Wide receiver Peter Warrick jokes during a Jan. 4 news conference to announce his signing with the Gladiators. However, Warrick has cut ties with the team in favor of a possible return to the NFL. Photo by John Gurzinski.
A month ago, Gladiators coach Danton Barto called wide receiver Peter Warrick "probably the biggest signing ever in the AFL."
Now Warrick is gone, headed back to the NFL before even playing a down for the Arena Football League team. He is believed to be negotiating a contract with the Atlanta Falcons, and the Gladiators placed him on the "refused to report" list.
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"Peter would've obviously been a great addition to our team," Barto said Monday. "He's an outstanding receiver. I'm confident in the guys we have to get the job done."
Warrick was supposed to be the centerpiece of Las Vegas' receiver corps. The Cincinnati Bengals made him the fourth overall pick in the 2000 draft, and he played six seasons in the NFL. Warrick also helped lead Florida State to the 1999 national title.
Warrick's exit leaves Joe Douglass as the Gladiators' most experienced AFL receiver. He played for them the past two years, when he had a combined 142 receptions for 1,452 yards and 34 touchdowns.
The Gladiators also have Kevin Prentiss, who played two games for them last year, and Sale Key, who was with the Utah Blaze. Prentiss was one of the better af2 players while playing for Barto of the Memphis Xplorers.
With Memphis, Barto made a habit of winning with former NFL players, and receivers Brett Fischer, Reggie Harrell and Travis LaTendresse all have experience at the highest level. Fischer played for the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs, Harrell for the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers and LaTendresse for the Baltimore Ravens.
With Warrick leaving now, as opposed to the eve of training camp, it should give new quarterback Shaun King a chance to build chemistry with his other receivers.
