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A 'new' era of football kicks off in New York
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Excitement was the word on Tuesday as a new era of New York football kicked off at the Sports Museum of America. New York Giants linebacker Danny Clark, New York Jets safety Kerry Rhodes, and new Dragons Managing Partner Steven Silva, amongst others, were introduced to both fans and the media as the newest members of the Arena Football League’s New York Dragons management group.
“Since our management group purchased the team a couple of months ago, our goal has been to change the way New York football fans see the Dragons,” Silva told those in attendance.
“What’s great about having Danny and Kerry on board with the Dragons is that they have their finger on the pulse of the New York football fan.”
Both Danny Clark and Kerry Rhodes join an elite group of NFL players who currently hold front office roles in the Arena Football League. Former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway is a part-owner of the Colorado Crush while Mike Ditka serves in the same role with the Chicago Rush. Former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski is the President and part-owner of the defending champion Philadelphia Soul.
“I’m excited to be a part of this organization and to bring the Jets fans over here to let them see what a good team we have here in the Dragons,” Jets safety Kerry Rhodes said of his involvement.
Giants linebacker Danny Clark, who also plans to bring his legion of NFL fans to the Dragons, spoke in excited tones over his new role with the team.
“I understand where we [the Dragons] have been and where we are going and I am truly excited to be part of an organization who is trying to build a champion,” said Clark. “The Dragons are a team to be reckoned with and I am excited about it.”
The Dragons finished with an 8-8 record in their 2008 campaign and earned entry into the playoffs as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. After going on the road in the first round of the playoffs and knocking off the heavily-favored Dallas Desperados, the Dragons lost a last-second heartbreaker to the eventual champion Philadelphia Soul by a score of 49-48.
New York Dragons defensive back Billy Parker, a key member of the 2008 playoff run, was also in attendance on Tuesday. Parker, a two-time First Team All-Arena selection, knows firsthand about the relationship that the Dragons share with the New York football fan.
“The relationship we have with the fans is very intimate,” said Parker. “When the game is over the fans can come down to the field and, as players, we are going to be right there. I can take pictures with your kids, I can talk to you about what you do, and I can sign autographs. I can also shake your hand, look you in the eye, and thank you for coming. I’m very proud to be a part of that and you can’t get that anywhere else.”
At the press conference, the First Team All-Arena defensive back also had the privilege of unveiling the team’s new logo. While black still remains the primary color, gone are the fire-breathing Dragon and accent colors of red, yellow and orange. In their place is a much crisper, and classier, logo with green and silver serving as the new accent colors.
“We want to bring a brand new start to the Dragons football team,” Silva said prior to the logo’s unveiling. “From putting the best football team possible out on the field every night, to making sure fan involvement and customer service is the best it can be, this is the ‘new’ New York Dragons.”
While the 2009 schedule has yet to be released, the “new” New York Dragons are expected to kick off their season sometime around the first week of March.
