The Baltimore Brigade are the newest team to join the Arena Football League. CEO of Monumental Sports and Entertainment Ted Leonsis founded the Brigade. He also founded the Washington Valor. The following is a season preview on the league’s newest team.
2017 Baltimore Brigade Season Preview
The Brigade don’t have as much stars on their team as most teams do, but they are a new team and many of these players are new to the game. The biggest name on their team is wide receiver Reggie Gray. He played with the Jacksonville Sharks in the 2016 season.
He also played in the China Arena Football League season back in October. He was a key player to the Qingdao Clipper’s success. The Clipper lost the inaugural China Bowl game to the Beijing Lions on a field goal as time expired.
The Brigade also signed CAFL standout Lavasier Tuienei. He was a big contribution to the Lions’ title run. Quarterback Shane Carden also played in the CAFL. He was the starting quarterback for the Guangzhou Power.
Baltimore’s coaching staff brings much success to the new team, as well. They are coached by Omarr Smith, who turned the Los Angeles KISS from pretenders to contenders. He also won seven ArenaBowl titles as both a coach and a player.
Assistant coach Virgil Gray also won three ArenaBowls as a player. That’s 10 ArenaBowl titles between just two coaches. It won’t be that easy for Baltimore to win the ArenaBowl in their first season. They still have to compete with talented teams such as the Philadelphia Soul and Cleveland Gladiators.
The Brigade will play their home games at the Royal Farms Arena in downtown Baltimore. The arena is also home to the Major Arena Soccer League’s Baltimore Blast.
The 30th season kicks off on Friday when the Brigade travel to Washington, D.C. to take on the other new team in the Valor.
