An Arizona Cardinal leaves for the Arena League
Apr 14, 2011, 6:03 PM | Updated: 7:18 pm
We’ve heard about players leaving the Arena Football League to chase their dreams of playing on Sundays before. Now, thanks to the NFL lockout, we’re getting a chance to hear the exact opposite and it’s effecting the Arizona Cardinals.
On Thursday Cards offensive lineman Cliff Louis announced that he was joining the Cleveland Gladiators of the AFL. He becomes the fourth player to defect the NFL and head to the arena league. The Arizona Rattlers were the benefactors in two of those situations when the re-acquired both receiver Rod Windsor (Cleveland Browns) and kicker Fabrizio Scaccia (San Francisco 49ers).
While Louis and the other players leaving the NFL for the 50-yard indoor war aren’t household names, it serves as a reminder that it’s not just the Larry Fitzgerald’s, Drew Brees’ and Peyton Manning’s of the world that are affected by the lockout. It’s the 53rd man on the roster who has to worry about their livelihood and just how long the work stoppage will last.
The NFL’s loss is the AFL’s gain. The more talented players to suit up for teams across their league the better off they are. If the lockout continues well into the summer numerous other players could be joining the likes of Louis, Windsor and Scaccia in their exodus from the league in search of pay checks. You have to wonder how long until other minor football leagues, like the UFL, will benefit from bickering between the NFL and its players.
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