Storm: Sore thumb bothers Kaleo

Kaleo has been nursing the thumb, the result of getting hit the week before against Florida. His passes had more flutter than fire on them, and his deep balls often were delivered late and short.

On the Storm's first two plays, Bernard Edwards and James Bowden broke free of defenders and were open, only to have potential touchdown passes batted down by defenders who had plenty of time to recover.

"John had a very, very rocky outing, at best," coach Tim Marcum said. "He's throwing it soft. He's got an injured thumb that we kind of kept quiet from everyone. He's not spinning the ball like he's capable of doing, and as you saw, some of the balls were coming in high and soft, allowing the defenders to knock the ball down."

But Kaleo was effective when he had to be. On third downs in the first half (as the Storm traded touchdowns with Nashville) and in the fourth quarter (after the Kats took the lead), Kaleo was 12-of-15 for 153 yards and four touchdowns. Otherwise, he was 9-of-29 for 86 yards.

BAD BEGETS BAD: As the Kats were losing for the fifth straight time to the Storm, receiver/defensive back Jeff Russell sustained a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury across the country while playing in the XFL championship game for Los Angeles. Russell was supposed to join the Kats after the game.

BYE WEEK: The Storm improved to 7-1 in games before the bye week, but it plays even better after the bye week: 7-0.

TACKLE MAD: Off-season acquisition Edwards became the first player in Storm history to be named MVP and Ironman in the same game. The wide receiver/linebacker had 10 tackles and caught six passes for 73 yards and a touchdown.

Edwards' biggest contribution, however, came in the third quarter when he merely got in the way of two passes. After the Storm was stopped and Mike Black's field-goal attempt was blocked, Nashville took over with the score tied at 21. But the 6-foot-5 Edwards deflected consecutive passes intended for players 10 yards beyond him, and Nashville had to settle for a field goal.

With 22 tackles in two games, Edwards should easily break his career best of 26.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: Orlando Predators, league doormats? Could be this season. After losing starting quarterback Connell Maynor (starting in New Jersey) and backup Pat O'Hara (starting in Toronto) in the off-season, the Preds have started 0-2 with a loss last week to -- gasp! -- Florida 38-25. "Nothing against Florida, but for us to score 25 points against the Florida Bobcats' defense is a travesty," coach Jay Gruden said. Look for Gruden to try to bring in an established quarterback soon. He might investigate Mike Pawlawski and Tommy Maddox, two of the league's top quarterbacks last season who met Saturday in the XFL Championship game. Both are available.

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