AVENGERS TODAY at Las Vegas, noon, Channel 4

Site -- Thomas & Mack Center

Radio -- XTRA (690 and 1150).

Records -- (2004) Avengers 9-7, Gladiators 8-8.

Record vs. Gladiators -- (2004) 2-0.

Update -- John Kaleo, acquired in an off-season trade, will be the first quarterback other than Tony Graziani to start for the Avengers since July 22, 2001. Graziani signed with Philadelphia during the off-season. Defensive specialist Dan Wheeler (hamstring) and lineman Fred Ray (neck) are on injured reserve and will sit out the first two games. The Avengers will start two rookies in the secondary, Antuan Simmons and Jermaine Smith. Both will be tested often by the Gladiators’ Clint Dolezel, who last season became the fourth player in league history to throw 500 touchdown passes. Marcus Nash was the league’s offensive player of the year. He set an AFL record with 154 receptions and tied the record with 46 touchdown catches. Joe Douglass, who had 35 receptions for 432 yards and nine touchdowns with the Avengers last season, signed with Las Vegas during the off-season.

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-- Chris Foster