Samuels earned Ironman Award

Lawrence Samuels has always been a great two-way player so this latest announcement will come as no surprise to anyone who follows the game. After a solid performance in Saturday's win at Orlando, Samuels, who plays receiver and linebacker, was named the AFL's Ironman of the Week.

What did he do to deserve it?

Well, here's what it says in the AFL's official press release: "Samuels (6-3, 220, Livingston) recorded a team-high five receptions for 45 yards and accounted for touchdowns on both offense and defense as the Tampa Bay Storm (3-5) defeated the Orlando Predators (6-3), 48-41, on Saturday at Amway Arena. Samuels registered the Storm’s first offensive score on a six-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter to tie the game at seven. On the second play of the fourth quarter, Samuels intercepted Orlando QB Shane Stafford and returned the interception eight yards for the game’s second defensive touchdown, giving Tampa Bay a 17-point lead it would not relinquish."

The league forgot to mention this: Samuels recorded his 950th career catch in the game.

--KEITH NIEBUHR

Marcum saddened by ex-player's death

Storm coach Tim Marcum said Tuesday he was both shocked and saddened by the news that Ivan Caesar, a former Storm player, was the victim of a deadly shooting Monday in Central Florida. He added that the incident in which Caesar attacked him in 1997 (see below post) has long since been forgotten -- and forgiven. "He apologized many, many times," Marcum said. "I talked to him as late as a couple years ago. He got on the phone and apologized one more time. It was one of those things. We let bygones by bygones."

The 1997 altercation started because Caesar, traded during the offseason after the 1996 season,  was upset because he had not received his ArenaBowl championship ring from the team. Marcum said Tuesday that Caesar never did get a ring and that it was an organizational decision not to issue him one.

-- KEITH NIEBUHR

Former Storm player Ivan Caesar murdered

Ivan Caesar, a former Storm player best known for getting into a scuffle with Tampa Bay coach Tim Marcum in 1997, was the victim of a deadly shooting Monday, the Orlando Sentinel reported. According to the Sentinel, Caesar "was found dead inside his home at the Tuscany Village Apartments in the 4800 block of South Orange Blossom Trail at about 12:40 a.m." (To see video from the crime scene, go here.)   

He was 41.

When reached by the Sentinel, Caesar's former wife, Robyn Caesar, said, "I know he had a lot of demons. I know most people do. And he's taking them to his grave."

The Storm became aware of Caesar's death Monday, when investigators from Orlando called the team in an effort to locate his next of kin, said team public relations coordinator Jim Robinson. Marcum could not immediately be reached for comment.

Caesar was a member of the Storm during the 1995 and '96 seasons, playing fullback and linebacker during his stint with the team. Both teams he played for here won AFL championships.

Caesar was traded during the offseason after the 1996 season, but returned to Tampa in April 1997 because he had not received his ArenaBowl championship ring. In a bizarre incident that occurred at the team's first preseason practice, Caesar wrestled Marcum to the ground and the two were broken up by coaches and players. Marcum's glasses were damaged and he sustained slight bruises to his mouth and nose. "He came up behind me and tried to grab my ring," Marcum told the Times after the incident. "No punches were thrown. It wasn't as physical as it looked."

Caesar gave his side the following day, telling reporters, "Marcum has my ring, and he just doesn't want to give it to me. I've seen coaches with their rings, I've seen administrators with their rings and I don't have my ring? The jeweler is here in Tampa. How long does it take to make one more ring?" Following the altercation, Marcum said Caesar would get his ring.

Caesar was arrested two days after the incident and was charged with attempted strong-arm robbery with injury. According to a Times story dated Jul 23, 1998, he was given a one-year suspension by the league. Robinson said Monday that Caesar called Marcum some time later and apologized.

Caesar had 11 rushing touchdowns for the Storm on 56 carries. According to Arenafan.com, Caesar last played in the AFL with Milwaukee in 1999. The Sentinel reported that Caesar, who attended Boston College, also played for the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles.

-- KEITH NIEBUHR

Two OLs okay to play

The news appears to be good regarding the groin injuries sustained by OLs Kenyatta Jones and Emmanuel Akah. Both were questionable for tonight's game against Orlando, but Storm media representatives report today that each should be ready to go against Orlando. Since both players are starters, you can understand why that news is so important to the team.

--KEITH NIEBUHR

More on Mr. McGill

In today's Times, I profiled Storm noseguard Tim McGill. Here are some leftover quotes ...

-Storm coach Tim Marcum called McGill, whom he got in a trade last year with Nashville, the shining light of a struggling defense. "What a trade," Marcum said.

-According to McGill, he was playing just as well in 2007. "I'm doing the same thing I was doing last year," he said. "I just think people are recognizing it now."

-McGill says he left the NFL "on my own." The reason? He wasn't having fun. "I just felt like they weren't going to play me," said McGill. "I'm having fun now. I love Arena Football. I'll play this forever."

-McGill is double teamed nearly every play. Here's how he deals with that: "First, I figure out which two are blocking me," McGill said. Then he picks one. "I'm going to attack one guy. If I can attack that guy and drive him back before the other comes down on me, then I can win."

-As good as McGill has been, Storm assistant Pete Kuharchek says he can still play better. "He's trying to work on his technique," Kuharchek said. "And how to react to different types of blocks."

--KEITH NIEBUHR

Storm v. Predators: Game-By-Game '08

ORLANDO (6-2)
Mar. 01 @ Philadelphia        L 56-77

Mar. 09 @ New Orleans       L 53-54

Mar. 14  Utah                      W 69-61

Mar. 22  Georgia                  W 50-45

Mar. 29  @ Columbus          W 47-44

Apr. 06   Chicago                 W 57-56

Apr. 13 @ Grand Rapids     W 75-56

Apr. 19  @ Georgia              W 65-62

TAMPA BAY (2-5)

Mar. 01 @ Kansas City        W 51-49

Mar. 07 Georgia                   W 69-48

Mar. 16  @New Orleans       L 55-76

Mar. 29  @ Philadelphia       L 51-59

Apr. 05  @ Columbus          L 49-51

Apr. 13 Arizona                  L 62-63

Apr. 18  New York              L 47-66

Storm v. Predators: the series

ALL-TIME SCORES

DATE:   ORL-TB

6/01/91    27-54

7/27/91    16-26

5/29/92    32-39

7/02/92    48-33

8/15/92    24-21

5/21/93    46-34

6/19/93    46-45

8/14/93    52-55

7/01/94    61-40

8/13/94    39-40

7/14/95    34-51

7/29/95    20-44

8/14/95    35-48

5/18/96    42-63

7/19/96    40-39

5/17/97    43-17

6/27/97    54-30

6/12/98    34-42

6/27/98    30-56

8/23/98    62-31

6/12/99    37-63

7/11/99    28-47

8/07/99    41-19

5/12/00    44-43

7/01/00    36-50

8/08/00    34-24

6/10/01    57-45

7/01/01    46-38

6/09/02    45-48

7/07/02    55-48

2/09/03    54-51

3/16/03    32-52

6/07/03    50-60

2/08/04    41-52

5/02/04    58-63

2/11/05    61-46

4/09/05    42-54

2/19/06    67-64

4/22/06    52-13

3/02/07    52-27

4/14/07    61-37

TOTAL: Orlando leads 22-19

-- KEITH NIEBUHR

Storm v. Predators: Game Cap

Storm at Orlando
When/where: 7:30 Saturday night, Amway Arena
TV/radio: Catch 47; 970-AM
Records: Orlando 6-2, Storm 2-5
Series: Orlando leads 22-19
Fast Facts: The Storm is on a five-game losing streak. During that stretch, Tampa Bay has not created a turnover. No AFL team had ever gone five straight games without getting one. … The Predators are on a six-game winning streak. … Orlando has won four straight in the series, the last three by an average margin of 29.3 points.

AFL to tackle cancer

The AFL, ESPN and The V Foundation for Cancer Research have created AFL V Week, a weeklong initiative to help raise awareness and donations for cancer research. It started Tuesday and continues through Monday. The V Foundation is named in honor of famed basketball coach Jim Valvano, who died of cancer. Donations can be made by calling 800-4jimmyv (454-6698) or by going online to www.jimmyv.org.

AFL V Week content will be incorporated into AFL and team communications, from press releases to website entries. A Public Service Announcement has been created and will be played on jumbotrons at all AFL games this week. All 17 AFL teams will participate in AFL V Week through a variety of outreach programs, including visits to local cancer-research hospitals. Week-9 game balls will feature The V Foundation logo. Players will wear a "V" decal on their helmets.

-- KEITH NIEBUHR

This week in the AFL

Notes from around the league ...

-Dallas has won 15 straight regular-season games. That's tied for the all-time AFL lead with San Jose (2001-02). To gain solo possession of the record, it will have to beat unbeaten Philly on Monday night (live on ESPN2).

-By the way, the Storm once won 14 straight (1995-96).

-WR Damian Harrell of Chicago and WR Lawrence Samuels of the Storm need four and five catches, respectively, to pass Eddie Brown for second place on the all-time AFL receptions list. Samuels has 946 catches. Barry Wagner is first with 991.

-Philly WR Chris Jackson needs only 75 receiving yards to become the fourth player to record 12,500 for his career.

-New Orleans DB Norman LeJeune already has three INT returns for touchdowns. That ties the single-season AFL record.

-San Jose has won 13 straight games against division opponents. The AFL record, shared by two teams (one being Tampa Bay), is 14.

-Tampa Bay has four INTs this season. By comparison, New Orleans has 21.

--KEITH NIEBUHR