Insects Trade Starters to Predators
 

Goodbye to the Season, Hello to Next Year
Starting TE Johnson and WR Stokely shipped to Preds
AP


The Insects 04-05 campaign for a second Frenzy Bowl Berth and Championship has been mired by bad luck all season. In the first game of the season starting WR, Steve Smith, was injured and lost for the year. Two weeks later, the Insects' 2004 1st Rounder, Kellen Winslow Jr, was also lost for the season. However, the injuries did not end there. Eric Johnson, Steve McNair, and newly acquired TE Courtney Alexander all missed time due to injuries. To add further insult to injuries, when helped seemed to arrive in the form of WR Eric Moulds, the Insects lost him due to a front office gaffe.

So it comes as no suprise after furiously trying to salvage the season through trades in which they acquired Kerry Collins, Peter Warrick, and Kurt Warner the Insects finally raised the white flag by trading away starters TE Eric Johnson and WRs Jerry Porter and Bradon Stokley in exchange for WR Santana Moss, RB Micheal Bennett, RB Moe Williams, TE Boo Williams, and PK Kris Brown. "We're sad to see Eric and Bradon leave, especially after playing so well this year but we're really happy about what the players brought in, particulary Moss and Bennett, will bring to the club. Depth and explosiveness."

While that maybe true it seems as if the Insects are looking towards next year. Coach Frank Alonzo still does not admit the season is lost as he says, "There's still 4 weeks left and we're only down two games. We still have a chance and we'll play hard each and every week. As long as we do that, then we've taken [the playoff berth] out of out hands." On the other hand, GM Frank Alonzo seems to be looking towards the future with his current deals with the Parkwood Predators, despite what his alter ego says.

It's quite obvious that the season is being thrown away. Eric Johnson was the 4th Best TE in the league and tops among TEs in receptions. Wideout Brandon Stokley was ranked 14th in the league and was coming off a 100 plus yard and 2 TD performance last Sunday. Only WR Jerry Porter had failed to make an impact this year. Despite the negativity from fans regarding the lost season and second year out of the playoffs, it seems as if the trade works out best for the Insects in the future.

Eric Johnson and Bradon Stokley were playing with 1 year deals. With Steve Smith, Shuan Alexander, and Steve McNair in contract years and likely to be tagged RFA, it seemed unlikely they would be unable to retain Johnson and Stokley in UFA. The Insects also believe that a healthy return for Winslow and Smith would be enough to fill the spaces vacated by Johnson and Stokley. So in essence, the Insects traded Jerry Porter for Santana Moss, Micheal Bennett, and Moe Williams since it is suspected that Boo Williams and Kris Brown maybe relased this year or not re-signed next year.

Moss and Porter are disappointments thus far into the season, but Moss has lived up to some of his potential in 03-04 season, while Porter has yet to do anything. "We would like to keep Jerry because he was our biggest target, but next year we'll be lining up Coles, Smith, and Moss. I doubt there will be teams able to stop that trio of diminutive speedsters. They're all explosive and have shown they can be successful in this league." Says GM Frank Alonzo. The bonus for the Insects' is the acquisition of RB Micheal Bennett, who season has been plagued with injuries as well, but when he is healthy he is one of the most explosive and fastest backs around. "Well give Bennett more time to heal because we wont be needing him with Shaun and Clinton running around back there. Next year he'll be a stellar 3rd running back if he can get healthy. Depth at the RB position is always a plus."

It seems as if this season is lost, but it's fair to say that Frank Alonzo hasn't lost his mind nor has the team lost a vision. "We're all about winning the Championship. We can still do it this year, but we'll just need a little help. All we can do is finish what we started and we would have done all that we can. Next year it will be the same goal, and the year after that, and the year after that. With this trade we have put ourselves in a great position to accomplish that goal: Winning a second Frenzy Bowl." When asked about trading with the Predators, Frank quipped, "I'd really hate to say that I helped them out, but I did. Now I'm just hoping they lose in the Frenzy Bowl because I want to be the first two win it twice."

If only they could get there.