03-19-2002, 08:07 PM
Firebirds re-sign three
Valvo, Thompson & Johnson ink new deals
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (March 15, 2002) - The Indiana Firebirds of the Arena Football League announced today the re-signing of three veterans; Mark Valvo, Leroy Thompson & Van Johnson. Firebirds General Manager Joe Hennessy made the announcement.
"We're extremely excited to have Van, Mark, and Leroy back with us," said Firebirds General Manager Joe Hennessy. "All three guys were instrumental to us winning a championship in 1999 and bringing them all back further proves that winning ArenaBowl XVI remains our sole focus."
Van Johnson (6-1, 200), a member of the Firebirds since entering the Arena Football League in 1999 is fourth on the Firebirds career list in touchdowns scored (45), career receiving yards (1,817), career receptions (170), and all-purpose yards (4,403).
Despite a hamstring injury that hampered him for a majority of the 2001 season, Johnson still managed to catch 45 passes for 471 yards and rack up 765 total return yards, including a career long 50-yard MFG return for a touchdown at Milwaukee in week two. Johnson's best season in a Firebirds uniform came in 2000 when he led the Firebirds in all-purpose yardage with 1,659 total yards.
Leroy Thompson (6-0, 259), the Firebirds career leader in rushing attempts, enters his seventh season in a Firebirds uniform. Over the past three seasons, Thompson's 478 yards rushing is tops among all AFL players and his 26 rushing touchdowns is second only to Tampa Bay's fullback / linebacker, Andre Bowden.
The six-year veteran fullback is second on the Firebirds career list in rushing touchdowns (29) and rushing yards (497). Defensively, Thompson has amassed 61 tackles (46 UT, 30 AT), 3 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries.
Mark Valvo (6-5, 310), entering his tenth season in the Arena Football League, has spent his career in a Firebirds' uniform. His nine seasons of service to the Firebirds is tied for the longest active tenure with the same team. Only Hunkey Cooper of the Arizona Rattlers has played for as many seasons with the same team.
One of the league's most consistent pass protectors, Valvo looks to return from a torn biceps tendon suffered in week 12 of the 2001 season. In nine seasons with the Firebirds, Valvo has amassed 48.5 total tackles (38 UT, 21 AT), five sacks, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
The Arena Football League will kickoff its 16th season on April 19, 2002 with two new teams, the Georgia Force and the Dallas Desperados, owned by Dallas Cowboys ' Jerry Jones. The AFL now has nine NFL owners who have applied for AFL teams and more to come in the near future. Arena Football continues to be the world's fastest growing sport both nationally and internationally totaling more than 50 teams in the AFL and arenafootball2 collectively.
Firebirds season tickets, which include one pre-season game, seven regular season games, and the Firebirds first home playoff game (if applicable) played at the Conseco Fieldhouse, are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 317.917.2500. Individual game tickets go on sale Saturday, March 16th at 12:00 p.m. Firebirds merchandise is also available at the Home Court Gift Shop. For merchandise information, please call 317.917.2755.
Valvo, Thompson & Johnson ink new deals
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (March 15, 2002) - The Indiana Firebirds of the Arena Football League announced today the re-signing of three veterans; Mark Valvo, Leroy Thompson & Van Johnson. Firebirds General Manager Joe Hennessy made the announcement.
"We're extremely excited to have Van, Mark, and Leroy back with us," said Firebirds General Manager Joe Hennessy. "All three guys were instrumental to us winning a championship in 1999 and bringing them all back further proves that winning ArenaBowl XVI remains our sole focus."
Van Johnson (6-1, 200), a member of the Firebirds since entering the Arena Football League in 1999 is fourth on the Firebirds career list in touchdowns scored (45), career receiving yards (1,817), career receptions (170), and all-purpose yards (4,403).
Despite a hamstring injury that hampered him for a majority of the 2001 season, Johnson still managed to catch 45 passes for 471 yards and rack up 765 total return yards, including a career long 50-yard MFG return for a touchdown at Milwaukee in week two. Johnson's best season in a Firebirds uniform came in 2000 when he led the Firebirds in all-purpose yardage with 1,659 total yards.
Leroy Thompson (6-0, 259), the Firebirds career leader in rushing attempts, enters his seventh season in a Firebirds uniform. Over the past three seasons, Thompson's 478 yards rushing is tops among all AFL players and his 26 rushing touchdowns is second only to Tampa Bay's fullback / linebacker, Andre Bowden.
The six-year veteran fullback is second on the Firebirds career list in rushing touchdowns (29) and rushing yards (497). Defensively, Thompson has amassed 61 tackles (46 UT, 30 AT), 3 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries.
Mark Valvo (6-5, 310), entering his tenth season in the Arena Football League, has spent his career in a Firebirds' uniform. His nine seasons of service to the Firebirds is tied for the longest active tenure with the same team. Only Hunkey Cooper of the Arizona Rattlers has played for as many seasons with the same team.
One of the league's most consistent pass protectors, Valvo looks to return from a torn biceps tendon suffered in week 12 of the 2001 season. In nine seasons with the Firebirds, Valvo has amassed 48.5 total tackles (38 UT, 21 AT), five sacks, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
The Arena Football League will kickoff its 16th season on April 19, 2002 with two new teams, the Georgia Force and the Dallas Desperados, owned by Dallas Cowboys ' Jerry Jones. The AFL now has nine NFL owners who have applied for AFL teams and more to come in the near future. Arena Football continues to be the world's fastest growing sport both nationally and internationally totaling more than 50 teams in the AFL and arenafootball2 collectively.
Firebirds season tickets, which include one pre-season game, seven regular season games, and the Firebirds first home playoff game (if applicable) played at the Conseco Fieldhouse, are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 317.917.2500. Individual game tickets go on sale Saturday, March 16th at 12:00 p.m. Firebirds merchandise is also available at the Home Court Gift Shop. For merchandise information, please call 317.917.2755.
I love him. He's like those happy old people who become known for sitting by the side of a busy street and waving to passing cars. People drive by regularly and beep just to see him and get him to wave to them.
That's just like our Arpi... except he doesn't wave or anything. He just says mean things to you.
Nominated for," 2005 poster of the year", by 4 out of 6 mods!
That's just like our Arpi... except he doesn't wave or anything. He just says mean things to you.
GonzoStyle Wrote:I pledge my undying love for Arpi, any retraction of this undying love is to be ignored.
Nominated for," 2005 poster of the year", by 4 out of 6 mods!