Storm sign sign four, including former NFL first round draft pick

Published on November 11, 2003 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


TAMPA, FL -- The defending ArenaBowl champion Tampa Bay Storm signed four players on Tuesday, including former NFL first round draft pick Antonio Langham, Storm head coach Tim Marcum announced. The Storm also re-signed lineman Nyle Wiren and inked free agents Stoney Case and Jerry Johnson.

Langham (6-0, 190, Alabama) will be a defensive specialist for Tampa Bay. He becomes the highest NFL draft pick to ever sign with the Storm after being selected as the ninth player in the 1994 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.

Lineman Darion Conner had been the highest drafted player to ever play for Tampa Bay after being taken No. 27th overall in the 1990 NFL Draft. Recently signed lineman Shawn King was the No. 36 overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft.

Langham played seven seasons in the NFL, posting 359 tackles, 14 interceptions, and 80 passes defensed in 102 career games. He began his career with the Browns, which eventually moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens. He signed with San Francisco in 1998 and returned to Cleveland in 1999 as part of the new Cleveland Browns. He finished his NFL career in 2000 with the New England Patriots.

"We're extremely excited about getting a player the caliber of Antonio Langham," Marcum said. "I think we've certainly addressed our needs at defensive specialist with Antonio, Del Lee, and Carlos James. We were also able to solidify our line by re-signing Nyle Wiren and we were able to get a pretty darn good quarterback to compete with Shane Stafford and Pat O'Hara."

Wiren (6-2, 250, Kansas St.) enters his seventh season with the Storm. A versatile player, Wiren can play both OL/DL and FB/LB, though he played almost extensively at OL/DL last season. Wiren ranks 10th in Storm history in career rushing attempts (53) and is tied for ninth in Storm history in career sacks (8.5). In 2003 Wiren played in 10 games after returning from off-season shoulder surgery, collecting 6.5 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Case (6-3, 200, New Mexico) played six seasons in the NFL after a stellar collegiate career. Case was a third round draft choice of the Arizona Cardinals in 1995. After a four-year career in Arizona, he joined the Baltimore Ravens in 1999, where he started four games, and was with the Detroit Lions in 2000.

Case set numerous passing records at the University of New Mexico. He was the 1994 Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year and played in the 1994 Blue-Gray All-Star Game. Case will compete with returning quarterbacks Shane Stafford and Pat O'Hara for the starting quarterback position.

Johnson (6-0, 290, Florida St.) played for the Orlando Predators last season, though he saw limited action. A former All-American and All-ACC defensive lineman at Florida State, Johnson was a fourth-round draft choice of the Denver Broncos in 2000. Johnson spent three seasons with the Broncos, seeing action in nine games as a reserve defensive tackle in 2001.

The Tampa Bay Storm begin defense of their 2003 ArenaBowl championship on Sunday, February 8, 2004, when they host the Orlando Predators at 3:00 pm in the St. Pete Times Forum. Season tickets for the 2004 Storm season are on sale now by calling (813) 301-6600. Season tickets are also available at the St. Pete Times Forum Box Office and online at www.tampabaystorm.com.

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