Force acquire WR Groce from Dragons in exchange for OL Franklin
Friday March 28, 2008

FLOWERY BRANCH, GA – The Georgia Force today acquired six-year AFL veteran WR Damien Groce from the New York Dragons in exchange for OL Steve Franklin. Georgia also released WR Willis Marshall and waived LB Eric Johnson.

Groce, 5-11, 180 pounds, (pronounced: GROSS) joins the Force after spending the first four games of the season with the Dragons. He tallied 13 receptions for 151 yards on offense and was New York’s leading kickoff returner with 351 yards on 19 attempts and one touchdown. Last year, Groce was a member of the Columbus Destroyers, where he recorded 117 grabs for 1,340 yards and 26 touchdowns on offense and added 41 kickoff return attempts for 831 yards and two scores. Groce has posted 438 catches for 5,366 yards with 100 touchdowns on offense in 82 career games and has notched 3,632 kickoff return yards on 192 attempts with seven touchdowns on special teams.

Franklin, 6-2, 302 pounds, is a product of Syracuse University who spent the first four weeks of the season on injured reserve.

Marshall, 5-9, 194 pounds, participated in three games for Georgia this season after being signed on March 5. He had posted 339 kickoff return yards on 20 attempts on special teams and added 20 rushing yards on 11 attempts on offense.

Johnson, 6-0, 241 pounds, tallied 3.5 tackles and one sack in two games this season. Last year, he collared 33.5 tackles, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception as a rookie for the Force.

Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football action returns Saturday, March 29 at 2:00 p.m. on ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD as the Tampa Bay Storm visit Philadelphia to take on the Soul.

For more information, please contact the Force Football Communications Department.

6u6e56n

What is going on?!!! EJ is gone? Marshall too? I have absolutely no comprehension for these moves. Can anyone rationalize it?

I'm sure the one with rose colored glasses will be here soon with the positive spin....once he gets it from the Branch. :blink: :blink: :D

I can see picking up Groce. If we needed to make room for salary cap then I would think others could have been cut instead of EJ.

"It is his versatility that makes him so valuable," Georgia Force head coach Doug Plank said of the eight-year Arena Football League veteran. "I don't know of anybody else on our football team that has more assignments than Willis Marshall."

"I bring winning to this team as far as teams I have been on in the past," Marshall said. "It is just that experience of being on winning teams and knowing what it takes."

"I wasn't surprised," said special teams coach Dialleo Burks, who played with Marshall last season in Dallas before retiring. "I have been playing against him for the past seven years and he's been doing the same thing. He has been one of the more consistent guys that I have seen off of the net."

"Being off that net, you have to be fearless," he said. "You can't be scared because you have your back turned, you have eight guys from the other team coming down as fast as they can.

"I love it. You know why I love it? Because not everybody else can do it."

"Georgia also released WR Willis Marshall and waived LB Eric Johnson."

Would someone please fill in the blanks. On the surface these moves are stupid. I wonder how much influence Kelly has on the decision process for these.

I asked somewhere if JK had lost his freaking mind. Personally I think he has.

I've said all along, he is the problem with this team right now and moves such as this state that case even more. )!(@#

He doesn't have a clue on what's going on........... :bash:

I'm glad this week's game is on TV so we'll get to see how quickly they adapt with Groce. Greisen/Pauley seemed to get a good footing pretty quickly. At first blush I thought there's no way he'd play this weekend, but with the release of Marshall I'd say that's a pretty sure sign he'll be the one taking the ball off the net.

Hopefully Troy's back this week, so in four weeks we go from Morris-Bergeron-Holmes to Groce-Bergeron-Pauley. You have to like that. :D

Man, I hate losing Johnson, though. I would imagine it was probably a combination of roster size and salary cap, but that sucks. What it may also say, though, is that Hamin and/or Milligan are getting healthy, meaning they can move a DB back to Jack like they wanted to initially. Still, I wouldn't be too surprised to see him back on the roster at some point if he doesn't get snatched up, which is probably more likely, because we know Doug Plank is an Eric Johnson fan. I guess he just wasn't getting the pass rush they wanted when trying to transition to Mack and the roster just isn't big enough to keep him for special teams and backup. :(

Call me nuts but I just don't understand getting rid of EJ you can't give me a good enough reason we have lost our cotton pickin minds.It looks like they are trying to run the fans off that they do have.This move really pisses me off.What the hell is JK doing to this team.Well you won't see EJ out there to long someone will jump on him.You know I lived with the move back to Gwinnett now you are destroying the team what gives?

I have been trying to hold this in, but I can't. You are the biggest gloom and doomer that I have ever heard. I understand that you are always "pissed off" and every move the Force make cause you to type the word "bullshit" a great deal, but come on.

Everyone agrees that something isn't right. The job hasn't been getting done that's for sure.

Is it the players? Beats me.

Is it the coaches? I have no idea.

Does the Force have the worse mascot I have ever seen? Yes.

Is the play calling poor? I haven't seen but one game so I don't know.

Is Kubiak a moron? I doubt a Navy guy is stupid, but who knows?

I can tell you this...I like the moves they are making. I really do. It shows that they know that the status-quo (sp?) isn't working. Maybe JK isn't the ideal fit at OC and they understand that a change must be made (Andy Kelly?). But Doug Plank is the head coach and he is responsible in the end...and I trust the he is going to right this ship before too long. These guys know what they are doing. While we would like to say that we know more as message board geeks and fans, we all know that isn't true. Otherwise we'd be coaches or office staff in the league.

So, build on your momentum from a few days ago and get that glass half full and take a seat so you don't fall off the bandwagon, because the Georgia Force will make the playoffs this year...I GUARANTEE IT. If they don't, I will be at 2009 opening day wearing a dress. Yes, a dress.

So there you go.

Oh! Make it a spaghetti strap with a deep cut back. Something from the likes of Versace'. 798f

you know I really don't care what you think of me or what I say I have listened to or been at every game this year and as a season ticket holder I have the right to state how I feel so ifd you don't like don't read it and don't respond to it as long as I am a season ticket holder I will express my feelings about the moves they make.Thats what these boards are for and yeah I don't like all the moves so what if you don't like tough.You have alot to say for only seeing one game Mr forcefan 27 like I said you don't have to like me or what I say.

It's ForceFan27...you spelled my name wrong.

Look, I'm not trying to jump on your case or anything, I'm just saying that the season is young and it looks like they are truly trying to right the ship. They know more about arena football than you or I ever will...just sayin'.

As far as the number of Force games I've seen or been to...I'm lazy and don't feel like driving all the way to Gwinette.

You are right I am just a fan but since I spend my money for season tickets I will express my self.Yes I know there is reason they make these moves.I also know that they are trying to make the team better but hell I don't have to like all the moves they make I believe picking up Pauley was great and also getting Groce was great the are both proven WR.Yes I understand that EJ is a linebacker only and changes do have to be made I just hate seeing him not on the roster he is a spark plug.I know the moves have to be made I just don't like some of them and I believe I have a right to express that.Believe me I have only been a season ticket holder since 2005.Believe me I am not giving up I love this team and sport to much.I guess it is just frustration at the way this season has started and I hope you are right that we are going to make the playoffs.I hope we make a run that gets us to the Arena Bowl.

Come on, Emmitt. You can complain, but FF27 can't? If you don't like it that FF doesn't like it I would point out that you don't have to read his posts either.

Frankly I'm with FF27. Iffy probably thinks I stole his password.

And he makes a good point - people wat to immediately dismiss or detract every move that is made as if standing pat at 0-1, 0-2, 1-2, 1-3 is the obvious strategy to success. EJ is a fan favorite for good reason - one of my favorites too, but lets look at it in black and white, folks - we're here griping about releasing our backup LB rather than caring that we just got a franchise WR from New York for a guy that couldn't even start on our offensive line.

Hello??? Is it just me?

At one point everyone was furious that the "idiots in the front office" would trade away Backfoot Nagy and start an unknown when we so desperately needed to sign Joe Hamilton. Heck, I remember people b!tching that Tyronne Jones was taking too much playing time away from Markeith Cooper, who was OBVIOUSLY the answer.

Fortunately for us, they don't read the message boards to direct this franchise. I have posted my insight on personnel moves on Falcons boards, on Bears boards, Thrashers boards, Force boards, and never once got a job offer for it. Still waiting.

Point is, the organization is trying to get this thing straightened out, and I am grateful they aren't just packing it in, like apparently New York is.

I have no problem with picking up Groce he is a great ballplayer.I also liked when we picked up Pauley noone really knew who he was when we got him but he is a great ballplayer also.I also know that the moves they are making is because they need to it doesn't mean I have to agree with them and as far as ForceFan27 her jumps on everything I say hew has right to say what he wants you are right but he jumps on every little thing I say maybe you need to read all of it. I am not stupid I have been around sports all my life I know they are trying to better the team.I guess I will just keep what I have to say to myself since I know nothing.

1. I don't jump on everything you say. In fact, it was the first time I have ever responded to ANY of your posts. I just put all of your past posts in my "Post Combining Machine," and "This move by the Force is bullshit and pisses be off because JK is useless," is what came out.

2. We all knew who Pauley was.

3. "I will just keep what I have to say to myself since I know nothing." Come on dude, we both know that's not the route you want to go.

Damn, just damn...............

You mean to tell me that after we don't make the playoff's, next year we'll have to go through the agony of watching you in a dress????????

Please tell me Brandon won't be your date...... 45v6v

:huh:

The Force webmaster??????

96fh

Doc...you haven't seen me in a few years. My hair is longer and I've been working out alot.

I'm really pretty.

First of all it is not your first smart ass remarks about what I have had to say.Really I can care less what you say and I will say and go where I want I really don't know who you think you are but get off it you can't even remember who you reply to.Well it seemed like people didn't know who Pauley was so excuse me MR AFL.I forgot you know everything.I will just take it where it comes from.Yes and I do think some of the moves are stupid just like arguing with you .If they are all great moves explain them to me then.

O man I love that post first thing I thought of was the Nagy-Jackson-Hamilton incedent. I still have faith the the guys know what they are doing with this move and we'll still see great play outta the offense even without E.J I'm more worried about the DBs (how are Milligan and Crocker coming along?). Lets hope Griesen gels quicker with his new recivers than he did at the start of the year.

Well, I would like to know what my other smart ass remarks were, but I'll take your word for it. But really...what were they? In regards to the "can't remember who I reply to" remark..you're right, I don't. Sorry, it must not have been as important to me as it was to you.

I'm not sure I can explain why I think these moves are so great, but l feel the same way HitemHarder does. So we released a guy who wasn't even starting and picked up a great WR. If you asked the avaerage AFL fan who EJ is, they wouldn't have a clue. I am sure he's a great guy and a good player, but the bottom line (for me at least) is that he hasn't actually been playing all that much...so the the loss isn't all that big. I could be wrong, I know...and that happens more often than not.

I like arguing with you also. It's fun. Iffy has Brandon and we have each other. it's all in good fun. And heck, if I'm wrong, you can take your picture with me in my dress at the first home game next year.

You know you'll want to because I'm so pretty.

Not feeling well. Gonna get sick.

I need an old priest and a young priest.

<,; 6y545ty6

....dang wannabe fans.......afraid of a little drive!!! nr6

<shakes head>

Can I have some of those meds you have OD'ed on please???

They have got to be powerful.

Don't worry though, I'll make sure Wee Willie is there, just for you.

Look forcefan 27 I don't want to argue I hope you are right about the playoffs.Everybody has an opinion on the moves the team makes you and me just see some of them differently.I will be rooting them in and keeping the faith.I do differ on Eric Johnson he is a hell of a player and I just think it hurts us getting rid of him I hope I am wrong.I will be tuned into the game tonight and rooting for our Force.So lets pull them through tonight one game at a time.Believe me I know moves have to be made to better the team just some of them hit you wrong sometimes.With that said go Force.