Graziani Enjoys TV Gig but Likes Playing Better

After spending last weekend in a New York television studio, quarterback Tony Graziani returns to the field on Sunday when the Avengers resume their schedule at Grand Rapids.

A bye last week provided Graziani his first opportunity to work as an analyst on NBC’s Arena Football League telecasts.

“I was going by the seat of my pants a little bit,” Graziani said this week. “It’s a lot harder than it looks. I thought I did OK for the first time.”

Graziani, 30, has played near error-free this season for the Avengers (2-2), who started with victories over Arizona and Las Vegas before suffering defeats by San Jose and Georgia.

Graziani has completed 80 of 133 passes for 1,021 yards and 26 touchdowns without an interception.

“I have another year under my belt, I’m starting to see things [develop] before they happen and I’m on the same page with all the receivers -- it’s a combination of all those things,” said Graziani, who had a streak of seven games and 185 passes without an interception last season.

Raymond Philyaw established a league record last season with Indiana by passing 247 times without an interception. Philyaw is playing for Chicago this season.

Graziani is eager to play after watching so many AFL games last Sunday. He would welcome a return to the TV studio but is counting on being unavailable until after the ArenaBowl.

“Hopefully, we’re busy for the rest of the year,” he said.

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The Avengers’ arrival today in Grand Rapids, Mich., coincides with a bond hearing in the same city for Cornelius Coe.

Coe, a starting defensive specialist for the Avengers, was indicted last month on federal drug charges and has been in custody since turning himself in to U.S. Marshals in Los Angeles on Feb. 19. He is scheduled to appear today before a magistrate in U.S. District Court as a hearing that began Monday resumes, said Phil Green, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Michigan.

Coe was indicted on five cocaine-related felony counts. He could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Avenger officials said it was unlikely that Coe would play again this season even if he were freed on bail. On Thursday the Avengers signed Ben Kelly, a defensive specialist who played four games for the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl team in 2001 and seven games in 2002.

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The Avengers tried to offset the loss of Coe before their game against Georgia by acquiring defensive specialist Jeroid Johnson from Las Vegas in a three-team trade.

When Johnson arrived in Los Angeles, however, Avenger doctors found that he had a knee injury. Johnson was put on injured reserve Feb. 27.

“We’re talking to Las Vegas about how to remedy the situation,” said Kevin Demoff, the Avengers’ director of football operations. “We’re still hopeful Jeroid will play well for us this year.”

Meanwhile, lineman Mike Ulufale did not report to Philadelphia for his physical and was put on injured reserve by the Avengers because of a shoulder problem.

Lineman Lazerius White was sent to Philadelphia in place of Ulufale, who is rehabilitating his shoulder and will be the future consideration that Philadelphia is owed, Demoff said.

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The Avengers should be bolstered against winless Grand Rapids (0-5) by the return of several key players, including offensive specialist Chris Jackson, who sat out the Georgia game because of a sprained knee ligament.

Lineman Jeremy Staat also is scheduled to play after sitting out three games because of a knee injury. The status of defensive specialist Damen Wheeler (hamstring) will be determined before the Avengers leave for Grand Rapids..

Grand Rapids might be the perfect opponent for a team trying to end a two-game losing streak. The Rampage has lost its last 10 regular-season games.