yd, 0.5 tkl) is an exciting young player with local roots. The team will look for increased production from him in 2009. Glover (9-9, 8 att., 11 yd., 3 td., 10.5 tkl., 2 sk, 3 fr) came over in a mid-season trade with the San Jose SaberCats. He teamed up with Marshall to play Mack line backer and fullback.

Free Agent: Nyle Wiren

An 11-year veteran, he is the third all-time sack leader in franchise history. He played in 11 games this past season and recorded a career high 22.5 tackles.

Wide Receivers (4) - Hank Edwards, Sedrick Robinson, Terrill Shaw and Tyrone Timmons

Edwards (14-14, 85 rec., 1,348 yd., 30 td.) and Timmons (5-0, 23 rec., 267 yd., 13 td.) are quietly emerging as the best young duo of receivers in the AFL. Edwards, a tall speedy receiver, finished second in the AFL in yards per catch and earned Storm Offensive Player of the Year. Timmons joined the active roster late in the season and made an immediate impact as one of only six receivers in AFL history to record three or more touchdown receptions in his first three games. Shaw (9-9, 42 rec., 654 yd., 10 td.) is the wily veteran of this group. Despite fighting through various injuries this season he proved he can still play at a high level, as 36 of his 42 receptions went for first downs, proving he is still a go-to-receiver. Robinson (12-5, 44 rec., 450 yd., 5td, 67 kor., 1,119 yd., 1 td) is a threat to score from anywhere on the field. The AFL all-time kick off return yardage leader has more returns for a touchdown than anyone else. He finished this past season with six 100-yard return games.

Free Agent: Lawrence Samuels

The AFL's all-time leading receiver just finished his 14th season in the AFL. He is the franchise leader in numerous categories and one of the faces of the franchise. While a free-agent, expect to see him in a Storm uniform next season.

Offensive Line (3) - Emmanuel Akah, Kenyatta Jones, Tom Kaleita

For the first time in several years the majority of the offensive line is set to return for another season. Akah (11-11, 2 sk.) was the surprise rookie lineman that jumped onto the line after an injury to Jones. Akah had a solid rookie season on the left side. Jones (9-9, 2 sk.) started off well until he suffered a season ending injury. With the off season to heal and deal with issues he should return to be a dominate force on the line. Kaleita (12-12, 5 sk.) over came an injury to his right wrist his rookie season and led all lineman in receptions. He is a big lineman that has the ability to get down field.

Free Agent: Marcus Owen

Owen manned the center of the offensive line for the Storm the past two seasons. He has the ability to play on both the offensive and defensive line (nose tackle); and is a tremendous special teams player. No one in the AFL has more blocked kicks over the past three seasons than Owen.

Defensive Line (4) - Ernest Certain, Clifford Dukes, Kelvin Kinney and Tim McGill

Certain (6-1, 2.5 tk.) is the most versatile lineman on the team as he can line up in eight different positions. Dukes (1-1, 1 tk) is a promising young talent that will return after seeing action in one game. Kinney (14-14, 15 tk., 7.5 tfl, 4.5 sk., 2pbu, 1 fr, 1 blk) is the veteran of the group and led the team in sacks this past season. McGill (15-15, 14.5 tk., 6.5 tfl, 4 sk., 3 ff) is a disruptive force up the middle that manhandles opposing centers. He led the team in pressures and is the most disruptive lineman of the group.

Free Agent: Tom Briggs

Briggs is third all-time in the AFL in sacks and has the second most sacks on the team over the past two seasons.

Defensive Backs (5) - Daryon Brutley, Byron Jones, Jeroid Johnson, Reggie Lewis and Rayshun Reed

Brutley (9-2, 14.5 tk.) just completed his first season with the Storm and is signed through next season. He may be the most athletic defensive back on the team. Jones (4-2, 14.5, 2 pbu, 1ff) is signed through 2009. A tough player, he has struggled through injuries the past two seasons and finally hit stride at the end of this past season. Look for him to spend the off-season working on his leg problems and to report to camp ready to make an impact. Johnson (16-16, 96 tk., 13 pbu, 4 int., ) is the leader in the defensive backfield. He has one of the hardest jobs in all of sports covering the high-motion receiver and he did that on nearly every snap this past season. He finished eighth in the AFL in tackles. Lewis (0-0) spent the latter part of this past season on the practice squad and made enough of an impression on the coaching staff to recive a contract for next season. He is a young defensive back that is rough with opposing receivers. Reed (15-12, 57 tk., 5 pbu, 3 fr., 1 ff, 1 int.), an All-Rookie performer two season ago may have been one of the most consistent defensive backs on the field in 2008. Despite struggling with injuries early in the year he came back to finish third on the team in fumble recoveries.

Free Agent: Traco Rachal

A big, physical defensive back, Rachal led the team in interceptions in 2008 and the AFL in special teams tackles.

Kicker (0) - None

Free Agent: Seth Marler

Marler, the kicker the past two seasons, is the most productive kicker in franchise history. He is the franchise leader in points scored and converted the second most field goals. He was a finalist for the 2007 Kicker of the Year.

The Tampa Bay Storm, presented by Champs Sports, look forward to next season with many key players from 2008 returning. All-Arena defensive lineman Tim McGill, quarterback Brett Dietz, wide receivers Hank Edwards and Tyrone Timmons among others will be back to take the 2009 AFL season by storm. For 2009 Storm season ticket information please call 813.301.6600.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from September 11, 2008


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