2/11/2008
WIREN SIGNS ONE-YEAR DEAL

STORM ALSO SIGN DL KENNY SMITH

TAMPA – The five-time world champion Tampa Bay Storm continue to add
depth to the defense as they have re-signed linebacker Nyle Wiren and
signed defensive lineman Kenny Smith, Head Coach and General Manager
Tim Marcum announced today.

Wiren, a 6-foot-2, 260-pound linebacker, out of Kansas State
is a ten-year Arena Football veteran. He returns to Tampa Bay for his
11th season in a Storm uniform. Wiren is third in franchise history
with 16 career-sacks and earned All-Ironman honors in 2004. He
finished the 2007 season with seven tackles, two interceptions and
one fumble recovery as he struggled with injuries. His senior year of
college he garnered first-team All-Big 12 honors and received
honorable mention All-America honors by Athlon.

Smith, a 6-5, 300-pound defensive lineman enters his first season in
Arena Football. The Meridian, Mississippi native went to the
University of Alabama before the New Orleans Saints made him the 81st
pick (third round) of the 2001 National Football League Draft. He
spent three seasons with the Saints and accumulated 69 tackles and
4.5 sacks in thirty games. He missed the 2004 season due to injury
and spent the 2005 season on injured reserve with the Oakland
Raiders. He spent time in camp with both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and
New England Patriots in 2007

The Storm will kickoff the 2008 home schedule when they host the
Southern Division champion Georgia Force in the season opener on
Friday, March 7 – 7:30 pm on Bill Currie Ford Field at the St. Pete
Times Forum. Fans can get a preview of the 2008 Storm team Thursday,
February 21 at 7 pm as Tampa Bay hosts a scrimmage against the
Orlando Predators.


Source: www.tampabaystorm.com