We've said it before. Our move to the IFL for the 2011 season has spurred a significant bump in interest from prospective players hoping to catch on with the Reading Express. It all comes down to the success IFL alums have had moving up the ranks. Now, comes this story out of the league office:
The IFL is very proud to announce that two Indoor Football League alumni
will be competing head to head in the NFL this weekend when the Green Bay Packers travel to FedEx Field to take on the Washington Redskins.
Washington Redskins wide receiver Anthony Armstrong started his career with the Odessa Roughnecks in 2006. After several stints on NFL practice squads, Armstrong earn a spot the Redskins 53 man roster this season. Displaying explosive speed and elusiveness, Armstrong finds himself third on the Redskins depth chart behind only Santana Moss and Joey Galloway. Entering Sunday’s game Anthony has 104 receiving yards in three games and is averaging 26 yards per catch.
Maurice Simpkins was a member of the Green Bay Blizzard during the 2010 IFL season. The 6-foot, 236-pound linebacker was named First Team All-IFL Defense and the IFL’s Most Improved Player in 2010. Simpkins was invited to the Green Bay Packers training camp in August and ended up being signed to the team’s practice squad. Due to the recent season ending injury of Packer’s starting linebacker Nick Barnett, Executive Vice President, General Manager, and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson announced on Thursday that Simpkins had been signed to the Packers active roster.
“This is an exciting day in the history of the Indoor Football League” said IFL Commissioner Tommy Benizio. “Our goal is to promote players to the next level of professional football. We are absolutely thrilled that both Anthony and Maurice are living out their dreams of playing in the National Football League” (IFL Press Release).
Photo from Washington Redskins
