Rattlers fight through late-season aches, pains

• The Rattlers were so short at receiver Wednesday that CB Marquis Floyd was taking reps there.
• On Monday, the Rattlers signed 5-foot-11, 195-pound receiver Andrew Helmick.
• Rattlers coach Kevin Guy wants his players to take better care of their bodies.

The Rattlers are used to being so stacked at receiver that coach Kevin Guy's biggest task each week is to figure out which four to dress for games.

At practice Wednesday, they were so short at receiver that cornerback Marquis Floyd was taking reps at that position.

Rod Windsor was on the side, getting work in with strength and conditioning coach Leland Rodgers. Maurice Purify was holding a bag of ice on his knee.

Kerry Reed has been the only receiver to not miss a game with an injury, and he usually is the fourth receiver who starts at jack linebacker.

On Monday, the Rattlers signed 5-foot-11, 195-pound receiver Andrew Helmick.

The Rattlers have dealt with injuries all season at key spots, including center with Jeff Maddux suffering a knee injury early in the season. He has not played since May 11.

"We're going to have evaluate that in the offseason," Guy said. "We need to make sure we have durable guys at all positions. This 'on again, off again' stuff is getting old.

"At the end of the day, you've got to take care of your body. That's part of the deal. That's part of being a pro."

After Sunday's game, in which Windsor went head over heels over the wall to make a touchdown catch, the wide receiver said, "I'm beat up."

Play to win

Guy could be cautious and hold players nursing minor injuries out of Saturday's regular-season finale in Orlando, but he said his team is playing this game to win.

The Rattlers (15-2) host the Portland Thunder (5-12), which it just got done beating for a third time, in the first round of the Arena Football League playoffs on Aug. 3 at 3 p.m..

"We want to go into the playoffs with momentum," Guy said. "We're going to try to win the football game. We'll worry about the playoffs when we get to the playoffs."

Desert heat

The Rattlers were pushing through a late-morning practice with the temperature pushing 105 degrees.

Guy's motto is, "The desert is part of being a Rattler."

"Some days guys come out there feeling sorry for themselves, but at the end of the day, if we're sitting at home watching the ArenaBowl on TV, we have nobody to look at but in the mirror."

Mis-reads

Quarterback Nick Davila said his shoulder and arm are holding up great this season. He said there is nobody to blame but himself for his struggles the past three games in which the Rattlers went 1-2.

Davila was 8 of 22 in a 62-33 loss in San Jose; he fumbled twice and was intercepted twice in a 73-66 loss in Spokane, and he was 20 of 39 passing in the 65-55 win over Portland.

"I've got to get better making decisions in the pocket," said Davila, who leads the league with 121 touchdown passes. "It's me not focusing, me not taking what the defense gives us. It's on me. The linemen did a great job. The receivers did a great job. We'll be fine. We're going to keep fighting."