Soul sign wide receiver Tyrone Goard

Harrison Brown
Saturday December 27, 2014

PHILADELPHIA -  The Philadelphia Soul signed wide receiver Tyrone Goard to a contract on Friday. Goard is coming off a very strong rookie season with the Pittsburgh Power. Goard had 29 catches, with 306 yards and 18 touchdown, clearly a very strong red zone threat. Goard is the second former Power receiver to be signed, as James Shaw was signed to San Jose on Tuesday.

“I felt that I could be a big factor to help out the team, I can just be that missing piece to the puzzle.” Goard said in an exclusive interview with ArenaFan. “My best strength I can bring to the Soul would have to be my energy and love for the game.”

Goard will continue a Clint Dolezel tradition in being a tall wide receiver in his offense. In 2011 with the Dallas Desperados Dolezel had John Ferguson and Matt Fields, two 6’2 receivers, and from 2012 to week seven of the 2014 season he had Larry Brackins at 6’5. After dealing Brackins the Soul acquired Markee White from the LA Kiss who walked in the Arena taller than some Sixers players (probably better at basketball too) at 6’7.

“Me fitting into the offense at 6’3 is good because it can cause mismatches and also draw attention away from the running game to help balance out the running and passing.” Goard said.

Goard is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University where he was successful enough to get an invitation to the NFL Combine. After going undrafted he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent before being waived in training camp cuts.

Goard posted on his FaceBook wall that Philadelphia would be where he will continue his journey back to the NFL while still focusing on the business at hand of winning a championship and getting better.

The Soul still have superstar wide receiver Tiger Jones as an unrestricted free agent. Jones has spent the past three seasons with the Soul and is one of the elite receivers in the league. Also a free agent is former open tryout hopeful Ryan McDaniel, whose ArenaBowl XXVI performance sent him into the spotlight of talented AFL receivers. McDaniel’s season was cut short due to an injury in 2014 but look for him to have a bounce back year wherever he lands next season. McDaniel, a Georgia native, remains on IR preventing him from talking with any other AFL teams.