I have to give major props to my agent, Gabe, and his agency, Powerhouse Placement. A few days ago, I was feeling like a Lebron James type of player. I got released and people were anxious to see where I was going to land. I should have made some hype about my choice on all the major social networking sites. I just can't get with the little blue bird right now. Besides, I haven't done anything yet...
As soon as word got out that I was let go, I received phone calls and texts from a few teams from different leagues in a span of 36 hours. I have never had so much interest in me to play. Not even when I was playing pick up games as a kid. I guess I have worked myself into being a commodity or useful asset. Once again, I give props to Gabe and I thank GOD for putting me in position to accomplish my dreams. I would also like to thank the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks for letting me come on, and the Roughnecks, Stampede, Grizzlies, and 89ers for their consideration.
First game of the season is on the 26th. I hope I get to play and I will be on edge, working hard until I hear the word. United we Prey! Let's get it!
That's all for now. I'll check y'all later.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Reading Express Camp
For those of you who pay attention to IFL transaction reports, you may have seen that I was signed by the Reading Express in Reading, Pennslyvania last September. You may have also noticed that I was just released a few days ago. I just want to thank the organization for having me out and giving me a look. We have both since gone in better directions (right?).
Here is just a break down of my short experience with them and what has been going on since:
January 30
My first trip to the Reading area. I chilled with Ryan Archie and his girlfriend after he made the long trip to Philadelphia to pick me up. It was a cool experience. Archie showed me the area a little bit. We talked about what was in store for us. He signed with the Harrisburg Stampede and we were both excited. The morning after I arrived, he took me to get my physical where I met the very professional medical staff. I was gone later that day.
February 5
I met the Head Coach and Line Coach and some other players at a PR event with Berks Technical Institute. It was a pretty live event. There was also a 60 foot sub in attendance. Lucky for it, I was not in lineman mode that day. It was a cool experience. All the players there got to tspeak to the crowd a little bit. Y102 kept the music running...
February 10
I came back to Reading with my family. We made several local trips before I had to be back to the meeting. I saw my uncle and cousin for the first time since high school. We watched the Steelers lose the Super Bowl and ate good food.
The meeting was cool. I saw some of the guys that I would be competing with which included an Express vet, a former Harrisburg player, and a guy fresh from college. I met the Head Coach and Line Coach for the second time. The quarterbacks and running backs were all in attendance except for one guy. Chris Malleo (met in Mexico with Team USA), Andrew Carcich (fellow Powerhouse Placement client), Billy Winters, and Shane Martin were the QBs. Domanick West (came to camp 24 hours within signing) and Rod Gray. Pretty good group of guys.
February 11
My family left and it was pretty sad. It hit me that I was going back into camp solo. I had to shake it off because 24 hours later it was time for business. I moved into my room and met one of my roommates. We had meeting later that night as a whole team. We did all the administrative things and did more introductions. Some of the meeting is on youtube.
February 12
The first day of actual work. This was a two-a-day day. We went to work hard from the opening warm-up. The first practice was non padded. We did a lot of running. The O line did a lot of mechanical things and at the end we did circuit conditioning. The second practice we strapped up and banged a little bit. We did one on ones and had a little install (learning the plays). All in all it was a productive day.
February 13
This day was more or less the same as the previous day. The coaches started talking about getting some defensive reps. That's when I knew what was up. I was still eager to get some reps at defensive line. They ddin't come until the next night. The next night ended up being my last practice with the team. We watched some video of one on ones and then I got the reps at both defensive spots. A Happy Valentine's Day indeed. The HC told the players in the hotel to make sure to be in their rooms in between 9 and 11. The vets knew what that meant...
February 15
10:30 AM a knock at the door. I was the first to get the axe. The guy who came the farthest got sent home first. Crazy. Oh well, it's part of the game. I start hustling to make the next move and make calls to my agent. He works it out to where I ended up in my new home. It couldn't have worked in a better way. It's funny: I'll be playing in the same arena that I had originally planned on playing in on the 26th!
February 17
I'm a Steelhawk and loving it. I'm going to enjoy playing here. The atmosphere is great, from the top to the supposed bottom. I'm loving the city, the area, everything. Time to get to work. Early morning practice in the morning.
Here is just a break down of my short experience with them and what has been going on since:
January 30
My first trip to the Reading area. I chilled with Ryan Archie and his girlfriend after he made the long trip to Philadelphia to pick me up. It was a cool experience. Archie showed me the area a little bit. We talked about what was in store for us. He signed with the Harrisburg Stampede and we were both excited. The morning after I arrived, he took me to get my physical where I met the very professional medical staff. I was gone later that day.
February 5
I met the Head Coach and Line Coach and some other players at a PR event with Berks Technical Institute. It was a pretty live event. There was also a 60 foot sub in attendance. Lucky for it, I was not in lineman mode that day. It was a cool experience. All the players there got to tspeak to the crowd a little bit. Y102 kept the music running...
February 10
I came back to Reading with my family. We made several local trips before I had to be back to the meeting. I saw my uncle and cousin for the first time since high school. We watched the Steelers lose the Super Bowl and ate good food.
The meeting was cool. I saw some of the guys that I would be competing with which included an Express vet, a former Harrisburg player, and a guy fresh from college. I met the Head Coach and Line Coach for the second time. The quarterbacks and running backs were all in attendance except for one guy. Chris Malleo (met in Mexico with Team USA), Andrew Carcich (fellow Powerhouse Placement client), Billy Winters, and Shane Martin were the QBs. Domanick West (came to camp 24 hours within signing) and Rod Gray. Pretty good group of guys.
February 11
My family left and it was pretty sad. It hit me that I was going back into camp solo. I had to shake it off because 24 hours later it was time for business. I moved into my room and met one of my roommates. We had meeting later that night as a whole team. We did all the administrative things and did more introductions. Some of the meeting is on youtube.
February 12
The first day of actual work. This was a two-a-day day. We went to work hard from the opening warm-up. The first practice was non padded. We did a lot of running. The O line did a lot of mechanical things and at the end we did circuit conditioning. The second practice we strapped up and banged a little bit. We did one on ones and had a little install (learning the plays). All in all it was a productive day.
February 13
This day was more or less the same as the previous day. The coaches started talking about getting some defensive reps. That's when I knew what was up. I was still eager to get some reps at defensive line. They ddin't come until the next night. The next night ended up being my last practice with the team. We watched some video of one on ones and then I got the reps at both defensive spots. A Happy Valentine's Day indeed. The HC told the players in the hotel to make sure to be in their rooms in between 9 and 11. The vets knew what that meant...
February 15
10:30 AM a knock at the door. I was the first to get the axe. The guy who came the farthest got sent home first. Crazy. Oh well, it's part of the game. I start hustling to make the next move and make calls to my agent. He works it out to where I ended up in my new home. It couldn't have worked in a better way. It's funny: I'll be playing in the same arena that I had originally planned on playing in on the 26th!
February 17
I'm a Steelhawk and loving it. I'm going to enjoy playing here. The atmosphere is great, from the top to the supposed bottom. I'm loving the city, the area, everything. Time to get to work. Early morning practice in the morning.
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