Post by MGB01 on Apr 11, 2008 22:28:10 GMT -5
Question: How do you go from all-rookie, DROY, all-XFL, and two-time X-Bowl champ to signing for just barely over the veteran minimum to compete for a backup job?
In less than a year?
Answer: If you spent the entire 2007 season out of the league after being charged with running a prostitution ring, which is exactly what happened to current Carolina Colonels LB Richard Seigler, who was arrested on charges of just that nine days before the Las Vegas Outlaws began defense of their second X-Bowl title in as many years.
The Outlaws lost to Memphis 17-16, the beginning of a crushing season for the Outlaws in which they plummeted to 3-9, six losses coming by a touchdown or less, three by a field goal or less.
"I just thought 'What would have happened if I were there?', no knock against Trev, Adam (Faulk, Seward) and those guys, but we had a dynamic going. I think we were easily bound for a three-peat"
Indeed there was something to it. Twice in their (and the league's) first three seasons, the Outlaws faded at the end of the season to a .500 finish and were on the outside of the playoff picture. In 2004, the Outlaws drafted Oregon State standout and Las Vegas native Seigler, whose impact was felt almost immediately, from his stuff of Sultan McCullough in the first quarter or his third quarter sack of Woody Dantzler as the Outlaws pummeled the Xtreme 45-20 that day at Sam Boyd Stadium for their first win over their rivals from LA in seven tries. The Outlaws went 9-3 and won the western division, their first of three straight division titles while Seigler claimed DROY by a landslide.
Fast-forward a year, the Xtreme again, this time in the playoffs. The Outlaws had trailed 24-9 and rallied to within 27-24, but they needed a late stop or the first of two X-Bowls doesn't happen. Dantzler got the Xtreme into the red zone late, but Seigler and crew made sure that was as far as they went. Instead, the Xtreme got three and the Outlaws drove to the winning touchdown in one of the league's more memorable playoff finishes.
Two X-Bowls later, the Outlaws were rocked by the news of Seigler's arrest and subsequent suspension. Adam Seward filled in and did a great job, but the chemistry and dynamic just wasn't there. That was evident in three of the Outlaws' losses, in which they were clinging to a late lead but the opposition stole the game away with a late score. Another loss came in overtime.
But perhaps even more disappointing for Seigler than how the 2007 season went for his ex-teammates is that because his trial took so long, he didn't get a chance to return to his hometown team. Seigler became a free agent at the end of the 2007 season, and the Outlaws already had committed to Seward at MLB for 2008 and also went out and signed versatile Mario Haggan, who plays both outside and inside.
Then Carolina came-a-callin'. Seigler hadn't even been reinstated by the league for 24 hours and all the sudden the Colonels were on the phone. Pittsburgh and Detroit were also interested, but weren't quick enough (ye snooze, ye lose). Forget the fact that Carolina already has seven LBs, or have switched to a 3-4, and Seigler would possibly had a chance at reclaiming a starting job had he gone with either the Ironmen or Mustangs.
"It was a chance to re-establish myself," Seigler said by phone, "What if I go either to Pittsburgh or Detroit and I'm not 'the man' right away? I'm setting myself up for disapointment. This way I've got a shot to work myself back to where I was. You aren't given anything, what we did (in Las Vegas) was a result of hard work, not something somebody just handed to us."
Seigler will get plenty of chances to work himself into a defined role, possibly challenging for a starting role although the Colonels are pretty much set with their starting LB quartet. One player Seigler can't wait to play alongside is potential star Jon Abbate, who had 58 tackles and two stuffs as a rookie in 2007.
"That guy's gonna be great. I see they made a big attempt to fix their defense (in the offseason). They've just had problems getting over the hump for some reason. It sounds like the team (in Las Vegas) I came to, so this is perfect. I don't really care where I am, as long as I'm doing something, and that's help us get into the playoffs."
Either way, it's a dramatic upgrade over where he was eleven months ago.
In less than a year?
Answer: If you spent the entire 2007 season out of the league after being charged with running a prostitution ring, which is exactly what happened to current Carolina Colonels LB Richard Seigler, who was arrested on charges of just that nine days before the Las Vegas Outlaws began defense of their second X-Bowl title in as many years.
The Outlaws lost to Memphis 17-16, the beginning of a crushing season for the Outlaws in which they plummeted to 3-9, six losses coming by a touchdown or less, three by a field goal or less.
"I just thought 'What would have happened if I were there?', no knock against Trev, Adam (Faulk, Seward) and those guys, but we had a dynamic going. I think we were easily bound for a three-peat"
Indeed there was something to it. Twice in their (and the league's) first three seasons, the Outlaws faded at the end of the season to a .500 finish and were on the outside of the playoff picture. In 2004, the Outlaws drafted Oregon State standout and Las Vegas native Seigler, whose impact was felt almost immediately, from his stuff of Sultan McCullough in the first quarter or his third quarter sack of Woody Dantzler as the Outlaws pummeled the Xtreme 45-20 that day at Sam Boyd Stadium for their first win over their rivals from LA in seven tries. The Outlaws went 9-3 and won the western division, their first of three straight division titles while Seigler claimed DROY by a landslide.
Fast-forward a year, the Xtreme again, this time in the playoffs. The Outlaws had trailed 24-9 and rallied to within 27-24, but they needed a late stop or the first of two X-Bowls doesn't happen. Dantzler got the Xtreme into the red zone late, but Seigler and crew made sure that was as far as they went. Instead, the Xtreme got three and the Outlaws drove to the winning touchdown in one of the league's more memorable playoff finishes.
Two X-Bowls later, the Outlaws were rocked by the news of Seigler's arrest and subsequent suspension. Adam Seward filled in and did a great job, but the chemistry and dynamic just wasn't there. That was evident in three of the Outlaws' losses, in which they were clinging to a late lead but the opposition stole the game away with a late score. Another loss came in overtime.
But perhaps even more disappointing for Seigler than how the 2007 season went for his ex-teammates is that because his trial took so long, he didn't get a chance to return to his hometown team. Seigler became a free agent at the end of the 2007 season, and the Outlaws already had committed to Seward at MLB for 2008 and also went out and signed versatile Mario Haggan, who plays both outside and inside.
Then Carolina came-a-callin'. Seigler hadn't even been reinstated by the league for 24 hours and all the sudden the Colonels were on the phone. Pittsburgh and Detroit were also interested, but weren't quick enough (ye snooze, ye lose). Forget the fact that Carolina already has seven LBs, or have switched to a 3-4, and Seigler would possibly had a chance at reclaiming a starting job had he gone with either the Ironmen or Mustangs.
"It was a chance to re-establish myself," Seigler said by phone, "What if I go either to Pittsburgh or Detroit and I'm not 'the man' right away? I'm setting myself up for disapointment. This way I've got a shot to work myself back to where I was. You aren't given anything, what we did (in Las Vegas) was a result of hard work, not something somebody just handed to us."
Seigler will get plenty of chances to work himself into a defined role, possibly challenging for a starting role although the Colonels are pretty much set with their starting LB quartet. One player Seigler can't wait to play alongside is potential star Jon Abbate, who had 58 tackles and two stuffs as a rookie in 2007.
"That guy's gonna be great. I see they made a big attempt to fix their defense (in the offseason). They've just had problems getting over the hump for some reason. It sounds like the team (in Las Vegas) I came to, so this is perfect. I don't really care where I am, as long as I'm doing something, and that's help us get into the playoffs."
Either way, it's a dramatic upgrade over where he was eleven months ago.