Sea Wolves have a Long Climb Ahead

Padraic Meehan
Saturday June 3, 2000

After three seasons of being the butt of every joke about the Arena Football League, the New England Sea Wolves/New York CityHawks have made a 180-degree turn. Heading into Week 8, they stand at 5-2, the same number of wins they had in their two years of play at Madison Square Garden.

New England has defeated some of the league`s toughest contenders and perennial favorites for the ArenaBowl. In Week 1, they stunned the Tampa Bay Storm in their home turf, the Ice Palace. Chad Salisbury completed 21 of 36 passes, 6 apiece to star receivers Damian Harrel and Charlie Davidson as the S`Wolves defeated Tampa 41-26 in front of 11,224 astonished fans. Three weeks later when the defending AFL champion Albany Firebirds came to town, Hartford`s own met the challenge. Salisbury threw 21 passes and completed 32 for 7 touchdowns as the Wolves scored with 7:03 left in the game to win 52-49.

Damian Harrell broke his arm and will be out for the season Image courtesy of Dave Williams

Things have not been all smiles this season though, in particular, during their most recent game against the Buffalo Destroyers. Despite an 11 point rally to win the game, this victory came at a very steep price. Not only did the Sea Wolves lose Quarterback Chad Salisbury with an injured hip, but also out for the season is Wide Receiver/Defensive Back Damian Harrell. The injury sent chills down the spine of New England`s faithful who saw Harrell hauled into the locker room with a similar injury last season in only the 4th game of his short AFL career. With Salisbury out for the season, this leaves the able, but untested quarterback Tim Carey, one of the 12 rookies on the Wolves` 24-man roster. In his short time in control, he has proven he can rise to the occasion. He connected to Davidson with 44 seconds left to give the Sea Wolves their 5th W of the season, 37-34. Carey may be a rookie to the AFL, but not to Indoor Football. Last spring he was with the Hawaii franchise in the IPFL.

The future is uncertain, however, and the climb will be fierce, but gradual. June 3rd they will play the fledgling Los Angeles Avengers who have yet to win a game.

In their final possession of the game against Buffalo, New England stalled in the Red Zone prior to the TD. Chad`s shoes will be hard to fill, as he was on target to shatter AFL rookie records in completions, attempts, touchdowns, and total yardage and join the likes of Mike Pawlawski and Shedrick Bonner.

The Sea Wolves have a diverse schedule ahead of them, playing the New Jersey Red Dogs (Who they will play twice), the winless Los Angeles Avengers, the chaotic Carolina Cobras, and the untested Oklahoma Wranglers. On the other hand, they must also face the San Jose SaberCats, whose OS Steven Papin was given the league`s coveted "Don`t Blink Award" last year; the Arizona Rattlers, whose WR/DB Hunkie Cooper was last year`s Ironman of the Year; and the Orlando Predators, who were last year`s ArenaBowl runners-up, but are still hungry with football mastermind Jay Gruden at the helm.

Let’s see if the Sea Wolves this Saturday can prove they are not a 2-man show. Can Charlie Davidson and Tim Carey turn it up a notch to sink the struggling Los Angeles Avengers and improve their record to 6-2? There’s only one way to find out. Be there as they begin the second half of the season June 3rd at the Hull (Hartford Civic Center.)

 

The opinions expressed in the article above are only those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts, opinions, or official stance of ArenaFan Online or its staff, or the Arena Football League, or any AFL or af2 teams.

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