Storm

'Li'l Bit' provides Storm all-around threat

The prototypical Arena league player, Lynaris Elpheage thrives on offense, defense and special teams.

By FRANK PASTOR
Published March 26, 2006

Keeping his cards close, Lynaris Elpheage allows only that he can play "a li'l bit."

Truth is, the Storm second-year receiver/defensive back wins more than he loses while playing teammates in poker, tunk or spades.

"Everybody is pretty good," Elpheage said. "I have my days. I have good days. I wouldn't say I'm that much better."

Elpheage's competitiveness doesn't end at the card table.

It spills into every aspect of his life, whether it's playing video games or defensive back, where he engages in guessing games with receivers; conceding one part of the field while taking away another, occasionally calling their bluff.

Coach Tim Marcum calls Elpheage "Li'l Bit" because of his 5-foot-10, 180-pound frame. But the name also fits Elpheage's versatility. He is a little bit receiver, a little bit backside corner and a little bit kick returner.

In a 60-44 victory over New York on March18, he had career highs of eight receptions for 72 yards and three touchdowns, returned five kicks for 88 yards, made three tackles, broke up a pass and forced a fumble.

"He's developed as a two-way player," Marcum said. "As a defensive secondary guy in college, he didn't get a chance to run many routes. You saw the other night, he's got a knack to get open and run routes. He caught a heck of a catch over the shoulder of a guy draped over him for a touchdown."

Elpheage, 23, has been making similar plays since high school, when he played quarterback at New Orleans George Washington Carver, Storm and former Tulane teammate Jeff Sanchez recalled.

"He had that same attitude back then, competitive," Sanchez said. "He would do crazy things like throw six touchdowns in one game and then come back and try to throw seven."

After becoming the first in NCAA history to return a fumble, interception, kick and punt for a touchdown in 2002, Elpheage was signed by the Saints as an undrafted free agent. He led the NFL in preseason punt returns, including a 54-yarder against the Jets, but was released after the third preseason game.

The Bucs signed and allocated him to NFL Europe, where he started all 10 games for the Frankfurt Galaxy. He attended the Bucs' 2004 training camp but was released after three preseason games.

"It was a fun experience, just being with the NFL guys and, for me, knowing I could play with them. That was a big thing for me," Elpheage said. "I had a lot of success against those guys."

Looking for a way back to the NFL, Elpheage signed with the Storm last season. He quickly found a home for himself on the field, playing in 12 of 16 games, and off.

After Elpheage rode out Hurricane Katrina at his home in New Orleans' Ninth Ward, Marcum paid to fly him to Tampa, where Elpheage was reunited with his parents, son and brother's family in a six-bedroom home the Storm helped find.

Though Elpheage's brother, Charles, decided to stay in Tampa, the rest of his family recently moved back to New Orleans, where they found a house on the west bank.

"Everything is just starting to get back to normal," Elpheage said. "Hopefully, it'll get back right. I still have to decide if I'm going to stay in Tampa. I'm undecided because it's my contract year. So hopefully, I'll be back with Tampa."

Considering his recent performance, who would bet against him?

[Last modified March 26, 2006, 00:26:15]