Kelly Makes Avenger Debut

Former USC standout Kareem Kelly is the new-breed Arena Football League player. A proven college receiver good enough to be drafted but not fortunate enough to stick in the NFL.

“Every year the talent level has risen in this league,” said Avenger Coach Ed Hodgkiss, whose team will open the season today against Arizona at Staples Center. “The fact is that more guys who have played the outdoor game in the NFL and have been released are excited about playing in the Arena league.”

Kelly, who will play in his first indoor game today, is one of many players who now consider the AFL a viable path back to the NFL.

“I have a whole different respect and outlook on Arena football,” said Kelly, the Pacific 10 Conference record holder for most consecutive games catching a pass at 48.

“Like any young college player, my ambitions were to play in the NFL. Looking at the AFL was not a main interest during those times. I was having a pretty good career and playing inside was not in my thought process.”

Injuries and bad timing in the NFL changed that view for Kelly, who was drafted in the sixth round by New Orleans in 2003. Over the last three years, Kelly has battled major ankle and hamstring injuries, which hampered short stints playing for the Saints, Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens.

“Due to the fact that I’m no longer in the NFL, I consider it an honor to be playing for the L.A. Avengers,” said Kelly, who will be playing in his first game since USC’s victory over Iowa in the 2003 Orange Bowl.

“I’m taking it day by day now.... I’m just trying to make sure that I’m doing the right things in order to get better.”

The Avengers are happy to have Kelly, especially starting quarterback Brian Mann, who will split time with Ryan Van Dyke today against the Rattlers. With offensive specialist Tony Locke -- the team leader in receiving yards (1,182) and touchdowns (27) last season -- sidelined because of a left hand injury, Kelly is expected to get his share of passes.

“We’ve been throwing together two or three days a week for a couple of months now,” Mann said about Kelly. “Although we haven’t played in a game together yet, I’m looking forward to playing with him because I feel that we do have good chemistry.”

The Avengers, who won the Western Division title with a 10-6 record last season, will look for Kelly to add speed and quickness to their attack, which led the AFL in scoring percentage a season ago at 74.4%.

“That’s what I’m excited about, playing on a professional team in Los Angeles and helping them win,” Kelly said. “Fans are going to like what they see.”

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The Avengers have eight players who will spend at least the first two weeks of the season on the injured reserve list, including receiver/defensive back Antoine Burns, offensive/defensive lineman Jemelle Cage, quarterback Sonny Cumbie, offensive/defensive lineman Charles Howard, offensive/defensive lineman Rod Manuel, offensive/defensive lineman Richard Seals, receiver/defensive back Ricky Sharpe and Locke.

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TODAY

vs. Arizona, noon, Channel 4

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 690.

Records (2005) -- Avengers 10-6, Rattlers 7-9.

Record vs. Rattlers (2005) -- 2-0.

Update -- The Rattlers lead the series, 7-5, but the Avengers swept two games from Arizona last season. The Avengers rely on two-way threats Kevin Ingram (88 catches for 1,052 yards and 23 touchdowns on offense and six interceptions last season) and Greg Hopkins (89, 891, 13 touchdowns and five interceptions). Arizona first-year Coach Gene Nudo will count on quarterback Sherdrick Bonner, starting his 13th season with the Rattlers.