Goal-line stand ends Rattlers' season
AZ Central.com
Jeff Smoker's last-gasp attempt to sneak in from the 1 was stopped by William Haith, and Grand Rapids ran out the remaining seconds for a 48-41 wild-card playoff victory in front of 10,862 Monday night at US Airways Center.

Ex-Mountain Lion helps end Rattlers' season
Tucson Citizen
the final minute to preserve a 48-41 victory against the Arizona Rattlers on Monday night in the wild-card round of the Arena Football League playoffs. ...

Rattlers come up short against Rampage
East Valley Tribune
The Rattlers finished the season 8-9. That’s a big improvement over last year’s 4-12, but coach Kevin Guy vowed their season-ending three-game slide, with all of the losses coming at home, would spur a search for player upgrades.

Rampage pull off upset as MacPherson throws 5 TDs
The Grand Rapids Press - MLive.com
On the biggest stage of his life, James MacPherson didn't let the bright lights keep him from experiencing an unforgettable homecoming Monday night while leading the Grand Rapids Rampage to a thrilling playoff win.

Former MSU QB Smoker enjoying life in Phoenix
MLive.com
The alcohol and substance abuse problems that plagued the former Michigan State quarterback throughout his college career are part of an immature and troubled past that seems like a lifetime ago.

What home-field advantage?
AZ Central.com
The Rattlers didn't need to see the first two Arena Football League wild-card playoff games to realize that having the home-field advantage can be tenuous.

Team looks to get it right at home in playoffs
East Valley Tribune
Home has been less than sweet overall and specifically the last two weeks as the Arizona Rattlers attempt to navigate a victory Monday night for the local faithful in the first round of the Arena Football League playoffs.

Rattlers focus on mental approach
AZ Central.com
Coach Kevin Guy is most concerned with his players' mental approach as he prepares the Rattlers for their Arena Football League wild-card playoff game Monday night at US Airways Center against the Grand Rapids Rampage.

Comeback try too little, late for Rattlers
AZ Central.com
In a matter of six days, the Rattlers went from being one of the Arena Football League's upstarts to a team unable to start a game.

Rattlers fall in regular-season finale to Blaze
East Valley Tribune
The Rattlers have worked hard all season to earn a home playoff game. Now that it’s at hand, is there any way to give it up and play on the road? On Saturday, the Rattlers once again started out lethargically at US Airways Center en route to a 62-45 beating by Danny White’s Utah Blaze.

Turnovers put Rattlers in hole they can't escape
East Valley Tribune
The Rattlers, with a No. 3 playoff seed assured, had nothing much to play for Monday night.

Guy engineers remarkable turnaround for Rattlers
East Valley Tribune
It’s safe to say at this point that Arizona Rattlers coach Kevin Guy is the right guy. But as he explains it, too, he’s just one of the guys.

Sauk to remain starting quarterback
AZ Central.com
seven touchdowns in the Rattlers' biggest win of the season, 73-34, that secured a home game for the first round of the Arena Football League playoffs. ...

Rattlers getting healthy, eyeing playoff run
East Valley Tribune
It’s good to be a Rattler these days. They’re back in the playoffs after a two-year absence. Their schedule allows them a realistic shot at finishing 10-6.

Sauk gives Rattlers a hefty lift
AZ Central.com
Matt Sauk was ready to finally let go, coach a little bit, then figure out what he wanted to do in the real world. Then, his former coach dialed his number.

Rattlers' recovery relieves new boss
AZ Central.com
Rattlers Managing Partner Brett Bouchy couldn't have scripted it better than to see his team clinch an Arena Football League playoff berth Saturday in Orlando, where he spent the past 12 years.

Rampage need all their wins now
MLive.com
Because of a 52-48 loss to the Arizona Rattlers on Saturday night in Phoenix, Ariz., Grand Rapids now finds itself in a must-win situation the last quarter of the season if it wants to make the Arena Football League playoffs.

Rattlers win with late QB sneak, defensive stops vs. Rampage
East Valley Tribune
It took two years, but the Rattlers finally have a winning streak. To get it they relied on two things the Arena Football League isn’t known for, rushing and defense.

Smoker called on again for Rattlers
AZ Central.com
Jeff Smoker has been pressed into action twice for the Rattlers this season after starting quarterback Lang Campbell left with injuries.

Quarterback Campbell out for season with knee injury
Arizona Republic
Rattlers quarterback Lang Campbell is out for rest of the season because of a right-knee injury and will undergo surgery

Rattlers face tall task with QB out for season
East Valley Tribune
Last week’s loss to San Jose was a “game of inches,” Rattlers coach Kevin Guy said. This week, Arizona will need to go to much greater lengths when it visits the top team in the Arena Football League, the Dallas Desperados, on Saturday.

'Tricky' Rattlers hosting VooDoo
East Valley Tribune
If Kevin Guy ever pays a visit to your house, count the silverware both before he arrives and after he leaves. The coach’s sleight of hand is a big reason why the Rattlers have a chance to turn this season into a winning one.

Special teams help Rattlers move into 1st place
East Valley Tribune
The Arizona Rattlers used a 29-point fourth quarter and two key special teams plays to defeat the Tampa Bay Storm, 63-62, Sunday in Tampa, Fla.

Victory Slips Through Storm's Fingers In Final Seconds
Tampa Tribune
Storm coach Tim Marcum has endured plenty of losses in his days, but none has stung as bad as Sunday's.

Campbell likely back at QB for Rattlers
East Valley Tribune
Lang Campbell, apparently recovered from a sprained ankle, looks like he’s back as the Rattlers’ starting quarterback.

Defense holds down Arizona as Rush improves to 4-1
Chicago Tribune
Less than a week after coach Mike Hohensee complained about missed assignments in a big victory over Colorado, the defense bottled up visiting Arizona much of the way to a 59-35 Arena Football League victory at Allstate Arena.

Bonner leads Rush in rout of Rattlers
Arizona Republic
Sherdrick Bonner threw five touchdown passes to help the Chicago Rush beat the Arizona Rattlers 59-35 on Friday night in the Arena Football League.

AFL QB has rooting interest in 'American Idol'
MLive.com
Colorado Crush quarterback John Dutton has a special rooting interest in the outcome of the seventh season of Fox's "American Idol" series.

Bonner is back on top as Rattlers come to visit
Arizona Republic
It's like the mid-1990s all over again for Sherdrick Bonner.

Rattlers’ defense, offense put on a show
East Valley Tribune
Even in the Arena Football League, defense can win games. The Rattlers demonstrated this in spades Friday nights with an amazing 62-33 shutdown of the visiting New York Dragons.

Rattlers seek rebound vs. NY
Arizona Republic
It's only three weeks into the season, and Brett Bouchy's big guarantee is starting to look shaky.

Guy says O-line improving
Arizona Republic
Rattlers coach Kevin Guy said he thought a revamped offensive line showed improvement against San Jose on Saturday.

Breaking it down - 2008 Week Three
Andy Lopusnak, ArenaFan.com
With Week Three of the 2008 Arena Football League season in the books, here are some breakdowns of this past week’s AFL action based on interesting statistical and historical notes, weekly leaders and other things from each game.

QB Campbell to miss 3 games
Arizona Republic
Rattlers quarterback Lang Campbell, who sprained his right ankle running for a touchdown in the second quarter of Monday's 65-33 loss to Los Angeles, will miss the next three games after being placed on injured reserve Thursday.

Back to drawing board for Rattlers
East Valley Tribune
The Rattlers had hoped they had worked some of the kinks out in their big road win to open the season at Utah. Instead, they developed holes in all phases of their game in their home opener in falling, 65-33, to the Los Angeles Avengers Monday night at US Airways Center.

Week 1 Power Poll Rankings
Bleacher Report
Here is the first power rankings going into week 1 of the Arena Football season.

Smoker, Patterson find homes in Arena League
Lancaster Newspapers
Two of the top quarterbacks to ever come through Lancaster County are back in the professional football ranks. Former Manheim Central and Michigan State standout Jeff Smoker and former McCaskey and Syracuse star Perry Patterson will be in uniform when the Arena Football League season gets started the first weekend in March.

New era to begin for Rattlers without Bonner
AZ Central.com
They have a new practice facility, Gene Autry Park in Mesa; a new majority owner, Brett Bouchy; a new coach, Kevin Guy; a new offensive coordinator, Skip Foster; and they will have a new quarterback among 30 new players in camp.