LIBERTY DRAFT PRESS CONFERENCE

[iceman99]

NEW OWNERSHIP FINALLY MEETS THE PRESS….

It is very seldom that a major sports team is purchased and there is no press conference to announce the purchase, it is even more amazing when that team is in the #1 TV market in America. Well that is what happened when the Los Angeles Liberty were purchased at the end of the 2013 season. While the team was sold to an ownership group that was lead by former Georgia Generals Ace Johnson, there was little more then a one paragraph announcement released by the league. The group consists of several high profile executives that have chosen to stay in the background and have turned over the team’s day to day activity to GM/Team President David “Iceman” Hiley. Mr. Hiley has been a loyal member of the Johnson’s organization and has a solid reputation in the Imperial League. Despite the lack of information from the team headquarters, the team has made it clear this off-season that no one is safe, with the hiring/firing of two co-coordinators, multiple coaches, release of several veterans, and trades to replace those that do not fit into the teams future. It has been an active off-season to say the least.

Players Lost:

T Rickey McCloskey – 12 year
LB Champ Sheldon – 7 year
TE Roger Webster – 12 year
DE Jeremy Ellison – 8 year
WR Andre Thomason – 5 year
RB Toby Doss – IR – 3 year

Players Added:

RB Jackie Gulden – 2nd year
LB Bill Kidder – 2nd year
T Frankie Prescott – 3rd year
DT Colin Bridges – 5th year
TE Mario Henry – 6th year

Well it is no surprise that the team waited until day one of the draft to meet the press, and it is no surprise that the controversies continue. After taking time to finally announce the team’s sale, introduce the new players, coaches and staff members to the press, the teams GM announced that the team had taken QB Adrian Debussy with their 1st round pick in this years draft.

- Coach Bill Earle (left), LB Bill Kidder (Middle), K Ross Goodwin (Right)

- First Rounder Adrian Debussy of Central Florida

The news was a shock too many as the Liberty have steady veteran QB Edward Jacobs behind center. The news took the Jacobs camp by surprise, but his agent has mentioned that Jacobs will be at team headquarters in the morning to discuss the team’s plans for him. Even though the teams GM mentioned that they have no intentions of moving Jacobs, the writing is on the wall and rumors are already floating that the team is trying to move the veteran QB out of LA.

At this rate, it will be interesting to see how many games the team will win in 2014. But one thing is for sure… They should be entertaining to watch with all that youth on their side.

[JesterBlaze]

Nice!!

[Suicane]

Excellent. I need to do a blog.

[SteveBsFan]

Good stuff

[iceman99]

EDWARD JACOBS SENT TO SALT LAKE..

After meeting with the new management for first time since the team was sold, Edward Jacobs found out that he was sent to the Salt Lake City Stallions for 2 future selections. Jacobs, who refused to speak with reporters, was a 4th round selection who took over the starting job and ran with it, and quickly became a fan favorite.

- Jacobs moved to SLC

Agent Bennie Dunlap did take time out to meet the press and announced that while it was not released to the press, he was given the ok to seek a trade after the new management refused to discuss a new contract. "We knew his days were numbered here, the team has a new focus and direction, one that we were confident that we would not be a part of" said Mr. Dunlap after the meeting. "Eddie is looking forward to playing with a team with a great history, and he feels that he can help them win now. He is very excited about the chance".

LA gets 2 future 1st round selections, and if SLC and Jacobs meld well together that should be later in the round of each draft. GM Hiley passed that "with the addition of DeBussy and the chance of adding more young talent in the future, we had to pull the trigger. We wish Eddie the best and we feel that SLC is getting a solid player, and we look forward to getting Adrian on the field in year 1."

[Matt]

he has a striking resemblance to Trent Edwards

[iceman99]

LOL....

[iceman99]

LIBERTY ADD TE TO MIX

With the 27th pick in the 2nd round, the LA Liberty selected TE Rusty Lukehart out of Clemson



The addition of a run blocking, pass catching TE should fit well in the teams new system. LA's management has made a lot of moves so far since taking over the team. So it was no surprise to see them trade town 10 spots and still land the guy they targeted. "We were willing to take Rusty at 2.17, but there was an offer on the table that allowed us to move up in the 3rd and maybe grab another player off the top of our board." the team GM passed during the brief press conference to announce the teams selection to the media.

There were many rumors of LA trying to trade up in the 2nd round, but our sources say that the team was not willing to part with any of the 4 1st round selections over the next 2 seasons. Is LA's management and staff looking at this year as a wash? Have they given up already? Only time will tell I guess.

[Argot]

Good pick.

[iceman99]

LOS ANGELES GM SPEAKS

After several requests to the team’s front office to speak with either the new ownership group or coaching staff; the Liberty Public Relations department has granted us access to the teams GM David “Iceman” Hiley for his first interview as the Liberty GM.

LA Times – Welcome Mr. Hiley, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to speak to us. Let’s get things started with your feelings of returning to the IFL?

GM – No problem glad to be here, I love it. I really hated leaving Georgia; we had a lot of great talent there. Really miss those guys.

LA Times – Speaking of Georgia, what is your take on the major house cleaning that went on over there this off-season?

GM – I really have no comment, it’s not our team anymore. I think the GM got great value for some of those players, heck we tried to bring in a few here. But in the end the GM is doing just like we are here. Finding the best players to fit the system they are putting into place. So we wish them the best of luck.

LA Times – So is LA rebuilding?

GM – Well I think the team was going to need to rebuild regardless of if we purchased it or not. But in the end we felt we had viable talent that could be moved that would help the team in the long run. So we made the deals we felt were best.

LA Times – How does a front office feel they are doing what is better for the team when you trade away talents like Jacobs, Shelton, McCloskey, and Thomason? Not to mention flipping solid talent from trades to other teams (IE DT Tyrrell)

GM – Well that is what we knew would get brought up, I mean those are great players you listed and we wish them the best. But let’s focus on what we got in return! We got Bill Kidder, a young outstanding LB to pair up with Alan Gomez. Both those guys are 2nd year players. We sent McCloskey away to try and get a ring, yet got a comparable 3rd year RT in return to team up with the rest of our young talented offensive line. Not to mention 4 total number one picks over the next 2 years. We can do a lot with those.

LA Times – That is true, we did get back a lot of youth. But since we are on the subject of players moved, were the rumors true that Jacobs was on the way out once you all bought the team?

GM – Actually, regardless of what is being reported, we did not entertain offers on Jacobs until after we selected Debussy. We had 2 starters going into the draft and had every intention of trying to move Bo, but when attempts to move up failed (we targeted Geoff Wilson) we knew it was going to be a tough for us in round one. Then after attempts to trade down failed, we took the best player on the board in Debussy. We knew then that 3 starters were not going to work for us, and Jacobs contract demands pressed us into action. We wanted to extend Jacobs just not this season, but his camp was threatening a hold out so we moved him to Salt Lake.

LA Times – A lot is being made of the LARGE amount of cap space LA has available. Are there reasons why more money is not being spent?

GM – Spent on what? Have you see the free agent market? There are not many out there that deserve the money that is being thrown around. Currently we have 49 players under contract with 12 total draft picks. We will make a few more offers to some free agents, but we are focusing on adding via the draft.

LA Times – Do you buy into the latest fan poll we ran that says the Liberty has already written this year off?

GM – If we did stuff like that we would not be here. This ownership group is here to win, and we will do what we can to put the best team we can on the field. Will there be heartaches this season, we know that, but we also feel that in the end everyone will see where we are going with this.

LA Times – One final question? Where do you see LA in the next 3 years?

GM – Hopefully we will be fighting for a division title. But we have a top notch QB to worry about in California now, and so needless to say those 4 first round picks could be the key in our future success.

LA Times – Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule for us. You need to get back in the war room. LA is almost on the clock again.

GM – Yep gotta run… Thanks…

[iceman99]

LIBERTY ADD WR - COULD HE START?

With the 7th pick of the 3rd round, LA Liberty select WR Ernie Galloway from Syracuse



With the loss of Thomason to a trade during the off-season, the team was in major need of an upgrade at the WR position. Galloway provides the team with a solid player who could push for the starting job. Despite the size and average hands Galloway possesses, he is a solid route runner and has very good speed. He may not be the go to guy in LA, but he should provide a little excitement.

[iceman99]

LIBERTY BRING IN CENTER OF THE FUTURE

With the 18th pick in the 3rd round, LA Liberty select C Byron Kimmel from BYU



While more of a project at the center position do to only one year as starter at BYU, there is a big upside on this young player and since the Liberty really need a C, it was a player the team felt they could take a reach on at this stage of the draft.

[JesterBlaze]

Mr. Hiley, can you comment on any concerns your fans might have on his knee injuries, requiring double knee support, which may have caused him to fall so far in the draft?

[iceman99]

Our scouts and doctors put him through multiple drills and extensive medical tests and we feel that any prior injuries should not impact him at this level. We are sure that many of the teams did similar tests, so we do not feel injuries were a concern for his drop as it was not a concern of our.

[iceman99]

LIBERTY DRAFT S

With the 20th selection in the 3rd round, LA Liberty Select Richie Randle from Florida



Looking to add depth at the secondary position, the selection of Randle give the team a player who can play both S positions and even push the starters for playing time. Randle is a well educated player with big hitting ability.