When it is all said and done, a record number of players will provide new hope for 19 AFL teams for the 2004 season. Why? Because of the bidding war for 226 free agents.
Add to that the estimated 540 players from 27 Arenafootball2 teams last season who are hoping to move up a level.
Every team in the AFL will have a new look, including the Grand Rapids Rampage. Grand Rapids has lost 15 players by way of trade, free agency or outright release and has signed 21 new players and re-signed three from last season.
"What is happening to us through free agency is happening to everyone in the AFL," Rampage head coach Bob Cortese said. "Free agents have the right to go where they want to go, usually for more money or to play for a certain coach.
"We would have liked to have signed more of the Rampage free agents, but many of them want to take the opportunity to shop their wares to the highest bidder and their asking price was more than what we were willing to offer.
"So we went out and found some free agents we think are very talented who are a better fit financially."
The Rampage have 13 returning players and 23 new players on their roster. And Cortese expects to add up to five players to the roster before training camp opens in early January. The Rampage will hold an open free-agent tryout Saturday at The Soccer Spot, 3701 32nd Street, in Kentwood. Cost is $50.
"I hope to sign four or five players from our open free-agent tryout and bring them to camp," Cortese said.
Lineman Joe Wylie, who suffered a back injury and missed the final 10 games last season, was released by the Rampage. The 6-foot-3, 332-pounder, who was under contract for the 2004 season, played for Grand Rapids in 1998 and again from 2000 to 2003.
"When I first talked to Wylie he talked about retiring," Cortese said. "Last week he was cleared by our doctors, but we had no interest in re-signing him because of an injury and the fact that he is a high-priced player.
"Wylie expressed an interest of playing closer to home in Texas, so we called the Austin team to work out a possible trade, but they had no interest."
http://www.mlive.com/rampage
Add to that the estimated 540 players from 27 Arenafootball2 teams last season who are hoping to move up a level.
Every team in the AFL will have a new look, including the Grand Rapids Rampage. Grand Rapids has lost 15 players by way of trade, free agency or outright release and has signed 21 new players and re-signed three from last season.
"What is happening to us through free agency is happening to everyone in the AFL," Rampage head coach Bob Cortese said. "Free agents have the right to go where they want to go, usually for more money or to play for a certain coach.
"We would have liked to have signed more of the Rampage free agents, but many of them want to take the opportunity to shop their wares to the highest bidder and their asking price was more than what we were willing to offer.
"So we went out and found some free agents we think are very talented who are a better fit financially."
The Rampage have 13 returning players and 23 new players on their roster. And Cortese expects to add up to five players to the roster before training camp opens in early January. The Rampage will hold an open free-agent tryout Saturday at The Soccer Spot, 3701 32nd Street, in Kentwood. Cost is $50.
"I hope to sign four or five players from our open free-agent tryout and bring them to camp," Cortese said.
Lineman Joe Wylie, who suffered a back injury and missed the final 10 games last season, was released by the Rampage. The 6-foot-3, 332-pounder, who was under contract for the 2004 season, played for Grand Rapids in 1998 and again from 2000 to 2003.
"When I first talked to Wylie he talked about retiring," Cortese said. "Last week he was cleared by our doctors, but we had no interest in re-signing him because of an injury and the fact that he is a high-priced player.
"Wylie expressed an interest of playing closer to home in Texas, so we called the Austin team to work out a possible trade, but they had no interest."
http://www.mlive.com/rampage
