Post by fwp on Apr 22, 2010 21:42:45 GMT -5
www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/apr/22/veteran-receiver-top-option-for-venom-maurice/?sports
WENATCHEE — Maurice Bryant has had a lot of titles in his life.
University of Houston Cougar. Tennessee Titan. Arena football star. Even actor.
Right now, he’s just happy to be called the Wenatchee Valley Venom’s leading receiver.
With American Indoor Football Association defenses keying in on Venom franchise player Phil Goodman, the 36-year-old Bryant has taken advantage, hauling in a team-leading 19 receptions for 166 yards and six touchdowns in just three games.
“I look at myself as another top option,” Bryant says. “It’s all about producing to help the team out and get wins.”
“He’s a pro,” says Venom coach Keith Evans. “He is very experienced and very lethal. He has been huge in our offense.”
Bryant is no stranger to putting up gaudy numbers. In 2000, he caught 60 passes for 893 yards and 19 scores in eight games for the Arena Football League’s Arizona Rattlers, grabbing the attention of the NFL’s Titans, who signed him to their practice squad.
Since then, he’s turned into a bit of a journeyman, playing for the Rattlers for another three years, and also spending time with the AFL’s Philadelphia Soul and Las Vegas Gladiators, Arena Football 2’s Bakersfield Blitz and Central Valley Coyotes, and the American Indoor Football Association’s Arizona Adrenaline and Ogden Knights.
“I’ve pretty much been everywhere,” Bryant says. “I like it. You get to see new places.”
Bryant has even found his way on to the big screen on a few occasions, playing a football player in “We Are Marshall,”
“I got a taste of being a movie star,” he says. “Michael Irvin was coaching me up on running routes (on the set of ‘The Longest Yard’). I thought that was pretty cool coming from a Pro Bowler.”
Now that he’s in Wenatchee, Bryant has settled in well with the Venom’s offense, especially with quarterback Ronnie Simpson, a former opponent in the AIFA.
“We both have a mentality of winning. We just try to feed off each other,” Bryant says. “We talk all the time in practice to help each other out and make things easier.”
Bryant hasn’t just been helping the Venom with his production. With his experience in the indoor game, he’s a valuable resource for the less experienced players.
“It’s a veteran’s duty to help out the young guys, help them achieve their goals,” he says. “I definitely extend my knowledge to the young guys.”
That knowledge will likely come in handy when Bryant eventually hangs up his pads — he’s eyeing a career in coaching when he retires as a player.
“I just can’t wait (to coach). I’m excited about that,” says Bryant. “I know you can’t play football forever, so when it’s time to shut down I’m ready to roll.”
Not that that will be any time soon. Bryant says he likes the direction the Venom are heading, and that he is in it for the long haul.
“This is definitely something I want to stick around and be a part of,” he says.
Brent Stecker: 661-5222
stecker@wenatcheeworld.com
WENATCHEE — Maurice Bryant has had a lot of titles in his life.
University of Houston Cougar. Tennessee Titan. Arena football star. Even actor.
Right now, he’s just happy to be called the Wenatchee Valley Venom’s leading receiver.
With American Indoor Football Association defenses keying in on Venom franchise player Phil Goodman, the 36-year-old Bryant has taken advantage, hauling in a team-leading 19 receptions for 166 yards and six touchdowns in just three games.
“I look at myself as another top option,” Bryant says. “It’s all about producing to help the team out and get wins.”
“He’s a pro,” says Venom coach Keith Evans. “He is very experienced and very lethal. He has been huge in our offense.”
Bryant is no stranger to putting up gaudy numbers. In 2000, he caught 60 passes for 893 yards and 19 scores in eight games for the Arena Football League’s Arizona Rattlers, grabbing the attention of the NFL’s Titans, who signed him to their practice squad.
Since then, he’s turned into a bit of a journeyman, playing for the Rattlers for another three years, and also spending time with the AFL’s Philadelphia Soul and Las Vegas Gladiators, Arena Football 2’s Bakersfield Blitz and Central Valley Coyotes, and the American Indoor Football Association’s Arizona Adrenaline and Ogden Knights.
“I’ve pretty much been everywhere,” Bryant says. “I like it. You get to see new places.”
Bryant has even found his way on to the big screen on a few occasions, playing a football player in “We Are Marshall,”
“I got a taste of being a movie star,” he says. “Michael Irvin was coaching me up on running routes (on the set of ‘The Longest Yard’). I thought that was pretty cool coming from a Pro Bowler.”
Now that he’s in Wenatchee, Bryant has settled in well with the Venom’s offense, especially with quarterback Ronnie Simpson, a former opponent in the AIFA.
“We both have a mentality of winning. We just try to feed off each other,” Bryant says. “We talk all the time in practice to help each other out and make things easier.”
Bryant hasn’t just been helping the Venom with his production. With his experience in the indoor game, he’s a valuable resource for the less experienced players.
“It’s a veteran’s duty to help out the young guys, help them achieve their goals,” he says. “I definitely extend my knowledge to the young guys.”
That knowledge will likely come in handy when Bryant eventually hangs up his pads — he’s eyeing a career in coaching when he retires as a player.
“I just can’t wait (to coach). I’m excited about that,” says Bryant. “I know you can’t play football forever, so when it’s time to shut down I’m ready to roll.”
Not that that will be any time soon. Bryant says he likes the direction the Venom are heading, and that he is in it for the long haul.
“This is definitely something I want to stick around and be a part of,” he says.
Brent Stecker: 661-5222
stecker@wenatcheeworld.com