Three NFL players fall into Kats' lap
September 6, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release
NASHVILLE (Aug. 6, 2005) - Just a week after AFL All-Rookie lineman Joe Minucci was released by the NFL's Tennessee Titans, thus returning him to the Kats, two more NFL linemen and an NFL defensive back have moved from Nashville's exempt list to the team's active roster.
Defensive linemen Anthony Herron (6-3, 280) and R-Kal Truluck (6-4, 270) and defensive back Eric Joyce (5-10, 193) each spent last season on the Kats' exempt list while playing in the NFL, and all three have now been moved to Nashville's active roster after being released by NFL clubs over the weekend.
Herron was waived by the Atlanta Falcons after spending the 2004 season on the club's practice squad. The 25-year old lineman signed with the Kats as a free agent last Fall after playing with the AFL's Indiana Firebirds in 2004. However, Herron never made it to Nashville after being signed by the Falcons. The former Iowa Hawkeye played parts of three seasons with the Detroit Lions before coming to the Firebirds, where he played in eight games and had eight quarterback hurries.
Truluck was released by the Green Bay Packers after playing in 14 games with the team in 2004. He had 14 tackles and 2.5 sacks for the Packers last year. The 30-year old was claimed by the Kats in the 2004 AFL Expansion Draft, but has not played in arena football since 2002. Truluck played the 2001 and 2002 seasons with the AFL's Detroit Fury, earning Rookie of the Year honors in '01 after recording 18 tackles, 8.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. The next year he was named AFL Lineman of the Year after leading the league with 12 sacks. In 2002, he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, spending the majority of the year on their practice squad. He played in 14 games with the Chiefs in 2003, registering 25 tackles and five sacks. Truluck was traded to the Packers before the 2004 campaign.
Joyce was waived by the Washington Redskins after participating in training camp. He was signed by the Kats last Fall, but never played after electing to play in NFL Europe instead. The former All-OVC star from Tennessee State played with the Chicago Bears in 2002 and has since been in camp with four different NFL clubs (Arizona, Miami, Atlanta and Washington). Joyce is a native of Nashville, having played at Whites Creek High School.
With all three players moving to Nashville's active roster, the Kats now have 21 players on that list. The 2005 AFL Expansion Draft, which will be used to fill the roster of the expansion Utah Blaze, will be held on Sept. 26. Teams are expected to only be able to protect 16 players in the draft.
Thirteen players who played for the Kats in 2005 are free agents. The league's free agent signing period will begin on Oct. 1, more than two weeks later than originally scheduled, due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Teams began contacting free agents on Aug. 31, but cannot sign them until Oct. 1.
The three new additions to Nashville's roster still could be signed by another NFL team. If an AFL player signs with a team in another league, he is automatically moved to that team's Other League Exempt roster, where he remains until he is no longer under contract in another league. At that point, the player is automatically moved back to the AFL squad's active roster.
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