Storm

Quarterback Kaleo comes back to town

By DAVID MURPHY
Published October 3, 2006

Tim Marcum and John Kaleo got remarried in the stands at a USF football game last autumn.

At least that's how Kaleo tells it.

"We patched up our differences," said Kaleo, who quarterbacked the Storm from 2000-03. "We squashed some issues that we had ... It's kind of like being remarried again, getting a divorce and getting remarried to the same wife."

Monday, the Storm acquired Kaleo from Columbus for future considerations. He's a veteran replacement for Shane Stafford, who plans to sign with Orlando.

"There's no doubt in my mind you can win a championship with either (Stafford or Kaleo)," Marcum said.

Kaleo led the Storm to a title in 2003, throwing 4,188 yards and 75 TDs. But after the season his relationship with Marcum grew contentious. Kaleo publicly expressed disappointment with the free-agent contract offered him. Later, he and six other players accused Marcum of giving them Arena Bowl rings that contained fake diamonds.

Kaleo says he and Marcum cleared up all of their issues when they met last year.

"I've very excited," said Kaleo, who has played with three teams since 2003 while making his permanent home in Tampa. "It's nice to come back home and play in front of my family and friends."

[Last modified October 3, 2006, 01:25:42]