Storm

Storm signs low-key superstar Wagner

By DAVID MURPHY
Published October 17, 2006

For those who do not follow the Arena Football League closely, the name Barry Wagner might not have much meaning.

He has never appeared on a Wheaties box, never signed a multimillion-dollar endorsement deal, never plucked a Sharpie out of his sock and signed a football while celebrating a touchdown.

But in the AFL, Wagner is a star: Jerry Rice and Michael Jordan rolled into one, the league's all-time leading receiver, a fierce competitor.

"There's no doubt in my mind he is the best player at his position to ever play the game and probably the most dominant to ever play the game," Storm coach Tim Marcum said.

And that's why Marcum decided to add the 38-year-old to his roster Monday.

Marcum and Wagner are realistic about the move.

Wagner, who plays wide receiver and linebacker, won't be expected to dominate the way he did during the first half of his career, when he gained more than 1,000 yards in six straight seasons with Orlando. The signing of Wagner, who was named one of the 20 greatest players in AFL history - he finished second in the voting - is more along the lines of Jordan with the Wizards than it is Jordan with the Bulls.

"You just have to have a role where you try to teach others while still being a threat," he said.

Wagner, who has league records in scoring, touchdowns, rushing touchdowns, receptions, receiving yards and all-purpose yardage, thinks he can still be a threat.

Although he acknowledges a future as a coach is not far off (he is an assistant at Bethune-Cookman College), he is confident he can be a viable component of a team such as the Storm.

"I don't want people to think I don't have it anymore," said Wagner, who spent the past seven seasons with San Jose, averaging 377 yards the past four. "Sometimes, you just have to change roles."

[Last modified October 17, 2006, 05:26:00]