af2 Clamps Down On Lawless Behavior
Steve Robinson
Saturday June 7, 2003
Greensboro Prowlers defensive specialist Cranston Johnson has been suspended for life from af2 for his actions against a fan during a game against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers on May 23.
In addition, Prowlers lineman Thaddeus Bullard has been suspended for one calendar year for his actions against another player after the same game, arenafootball2 executive director Jay Marcus announced Wednesday.
Following his ejection for fighting, Johnson charged the stands and allegedly struck a fan.
In a letter to Johnson, released by the league, Marcus wrote, "Your behavior was inexcusable and will not be tolerated in our game. According to the Fan`s Bill of Rights, our fans are within their rights to expect, among other things, a wholesome environment for guests and family members, free of violence, profane gestures and language or rude and invasive behavior that could in anyway interfere with a first-class entertainment experience."
It is the first time in af2 history that a player has been suspended for life.
Bullard, who was involved in an off-field fight after the same game, was suspended for one calendar year. This was Bullard`s third altercation of the season. He was involved in two separate incidents in other games this season and was disciplined with fines and single-game suspensions.
"Fighting has no place in the game of football and violent behavior cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. Your repeated failure to keep your emotions in check has resulted in this penalty."
Marcus` decision in both cases came as a result of extensive investigations, including consultation with Arena Football League Commissioner David Baker.
As Peoria head coach Bruce Cowdrey explains it, coaches don’t just evaluate players by their game performance, but also by their character. And when players get to be troublesome on and off the field, coaches try to work quickly to cure the problem.
For Cowdrey, that has meant removing player like Sidney Lewis from the squad. Lewis instigated two fights in two games. “Now, what did I do with Lewis? I sent him packing. These guys are trying to be professional ball players, not professional boxers.
“As soon as Sidney showed me that he couldn’t perform without getting into a fight, then, you know, he was no longer welcome in our organization.
“At this level, (players) all have flaws,” Cowdrey said. “(As a coach,) You have to define that flaw and see if you can work with it. Sometimes the flaw is so deep that, as much as you try to work with it, it just doesn’t seem to improve.”
Discovery of the flaws, Cowdrey said, doesn’t appear until teams “are in the heat of battle. Then, you have to make a decision about that player at that time.”
There had been published criticism of af2’s Chicago office for taking nearly three weeks to dole out punishment for the Greensboro episode, explained Ron Deuter, the developmental league’s media manager.
Deuter said he is unaware of any lawsuits in the works as a result of the Greensboro incident. Even if there were, pending litigation would prevent him from public discussion of those matters.
“Our policy, in the past, and we will probably continue to do so, is we don’t necessarily
make a public announcement for every fine and suspension we hand out,” Deuter said. “Just because we don’t make a public announcement doesn’t mean actions aren’t being taken.”
Greensboro was not the only place where altercations got ugly last weekend in af2. Louisville also saw ugly episodes recently, according to published reports.
Three More Points Wanted: Cowdrey’s 3-5 Pirates are looking to win at Tulsa Saturday. And in the process, find the three points that have eluded them in their previous two meetings with the Talons dating back to last season On June 29 last year and in this season’s opener on March 27, coach Skip Foster’s Talons won each game by the same score – 42-39.
“Hopefully, we can get three more points than we got the last time,” Cowdrey said.
Peoria used the last of its two league-imposed bye weeks last week to “try to work on technique on the offensive and defensive line,” Cowdrey said. “We want them a little more aggressive on defense, (particularly) working against the run.”
Poteete Belongs To Swarm: The Pirates’ defense was probably hoping they had seen the last of Sherrard Poteete, the wily quarterback who made their 72-58 loss to Bossier City worse. After all, Bossier City is not on the remainder of the Pirates schedule.
But, having recently been traded by Bossier City to the expansion Cincinnati Swarm, Poteete, the Southern Illinois product, could be. The Pirates are due to have back-to-back games with the Swarm, first at Carver Arena on July 12, followed by a visit to U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati July 19.
Steve Robinson, a freelance writer since 1984, has written about the Peoria Pirates since the Pirates were members of Indoor Football League, beginning in 1999. He covers the Pirates currently for the Bloomington IL Pantagraph.
