Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Dallas Desperados to hold open tryouts Oct. 20

By Pegasus News wire

The Dallas Desperados Arena Football team will hold open tryouts this month. With 18 players returning from last season’s record setting 15-1 Eastern Division Championship squad, the Desperados are looking to take 37 players to training camp in January.

Registration for the October 20th open tryouts is broken down by position. Quarterbacks, wide receivers and defensive backs will begin registering at 7:00 a.m. with workouts starting at 8:00 a.m. Offensive and defensive linemen, fullbacks and linebackers will register at 9:00 a.m. and test at 12:00 p.m., while kickers register at 2:00 p.m.

All players will be evaluated in the 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle and standing broad jump. Selected players who exceed the Desperados testing standards will be invited to participate in an elite workout later in the day, where players will be evaluated in drills specific to the game of Arena Football.

Advanced registration is $60 and is payable by check or money order to the Dallas Desperados no later than Friday, October 12. Participants may register on site the morning of open tryout for a “Day Of” registration fee of $75. All registered participants will receive two platinum level seats to the Desperados home opener ($25 value per ticket) and an official Dallas Desperados Tryout t-shirt.

The Desperados have signed several players through the open tryout forum in the past. In 2006, Evan Cardwell was signed to the Desperados roster following an open tryout and saw significant playing time during the season. Prior to the 2005 season, Andrew Layton was signed from open tryouts and in 2004 defensive specialist Michael Hawkins played in five games for the Desperados after working out for the team in a similar fashion. Hawkins was later drafted in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. In 2003, of about 400 participants, the club found Gladston Taylor. Taylor spent the 2003 AFL season on Dallas's practice squad. In 2002, three participants of the inaugural open tryouts were signed by the Desperados and participated in the team's first training camp.

All participants will need to provide their own attire for the non-padded workouts. Participants will be given a numbered shirt to wear during testing, but must provide their own shoes (grass cleats and turf shoes – no track spikes allowed), shorts or tights and accessories. Workouts will take place on Texas Stadium's Realgrass™ Synthetic Playing Surface. The Dallas Desperados are not responsible for travel or lodging expenses.

Interested participants may pre-register for tryouts by logging on to the club’s official website. Applicants without access to a computer may call the Desperados office at 972-556-4868 to have a registration form mailed to their attention.

Source: Dallas Desperados

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