Storm sign two, place Wiren on IR

March 19, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


TAMPA, FL -- The Tampa Bay Storm signed a pair of players and placed OL/DL Nyle Wiren on the injured reserve list, head coach Tim Marcum announced Friday.

Wiren suffered a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder in last Sunday's game against the New York Dragons. He will miss a minimum of two weeks before being re-evaluated.

Prior to the injury, Wiren was putting together one of his best seasons. He currently is tied for third in the league with 3.0 sacks. His career high for sacks in a season is 3.5.

In other roster moves, the Storm signed former Carolina Panthers center Louis Williams to the 24-man roster and former University of South Florida star quarterback Marquel Blackwell to the practice squad.

Williams (6-4, 285, LSU) was a seventh round draft pick by the Panthers in 2001. He played in two games for the Panthers in 2002 and was on the Panthers' practice squad for part of their 2003 Super Bowl season.

Williams, a native of Ft. Walton Beach who prepped at Choctawhatchee High School, was an All-SEC selection and played all five positions on the offensive line while playing collegiately at LSU from 1997-2000.

Blackwell (5-11, 185, South Florida) was a four-year starter who wrote nearly all of the school's single game, season, and career passing records. A mobile passer, he completed 795-of-1,417 passes for 9,008 yards, 67 touchdowns, and 28 interceptions while starting 42-of-44 games. He also rushed for 1,235 yards and 20 scores on 402 carries, averaging 232.8 yards per game in total offense.

The Dixie Hollins (St. Petersburg, Fla.) High School product signed a free agent contract with the New York Jets following his days at USF and took part in training camp before being released prior to the start of the 2003 regular season. Blackwell started the Jets' preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles and completed 11-of-18 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns in three preseson games.

The defending ArenaBowl champion Tampa Bay Storm begin a two-game road trip on Sunday, March 21, when they take on the Carolina Cobras in Charlotte, NC. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 pm, and the contest can be heard live on 1250-AM WHNZ.



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