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thank you all for coming.
In the spring of 2005 I attended the IFL combine along with 31 other GM's. We all sat there and watched one man separate himself from everyone else. From the second I saw him, I knew that he was exactly what I wanted on my football team. Opportunity crossed with fate, and we made the moves to allow us to draft Mr. Alan Crespo with the 1st overall selection in 2005. Alan went on to represent this team for the past 11 seasons, as the face of organization. Today we come the realization that this can no longer happen. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to write a different chapter in the Alan Crespo story. However the harsh reality is that Alan never recovered from his back injury. The entire league lost a great man that Sunday afternoon in a game against Houston. Alan worked hard and was able to defy odds as he vowed to return to the IFL. A year after what was supposed to be a career ending injury, Alan rushed for 830yds and 8TDs. He continued his success for the past 4 years, until last year he ran for what was his lowest rushing totals of his career. Despite all of the success Alan had, everyone including Alan, knew that it was like watching 2 different players. the Immortal had become mortal. I never thought this day would ever come. In fact, WE never thought this day would come. Alan Crespo came to me after our 3rd preseason game and told me that he will not stand in the way of the success of the team. He told me that if I didn't cut him, he would retire so that our younger RB's would be given a chance to play IFL football. This spoke volumes about the type of man that Alan Crespo is. I could not allow a legend to retire under these circumstances, so we agreed to void his contract and allow Alan to become a free agent. As a tribute to Alan, we had him start his final game as a Newark Bulldog in front of the greatest fans in the IFL. Fans that he wanted to give back so much of what was given to him. ALan's tribute was the TD he scored on Sunday night. Alan will be free to sign with any team that wants him and we wish him the best of luck.
We will have a press conference tomorrow with both Alan and myself for any questions you may have.
thanks, and have a nice day.
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