Ironman Insider: Charles Puleri
Tom Goodhines
Tuesday March 14, 2000
It’s a dream that many young boys have while growing up, but very few actually have a chance to live it.
This past Friday, Arena Football League veteran, Charles Puleri, took a step closer to realizing that dream when he signed a contract with the Dallas Cowboys after a workout last week.
“It’s a dream that I have never given up on,” said the 6-1, 210-pound quarterback about getting a chance to make it to the NFL. “I am very happy that I was given this opportunity.”
After graduating from New Mexico State, Puleri piqued the interest of a few NFL teams. “I got a call from Chicago on draft day and Kansas City called a couple of days later,” Puleri said. “But things just didn’t work out. We didn’t make the connections.”
But Charles didn’t give up.
He remained diligent and went to the Canadian Football League to keep playing and to try to get noticed. After stints with Sacramento and Shreveport, he got a call from former All-Arena quarterback and former San Jose assistant coach Tom Porras, who tried to convince him to come to the AFL.
“I hadn’t even heard of Arena Football,” Puleri recalled. “(Porras) was calling me almost everyday, trying to talk me into playing.” But Puleri decided to stay in the CFL.
Puleri’s career then hit a roadblock. While in Shreveport, Puleri suffered an injury and was eventually released by the team. It was at this point that Puleri decided to take Porras up on his offer. He called Porras back, but San Jose no longer had a spot at the quarterback position. Another AFL team was having injury problems at quarterback, so Porras recommended that Puleri call the Miami Hooters. Puleri called, got a workout from Coach John Fourcade, and was signed on the spot.
Puleri’s tour around the AFL and World League included stops in Iowa (where he backed up NFL and Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner), Texas, New Jersey and London.
But Puleri credits Warner’s success for getting NFL personnel to take a closer look indoors.
“Kurt really opened a lot of doors for everyone in this league. There are guys that can play out there,” Puleri said. “(Oronde) Gadsden is in Miami, (Ron) Carpenter is in St. Louis – there are a lot of Arena guys in the NFL. I think the NFL is starting to realize that guys in this league can play.”
Puleri was with the Red Dogs in 1999 when he got an opportunity to throw for Dallas scout Jim Garrett. “I was able to track (Garrett) down. We met at a local high school and I did some throwing drills for him,” Puleri said. “He told me that he liked what he saw – he liked my arm and he wanted to set up another workout in front of some (Dallas) coaches.” Charles would stay in touch.
Meanwhile, the AFL season ended, New Jersey signed former NFL QB Tommy Maddox – releasing Puleri in the process. But again, Puleri landed on his feet. He contacted Tampa Bay Storm coach Tim Marcum who quickly picked him up after viewing some of his game tapes.
Puleri was set. He hit the weight room, ran the track and was throwing the football four times a week in preparation for the upcoming AFL season – when it happened. A call from the Cowboys came and they wanted to see Puleri again.
There is an ironic twist to this story. The son of the scout that originally looked at Puleri in New Jersey, Jason Garrett, left the Cowboys and signed with the New York Giants, which opened up a spot for a quarterback – one like Puleri.
There would be some familiar faces this time around. The Cowboys also brought in Iowa Barnstormer, Aaron Garcia and Milwaukee Mustang, Todd Hammel for a shot at the back-up job behind Troy Aikman and last year’s third-stringer Mike Quinn.
Puleri won the job.
“We were really impressed with his quick feet and his strong arm,” said Dallas Offensive Coordinator, Jack Reilly. “(Charles) has the characteristics and the potential that we are looking for in a quarterback.”
Reilly also added that Puleri’s work ethic and ability to throw a wide range of passes suits him well for the NFL. “In the Arena League, the quarterbacks have to get rid of the ball quick,” Reilly said. “They better – or it will be a long night.”
“I definitely think that Arena Football trains quarterbacks on skills that are needed in the NFL,” Reilly continued. “Look what it did for Kurt Warner.”
Do you have any advice for those who follow in your footsteps, Charles?
“You can’t give up,” Puleri advised. “Don’t rely on your agent to do everything for you. You have to send the tapes and make the calls to the coaches. You have to keep playing. The Arena Football League was there for me and provided me an opportunity to keep playing. I will always be grateful to the league for keeping me in the game and helping me keep my dream alive.”
And the league is grateful to you, Charles, for keeping our dreams alive.
Tom Goodhines was a writer for ArenaFan Online during the 2000 season.
