[bears9]

DL Rahim Abdullah (Grand Rapids Rampage) – A former second-round pick of the NFL Cleveland Browns in 2000...Is a rookie by AFL standards but brings a ton of professional football experience to the Rampage...According to Rampage defensive coordinator Ron Selesky he “has a motor and could be a top pass rusher in the League this season”...Was one of the top defensive linemen in the Canadian Football League over the last three seasons.

WR Richard Alston (Cleveland Gladiators) –Versatile athlete who played three positions at East Carolina (QB, RB and WR)...Spent some time in the NFL as a wide receiver and kick returner with the Cleveland Browns, and also played in NFL Europa...Is a strong receiver (6-0, 215) who should be a nice red-zone threat for the Gladiators...His versatility reminds me of former AFL great Barry Wagner.

DL Maurice Fountain (Utah Blaze) – Head coach Danny White knew he needed to improve his pass rush in ’08 and the Blaze did that with the addition of veteran’s Dwayne Missouri and E.J. Burt...White is also excited about Fountain, who spent ’07 in af2 with the Manchester Wolves where he totaled a team-record 13.0 sacks...At 6-4 and 270 pounds, the former four-year player at Clemson University has the size and speed to make a difference on the edge.

WR Larry Kendrick (Philadelphia Soul) – Might have a hard time getting on the field in Philly with receivers Chris Jackson, Larry Brackins and Chris Horn listed ahead of him on the depth chart but should make an impact on special teams...An athletic player also has the ability to play the ‘jack’ linebacker on defense and will fight for a job as the starting kick returner...Was an all-around dynamo for af2 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season (67 catches for 786 yards and 15 TDs on offense and 26.5 tackles and five INTs on defense).

WR Chavis McCollister (Kansas City Brigade) - Build in the same mold (5-9, 210) as last year’s Co-Rookie of the Year teammate WR Charles Frederick...Brigade head coach Kevin Porter is excited about what McCollister can bring to the table...Played last season in af2 for the South Georgia Wildcats (1,738 receiving yards and 39 total TDs), where he was the go-to receiver in new Brigade offensive coordinator Rickey Foggie’s system...Coupled with QB John Fitzgerald, veteran WR Mike Horacek and Frederick, the Brigade offense could surprise some people in ’08.

OL Qasim Mitchell (Orlando Predators) - Is a behemoth of a body (6-6, 355)...Spent time in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and the Chicago Bears...His forte is pass protection which should be good news for QB Shane Stafford.

LB John Mohring (Grand Rapids Rampage) – At 23 is one of the youngest players in the AFL...Played a handful of games last year for the Alabama Steeldogs of af2 after attending rookie mini-camps with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers...A very fast (4.5 speed) and instinctive player (finished 5th all-time in tackles at Georgia Southern University), Mohring played for Rampage defensive coordinator Ron Selesky in af2 last season...Comes from a football family - father John played for the Cleveland Browns, and cousin Mike played for the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers.

OL Chris Pino (San Jose SaberCats) – Will compete in camp for a roster spot on the offensive line vacated by last year's starter Troy Reddick...Known as an exceptional pass blocker and possesses the size (6-5, 330) and skills to play the position...Was a two-year starter on the offensive line at San Diego State.

WR Joshua Richey (San Jose SaberCats) – Another former af2 star who should come in and contribute right away for the SaberCats...Stands 6-foot-3 and will be a tough match-up for smaller DBs in the red zone...Named First Team All-af2 for the Everett Hawks last season (148 catches for 1,968 yards and 44 TDs)...Should fill the void vacated by WR Ben Nelson (free agent to Colorado).

DE Ryan Riddle (Los Angeles Avengers) – Joins an already stout defensive line with Ken Jones and Jason Stewart...Former Pac-10 leader in sacks at the University of California played the last two seasons in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders and New York Jets...At 260 pounds is a little light for a defensive end but Avengers head coach Ed Hodgkiss thinks Riddle “can be a dominant pass rusher in AFL because he has a great take-off and the ability to really close on the quarterback.”

DB Damien Robinson (Dallas Desperados) – A rookie to the indoor game but no stranger to professional football, Desperados head coach Will McClay hopes the 34-year old Robinson still has enough gas in his tank to make a difference in the Dallas secondary...At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds is a big, physical defensive back...Played in 83 games with 65 starts in a seven-year NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1997-2000), New York Jets (2001-02) and Seattle Seahawks (2003-04).

DL Lauvale Sape (New Orleans VooDoo) – Head coach Mike Neu hopes to add depth along his defensive line with the addition of Sape, who is a bull-rushing type defensive tackle...At 6-foot-1 and 297 pounds, Sape has a low center of gravity and the VooDoo coaches are excited about his potential...Went to training camp with the Tennessee Titans in ‘07 after spending part of off-season with Oakland Raiders...Was originally selected by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round (187th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft...Born in American Samoa but prepped at Leilehua (Hawaii) High School before playing college football at the University of Utah.

DL Quinton Staten (Orlando Predators) – Should fit nicely into the Predators defensive scheme which stresses pressuring the quarterback...Has big shoes to fill (Lineman of the Year Greg White) but head coach Jay Gruden thinks his af2 production was “no fluke” (led af2 with 18.5 sacks, 22.5 tackles for loss and nine forced fumbles last season for Rio Grande).