Former 49ers, AFL linebacker Mike Dukes killed in collision.
BEAUMONT, Texas (AP) -- Mike Dukes, who played linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers and two AFL teams from 1959 to 1965, was killed in a traffic accident earlier this week. He was 72.
The longtime Beaumont resident was killed when an eastbound pickup crossed the median on Interstate 10 on Monday afternoon, striking his truck head-on, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The trooper's report said the driver of the other vehicle was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Dukes was pronounced dead at the scene.
Dukes grew up in Kentucky and Georgia, and went on to play football for Clemson.
He began his professional football career with the San Francisco 49ers in 1959, then moved to the American Football League's Houston Oilers from 1960 to 1963 and the AFL's Boston Patriots in 1964-65.
He moved to the Beaumont area in the early 1980s and became a businessman.
AP-ES-06-18-08 1048EDT
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
AFL PROFILE: RASHEED MARSHALL, COL
Once upon a time, Columbus Destroyers wide receiver Rasheed Marshall quarterbacked the West Virginia University Mountaineers and left defenders baffled in the process.
As the defense wondered whether they were going to be beaten by Marshall’s feet or his arm, the Pittsburgh native was busy putting his imprint all over the West Virginia record books, ranking in the top-five all-time in six different categories. In 2004, Marshall was named the Big East Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year.
A fifth-round selection in the 2005 NFL Draft, Marshall switched coasts as well as positions. Playing in 12 games for the San Francisco 49ers during the 2006 season, he was converted into a wide receiver and return specialist, returning 26 kickoffs for 488 yards and 17 punts for 87 yards.
After spending part of 2007 with the St. Louis Rams, he took his game to AFL.
Marshall’s skills have shown no ill-effects in transferring to the Arena Football League as he currently leads the League in kickoff return yard average (21.3), ranks second among rookies in all-purpose yards (686), third among rookies in scoring (42) and fourth among rookies in receptions (24).
A measuring stick game looms for Marshall as he and the Destroyers take on arguably the League’s best team this Monday night in the undefeated and Eastern Division leading, Philadelphia Soul.
If Marshall’s past is any indication, he should do just fine.
Rasheed Marshall can be seen on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Monday, April 21st on ESPN2 at 8:00 P.M. ET when the Columbus Destroyers (2-5) host the Philadelphia Soul (7-0).
As the defense wondered whether they were going to be beaten by Marshall’s feet or his arm, the Pittsburgh native was busy putting his imprint all over the West Virginia record books, ranking in the top-five all-time in six different categories. In 2004, Marshall was named the Big East Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year.
A fifth-round selection in the 2005 NFL Draft, Marshall switched coasts as well as positions. Playing in 12 games for the San Francisco 49ers during the 2006 season, he was converted into a wide receiver and return specialist, returning 26 kickoffs for 488 yards and 17 punts for 87 yards.
After spending part of 2007 with the St. Louis Rams, he took his game to AFL.
Marshall’s skills have shown no ill-effects in transferring to the Arena Football League as he currently leads the League in kickoff return yard average (21.3), ranks second among rookies in all-purpose yards (686), third among rookies in scoring (42) and fourth among rookies in receptions (24).
A measuring stick game looms for Marshall as he and the Destroyers take on arguably the League’s best team this Monday night in the undefeated and Eastern Division leading, Philadelphia Soul.
If Marshall’s past is any indication, he should do just fine.
Rasheed Marshall can be seen on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Monday, April 21st on ESPN2 at 8:00 P.M. ET when the Columbus Destroyers (2-5) host the Philadelphia Soul (7-0).
AFL PROFILE: TRAVIS COLEMAN, KC
By Neil Bisman
When Kansas City Brigade defensive back Travis Coleman and his relatives get together for a family picnic, the talent in the family football game might be a little bit better than your traditional game of backyard pigskin.
That’s because Coleman is a relative of Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Art Monk, in addition to current Tennessee Titans linebacker David Thornton.
Coleman, who played collegiately at Hampton University, has played in the National Football League as well.
The former Hampton Pirate played in seven games for the Chicago Bears in 2002, starting on special teams in kick-off and punt-return coverage.
This season, Coleman has seen limited action due to a bout with turf toe. In just two games, Coleman has tallied one interception and eight-and-a-half tackles. When healthy, he is one of the better tacklers on the Brigade roster.
Coleman, along with defensive back teammates Will Holder and Jerald Brown, have teamed up to give Kansas City one the league’s best defensive passing attacks. The trios’ five interceptions are currently equal to or better than nine teams, which is more than half the teams in the League.
The Kansas City defensive backfield should have their hands’ full this Monday night when they lock horns with one of the League’s all-time great quarterbacks, the Chicago Rush’s Sherdrick Bonner.
Bonner ranks second all-time in League history in passing attempts (5,434), passing touchdowns (854) and passing yards (42,263).
Bonner currently sits just 266 yards shy of passing Georgia Force QB Andy Kelly for the all-time lead.
Rest assured, Travis Coleman and company will do everything in their power to make sure no records are set this Monday night in Kansas City.
Travis Coleman and the rest of his Brigade teammates can be seen on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Monday, April 14th on ESPN2 at 8:30 P.M. ET when the Kansas City Brigade (0-5) host the Chicago Rush (4-2).
When Kansas City Brigade defensive back Travis Coleman and his relatives get together for a family picnic, the talent in the family football game might be a little bit better than your traditional game of backyard pigskin.
That’s because Coleman is a relative of Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Art Monk, in addition to current Tennessee Titans linebacker David Thornton.
Coleman, who played collegiately at Hampton University, has played in the National Football League as well.
The former Hampton Pirate played in seven games for the Chicago Bears in 2002, starting on special teams in kick-off and punt-return coverage.
This season, Coleman has seen limited action due to a bout with turf toe. In just two games, Coleman has tallied one interception and eight-and-a-half tackles. When healthy, he is one of the better tacklers on the Brigade roster.
Coleman, along with defensive back teammates Will Holder and Jerald Brown, have teamed up to give Kansas City one the league’s best defensive passing attacks. The trios’ five interceptions are currently equal to or better than nine teams, which is more than half the teams in the League.
The Kansas City defensive backfield should have their hands’ full this Monday night when they lock horns with one of the League’s all-time great quarterbacks, the Chicago Rush’s Sherdrick Bonner.
Bonner ranks second all-time in League history in passing attempts (5,434), passing touchdowns (854) and passing yards (42,263).
Bonner currently sits just 266 yards shy of passing Georgia Force QB Andy Kelly for the all-time lead.
Rest assured, Travis Coleman and company will do everything in their power to make sure no records are set this Monday night in Kansas City.
Travis Coleman and the rest of his Brigade teammates can be seen on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Monday, April 14th on ESPN2 at 8:30 P.M. ET when the Kansas City Brigade (0-5) host the Chicago Rush (4-2).
AFL PROFILE: RON JOHNSON, ORL
By Neil Bisman
If big, physical wide receivers are your thing, look no further than the Orlando Predators’ Ron Johnson.
Johnson, a six-foot-three-inch, 228-pound product of the University of Minnesota, is currently playing in his second season in the Arena Football League. While playing for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, he earned both first-team and second-team All-Big-Ten honors during his illustrious career.
After an impressive debut season in 2007 for the Predators, Johnson is picking up right where he left off. The Detroit, Michigan native currently ranks 8th in the League in receptions (40) and 14th in the League in receiving yards (405).
The Orlando wide receiver is also no stranger to the National Football League. Drafted in the 4th round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens, Johnson started four games as a rookie and recorded 11 receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown over his 25-game NFL career. In a 2002 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Johnson returned a blocked punt 22 yards for a touchdown.
His father, Ron Johnson Sr., also has NFL experience, playing cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1978-84.
Johnson, along with teammate and the League leader in receiving yards (650), T.T. Toliver, form what is arguably the most feared duo of receivers in the AFL.
Together, they are a quarterback’s best friend and a defensive back’s worst nightmare.
Teammates Ron Johnson and T.T. Toliver can be seen on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Sunday, April 6th on ESPN2 at 2:00 P.M. ET when the Orlando Predators (3-2) host the Chicago Rush (4-1).
If big, physical wide receivers are your thing, look no further than the Orlando Predators’ Ron Johnson.
Johnson, a six-foot-three-inch, 228-pound product of the University of Minnesota, is currently playing in his second season in the Arena Football League. While playing for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, he earned both first-team and second-team All-Big-Ten honors during his illustrious career.
After an impressive debut season in 2007 for the Predators, Johnson is picking up right where he left off. The Detroit, Michigan native currently ranks 8th in the League in receptions (40) and 14th in the League in receiving yards (405).
The Orlando wide receiver is also no stranger to the National Football League. Drafted in the 4th round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens, Johnson started four games as a rookie and recorded 11 receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown over his 25-game NFL career. In a 2002 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Johnson returned a blocked punt 22 yards for a touchdown.
His father, Ron Johnson Sr., also has NFL experience, playing cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1978-84.
Johnson, along with teammate and the League leader in receiving yards (650), T.T. Toliver, form what is arguably the most feared duo of receivers in the AFL.
Together, they are a quarterback’s best friend and a defensive back’s worst nightmare.
Teammates Ron Johnson and T.T. Toliver can be seen on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Sunday, April 6th on ESPN2 at 2:00 P.M. ET when the Orlando Predators (3-2) host the Chicago Rush (4-1).
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