Arena League

Ironman suffers setback

By FRANK PASTOR
Published March 2, 2005

One day after pronouncing All-Arena receiver/defensive back T.T. Toliver fit to play Sunday against Grand Rapids, Storm coach Tim Marcum hedged his bets.

That's because Toliver, outside of a couple of reps, could not practice Tuesday.

"Until he comes out and practices," Marcum said, "we're not going to count on him."

Toliver missed the first five games after tearing the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during a scrimmage Jan.22. He returned to practice last week and did so well, Marcum said Toliver could have played Friday at New Orleans. He was held out as a precaution.

Toliver took himself off the field Tuesday.

"When a guy doesn't practice, it always is a big cause for concern," Marcum said. "I don't know whether or not it's physical, mental or what."

When healthy, Toliver is one of the top two-way players in the league. Athletic and durable, he rarely leaves the field. "When he went down, I said it's not just the fact that we're missing one guy," Marcum said. "We're missing two because he plays like two guys."

Marcum had been considering starting Toliver at offensive specialist Sunday if Freddie Solomon couldn't play. Solomon, who missed most of the past three games with a high right ankle sprain, returned to practice Tuesday but is day to day.

NO GO: Marcum spoke with former Storm defensive specialist Johnnie Harris on Monday about a return but said Tampa Bay doesn't have room under the salary cap. Harris played for Tampa Bay from 1996-98, and his 11 interceptions in 1998 are second-best in team history. He spent the past five years with the Oakland Raiders and New York Giants but missed all of last season with an injury.

"I think he's going to play somewhere (in the Arena League), but I don't think we're going to be able to do anything with him here," Marcum said. "He told me what he had been offered by a couple of teams, including San Jose, and it's way out of my league."

NO PROBLEM: The Storm is talking with several prospective owners, including Florida Firecats and former Milwaukee Mustangs owner Chris Vallozzi, for a new arenafootball2 franchise in Lakewood Ranch.

Because the Arena league owns 50 percent of af2, the Storm must approve any franchise within a 75-mile radius. The Firecats, an af2 team, play in Estero, and the Mustangs folded in 2001. "We think as long as it's arenafootball2, we think it's a quality product and can only help grow the game," Marcum said. "As long as it's not one of those other fly-by-night, ankle-biter, want-to-be leagues like the National Indoor Football League, that doesn't play with nets. That's just not near the game that Arena football is."

SMALL BALL: Shane Stafford set team records for completions (32) and attempts (54) in a 48-42 loss at New Orleans. To Marcum, that meant the Storm wasn't running the ball well and was conservative with its throws.

"We're hitting bunt singles and hitting for a pretty good average, but you may not be scoring many runs," Marcum said. "(Stafford) is a guy we need to step up and throw some deep ones."

SECOND LOOK: After reviewing video of the final play of the loss at New Orleans, Marcum said he was convinced receiver David Saunders broke the plane of the goal line before being tackled by Chris Pointer.

Officials ruled Saunders down short on fourth and goal from the 18, preventing what would have been a tying touchdown and a chance for a winning extra point.

"He looked in to me," Marcum said.

STORM FLURRIES: Samuels caught his 100th touchdown against New Orleans. ... Lineman DeMarco McNeil signed with Berlin of NFL Europe. ... Philadelphia fired coach Michael Trigg on Tuesday. Defensive coordinator James Fuller was named interim coach for the Soul, which has lost three of four.

[Last modified March 2, 2005, 00:47:18]