NEW YORK – All 17 Arena Football League teams are staying busy this offseason by re-signing players, hosting open tryouts, participating in various community activities and much more.
Following is a team-by-team rundown of the latest happenings around the AFL:
Arizona: DB ARIC WILLIAMS is substitute teaching and coaching football at Diamond Bar High School in Los Angeles , CA .
Chicago: The Rush named ERNESTO PURNSLEY its defensive line coach...Chicago hosted the first open tryout of the 2008 offseason on Saturday, September 6 at the Rush practice facility.
Cleveland: The Gladiators partnered with KOOL-AID and KaBOOM! to help build a playground on Cleveland’s West Side on Friday, August 8...Rudi, the Gladiators’ mascot, made an appearance at the Warehouse District Street Festival on Sunday, August 24...Rudi and members of the Gladiators’ front office participated in the Labor Day Oktoberfest at the Cuyahoga County Fair Grounds in Berea, OH...The Gladiators also participated in the 2008 First Merit Patriot Bowl Tailgate Party in Downtown Cleveland, prior to the Kent State-Boston College game on Saturday, August 30.
Colorado: QB JOHN DUTTON is coaching quarterbacks and wide receivers at the College of the Siskiyous in Weed, CA...DL AARON MCCONNELL is coaching the defensive line of Girard High School in Pittsburg, KS...DB DELVIN HUGHLEY is the strength and conditioning coach at Niwot High School in Longmont, CO.
Columbus: QB MATT NAGY spent time at the Phil adelphia Eagles training camp as an intern assistant coach working with quarterbacks. He is currently the offensive coordinator for Palmyra (PA) High School...QB JUSTIN ZWICK is spending the offseason working for Columbus ’ CBS affiliate, WBNS 10-TV, and Ohio News Network on their sports shows, including Ohio State football pre- and post-game shows.
Dallas: Head coach WILL MCCLAY is working as a pro scout for the Dallas Cowboys...QB CLINT DOLEZEL worked as a color analyst for the Dallas Cowboys radio network during the Cowboys preseason games...The Desperados host their first open tryout of the offseason on Saturday, September 13 at the San Diego Chargers practice facility in San Diego, CA.
Georgia: Head coach DOUG PLANK is currently working as a member of the Atlanta Falcons coaching staff...QB CHRIS GREISEN is coaching high school football at Green Bay Southwest High School in Green Bay , WI .
Grand Rapids: The Rampage re-signed QB JAMES MACPHERSON, WR COLE MAGNER, DE GEORGE GAUSE, LB MICHAEL MCFADDEN and DE TOM JOHNSON.
Kansas City: The Brigade will host an open tryout on Sunday, October 12 at the Kansas City Soccer Dome.
Los Angeles: Avengers QB SONNY CUMBIE is working as a color analyst for the Texas Tech football radio network...WR J.R. TOLVER filmed an instructional video/interactive Web site game for the NFL, which will debut in Europe in October.
New Orleans: The VooDoo announced the re-signing of DL HENRY BRYANT, LB NORMAN LEJEUNE, FB JAMES LYNCH, OL/DL KEVIN MCALMONT, DB LIN-J SHELL and DL MICHALE SPICER.
New York: New owner STEVEN SILVA officially took over control of the team on Friday, July 25...The Dragons re-signed QB AARON GARCIA.
Orlando: Predators head coach JAY GRUDEN is currently an offensive assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...QB SHANE STAFFORD is the quarterbacks coach at Tampa Catholic High School...DL B.J. COHEN and DB KENNY MCENTYRE recently received their personal trainer’s licenses...The Predators will host their first open tryout of the season on Saturday, September 13 at the Florida Citrus Bowl’s Thunder Field.
Philadelphia: The Soul held its annual Summer Slam event in Wildwood, NJ on Saturday, August 9 with appearances by OL PHIL BOGLE, OL MARTIN BIBLA, FB/LB WES OURS, FB/LB CLIFTON SMITH and assistant head coach JERRY ODOM. The event featured live music, a silent auction, flag football tournaments and performances by the Soulmates. All proceeds from Summer Slam went to the Bill Osborne Foundation and the Phil adelphia Soul Charitable Foundation...Offensive coordinator CONNELL MAYNOR is the quarterbacks coach at Fayetteville State University .
San Jose: The SaberCats will host their first open tryout of the offseason on Saturday, September 20 at San Jose ’s practice facility.
Tampa Bay: Storm WR TYRON TIMMONS is coaching wide receivers at Tampa Catholic High School ...DB RAYSHUN REED returned to Troy University to continue working on his degree...OL TOM KALEITA returned to his home state of Michigan and was married on Saturday, August 2.
WR/LB LAWRENCE SAMUELS promoted the Huntington Learning Center ’s free tutoring program by scrimmaging with Pasco County youth at Veterans Memorial Park on Sunday, August 24. The Storm also donated backpacks to the Huntington Learning Center.
Utah: The Blaze announced the re-signing of OL DEVIN WYMAN and named TONY KIMBROUGH as its new offensive coordinator.
QB JOE GERMAINE is the quarterbacks coach at Mesa Community College and Basha High School in Chandler , AZ. ..QB JASON GESSER is the offensive coordinator at Franklin Pierce High School in Tacoma , WA and is a commentator for Fox Sports Network.
