Free agents add skills depth to Gladiators

Adam Candee

Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2004 | 9:30 a.m.

Their targets may be the offensive and defensive lines, but the Las Vegas Gladiators made a big hit in the skill department Monday with the signing of former league Ironman of the Year Dameon Porter.

Porter highlighted four signings for the Gladiators, who also brought back OL/DL Wilky Bazile and signed WR/LB Joe Douglass and K Mark Lewis. The team continues to negotiate with a number of players to fill out the 10 remaining slots on its training camp roster.

While line play may be the focus of future signings, Monday's moves show that Las Vegas is serious about adding depth to an already strong set of receivers and improving the quality of its defensive backs -- especially if it can be done in one move with a player like Porter.

"We have, on paper, probably the best skill position team in the league," Gladiators general manager Dan Dolby said.

Porter comes to Las Vegas after a 2003 campaign split between Georgia and Austin. He earned Ironman of the Year honors in Chicago in 2001 when he led the Arena Football League with 12 interceptions. Last season, Porter caught eight touchdown passes on offense and recorded 22 tackles on defense.

"Dameon is a hell of an athlete," Gladiators head coach Ron James said. "He's been one of the best two-way players in the league for the last two years."

Las Vegas already features the league's top receiver in Marcus Nash and strong two-way players in Cornelius Bonner and Dennison Robinson. The addition of Porter is gravy for that area of the team.

"You're only as strong as your backups," James said.

Bazile, a Las Vegas resident, returns to the Gladiators after spending the past season with Columbus. He earned team Ironman honors with the Destroyers, and has 12 sacks in his nine-year career in the league.

Douglass arrives from Los Angeles, where he caught nine touchdowns in 13 games with the Avengers. He enjoyed his finest season in 2003 in Colorado, catching 79 passes for 1,031 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Lewis, who played for Detroit last season, replaces maligned Brian Gowins as the kicker. Las Vegas struggled all year in the kicking game after trading away Steve Videtich before the 2004 season. Lewis made 88 percent of his extra points and 56 percent of his field goals last year.