February 24, 2006 - The Green Bay Blizzard has been assigned 9
players by the af2 League Office, including a former QB Indianapolis
Colts, two players with AFL experience, and another member of the
2005 Blizzard squad that made the playoffs.

QB James MacPherson (6-0, 195 Wake Forest) spent the 2003 season
with the Colts as a backup to Peyton Manning after a solid career at
Wake Forest. As a collegian, MacPherson was one of only 10 QBs in
school history to pass for more than 3,000 yards. He was signed by
the Colts in 2003 and beat out some pretty stiff competition for the
Colts' backup QB spot, including former San Francisco 49ers first-
round draft choice Jim Druckenmiller, and Jim Kubiak, who has spent
several years in the AFL with the Buffalo Destroyers, Dallas
Desperadoes, and Georgia Force.

Also new to the Blizzard are two highly regarded college players
that spent time with teams in the in NFL and AFL, Arena Football
rookies Matt Pagel and Jason Hardee. FB/LB Matt Pagel (5-11, 250 UW-
Lacrosse) was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Diego
Chargers in 2005. A native of Oconto now living in DePere, Pagel was
offered an af2 contract after his showing at the open tryout the
Blizzard held on February 19th.

OL/DL Jason Hardee (6-3, 285 West Virginia) was favorably compared
to Houston Texans DE Robaire Smith coming out of college, and has
the versatility to excel in Arena Football due to his experience as
both a Defensive End and Tight End. Hardee was in camp with the
Colorado Crush earlier this year, and was widely regarded by many
draft experts as an excellent pro prospect.


The Blizzard was also assigned 6 other players:

* FB/LB Peter Lazare (6-2, 300 C.W. Post), who played for the
Blizzard last season. Lazare joined the team mid-season and
contributed 2 rushing TDs, 10 tackles and 3 sacks while learning the
indoor game
* DS Ronnie Kaymore (6-0, 190 Texas A&M Kingsville), who has also
played for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers of the af2 in 2005,
and was with the Las Vegas Gladiators of the AFL earlier this year.
* DS Edward Kwaku (6-0, 202 Florida A&M), an International player
from Nigeria (contract pending)
* WR/LB Russell Jessamy (6-0, 225 C.W. Post), who was a college
teammate of Peter Lazare
* WR/DB Harold Clewis (5-11, 190 Iowa State)
* OL/DL Nick Zilka (6-6, 310 North Dakota)