Friday, Jun. 12, 2009

Woeful Fever overhauls roster

By Ben Reynolds, Herald staff writer

Let's be honest.

The Tri-Cities Fever has not fared well against the Boise Burn (8-2) this season.

The Fever have lost the two meetings by an average of 41 points, and managed to score just a combined 43 points in those two losses.

Adding to the team's woes, it looks like the Fever (1-9) will again be without two of its top offensive threats for the second straight game Saturday night at Toyota Center.

Receiver Tremayne Kirkland is still bothered by a sore hamstring and receiver/linebacker Chris Hemphill still has swelling in his knee. Both have been placed on the practice squad and are expected to be game-time decisions.

In another attempt to jump-start the league's worst offense, the Fever was assigned receiver Kameron Kranz (6-foot-2, 215 pounds), a rookie from Wingate. He is expected to play Saturday.

To make room on the roster, the Fever put receiver/kick returner Chase Reed on recallable reassignment.

Notes:

-- The Fever defense got some new faces Thursday with the additions of linebacker Curtis Terry (6-2, 250) from Ohio State and defensive lineman Julian Riley (6-3, 270) from South Florida.

-- The Fever outright released defensive lineman Phil Jordan and linebacker/defensive back Kwame Agyeman.

-- Fever coach Pat O'Hara confirmed this week quarterback Colin Drafts will not join the team. He was assigned to the team last week after he was released from Amarillo. Drafts played in two games for the Fever in 2007, nearly leading the team to an upset of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the first round of the playoffs.

-- Former Fever quarterback Josh Kellett was assigned to Rio Grande earlier this week. Kellett played in four games for the Fever last season.