Storm set to begin signing players

Published on September 30, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


TAMPA, FL -- The Arena Football League's free agent signing period begins on Friday, and the five-time World Champion Tampa Bay Storm are set to begin adding the final touches to the 2005 squad.

The Storm were active in the league's early signing period, locking up a number of the team's own would-be free agents to long-term deals. Included in that list were QB Shane Stafford, OS Freddie Solomon, WR/DB T.T. Toliver, WR/LB David Saunders, and DS's Jonathan Ordway and Tramain Jones.

The Storm's key targets early in the free agency period will be the players from last year's team who they were no able to sign during the early period, including WR/LB Lawrence Samuels, FB/LB Umar Muhammad, QB Stoney Case, and K Matt George.

"Our main priority right now is to get back all of the guys that we want to keep from last season," said Storm head coach Tim Marcum. "Obviously we want Lawrence back, as well as Umar, Stoney, and Matt. All of those guys contributed positively to our team a year ago."

Along with focusing on those four players, the Storm have also been in contact with some of the top free agents from around the Arena Football League.

"Once we figure out what our guys are going to do, then we will fill the holes with some AFL veterans and some young guys who have been in NFL camps," Marcum continued. "We've been in contact with some top guys who we think can help make us better. It will be exciting to see how things shake out."

The Storm have already agreed to terms with one free agent and hope to sign him in the coming days. Marcum confirmed that WR/DB Omar Laurence will join the Storm. Laurence played collegiately at the University of Central Florida and prepped at Largo High School in the Tampa Bay area.

Laurence (5-10, 190) played cornerback in 2002 and 2003 at UCF and became one of the top defensive players ever at the school. He didn't give up a touchdown pass in the two seasons, recording 123 tackles, 17 pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and an interception in 21 games. He attended a rookie minicamp this past off-season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was named the MVP of the camp.

The Storm enter the free agent signing period with 15 players under contract. The team can bring up to 37 players to training camp, which will start during the first week of January.

The Storm open the 2005 season in late January at the St. Pete Times Forum. Season tickets are on sale now at the St. Pete Times Forum Box Office. Tickets may also be purchased via the telephone at (813) 301-6600 or online at www.tampabaystorm.com.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from September 30, 2004


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