Who Says You Can’t Come Home Again?
Adam Markowitz
Thursday February 9, 2006
The trend of former Predators now residing in Philadelphia begins with DS Kevin Gaines. Now considered a premier defender in the league, Gaines began with the Orlando Predators in 1998 as a rookie. That season, he helped the Predators complete their unlikely playoff run, winning back to back road games, the last of which was against the Tampa Bay Storm, 62-31 in Arena Bowl XII. In his two year stint with the Predators, Gaines amassed 62 tackles, 10 pass breakups, two interceptions, and two recovered fumbles. He joins Philadelphia this year, having helped lead the Georgia Force to the Arena Bowl last season.
Joining Gaines in the defensive backfield is another departed Predator, DS Reggie Doster. Doster’s roots in Orlando are quite deep, as he not only began his career as a Predator in 2002, but he was also a three year starter as a defensive back at the University of Central Florida, as well as a member of the Orlando Rage of the short-lived XFL. Doster spent three years total in two stints with the Predators as a WR/DB. 183.5 tackles, two interceptions, and 20 pass breakups later, Doster heads to Philadelphia having studied the arts of covering and hard hitting under former Predator and current Austin DS Damon Mason, who currently leads the league with a ridiculous five interceptions in just two games as a Wrangler.
Trying to build on a defensive line that posted just 15 sacks last season, Philadelphia brought in former Orlando OL/DL Ernest Allen. Allen joined the Preds during the 2000 season from the Milwaukee Mustangs, and immediately had an impact, helping the Predators defense hold Nashville to just 38 points, along with recording the game’s opening score, a safety on QB Andy Kelly in Orlando’s 41-38 victory in Arena Bowl XIV. In his three year career as a Predator, Allen amassed 16.5 sacks, good enough to be named to Orlando’s 20 Most Significant Predators list.
Along with Allen, the Soul also added perhaps their most prized possession in this off-season, standout OL/DL EJ Burt. I remember seeing Burt play in Orlando for the first time and thinking to myself, "man, that’s a tiny fullback we’ve got out there." Burt was no fullback, and his size (generously listed at 6’2", 265 lbs) certainly didn’t stop him from becoming Orlando’s all-time leading sack man, with 24.5 in his three years with the Predators. He departs for Philadelphia hoping to bring the Soul the same intensity and game-changing ability he brought to Orlando.
WR/DB Michael Brown rounds out the former Predators on the roster for Philadelphia. An exciting game breaker in his own right on offense, defense, and special teams, Brown tallied 22 catches for 284 yards and eight TDs (six rushing TDs), as well as 50 tackles and two interceptions in his two year career as a Predator. Everyone in the crowd knew that any time Michael Brown was on the field, something electric was probably about to happen, and he hasn’t let down Philadelphia so far, averaging 152.5 all-purpose yards per game with four touchdowns, along with an interception so far on the season.
Finally, having gone through a number of coaches that didn’t fit the mold, Ron Jaworski and Jon Bon Jovi think they’ve finally found their man to run the sidelines, in former Predators’ assistant coach, Bret Munsey. Having served as both Orlando’s offensive and defensive coordinator in his three year tenure as a Predator, Munsey certainly has a great grasp on the game. While the defensive coordinator, the Predators rolled up some pretty impressive numbers. The 2005 campaign saw the Predators rank third in scoring defense (47.2 ppg) and fifth in total defense (262.2 ypg), along with a trip to the conference finals. Oh, and just when you thought the former Predator players were complete, Munsey was also a Predator way back in 1991, recording two catches for 29 yards in his career.
Having been privileged watched these players grow up and mature as Arena Football players, I, quite naturally, was saddened to watch them move on. But I rest easier knowing that Coach Munsey got the head coaching job he deserved and that these players all got the paydays they had coming to them. I realize that the AFL is a business for the players, a world where free agency means more money, and that all of these players were considered amongst the "high profile free agents." None of the players were team cancers. None of them gave less than 100% every time they put on the black and red. It is without question, that these players all helped propel the Predators into the spotlight as one of the premier franchises in the Arena League, and for that, the Jungle should show their departed players the respect they deserve before Saturday night’s important National Conference meeting. Welcome home and thanks for the memories, guys.
Adam Markowitz is an accountant living in Orlando. Adam is an old school AFLer, having followed the AFL since 1991. He attended or covered well over 200 games, including 17 ArenaBowls. Adam worked for the Arena Football League for two years as a columnist and historian before retiring in 2017 when the 50-yard indoor war left the Sunshine State. Adam still muses about the AFL on ArenaFan from time to time, and you can follow him on Twitter @adammarkowitzea.
