Former NFL players lands with Phantoms

[The Grim Reaper]

Former NFL players lands with Phantoms

Monday, Dec 17, 2007 - 11:49 PM Updated: 09:11 AM
FLORENCE — Humbled and healthy, Jamain Stephens is ready to play football again.
Stephens is returning to football with the Florence Phantoms after a three-year absence.
“We are excited to have him,” Phantoms GM Dennis Smith said. “He’s got great size and any time you can get someone with NFL experience it’s going to help your team.”
The 6-foot-6, 350 pound Lumberton native was the first-ever first-round draft pick in North Carolina A&T history when he was drafted by Pittsburgh in 1996. But Stephens, who played in 19 games with Pittsburgh, never panned out with and is regarded as one of the bigger first-round busts in team history.
Stephens, who played offensive tackle, is most known for failing a conditioning test on the first day of training camp in 1999. He was cut several hours later.
“I had no one to blame. It was me. I was irresponsible and I didn’t have the right attitude,” Stephens said of his time with the Steelers. “I was a young kid, and I had to grow up and mature.”
Stephens signed with the Bengals after that and played three more years before a rotator cuff injury cut short his career. He made a comeback attempt with the Broncos in 2004 but was cut.
After his playing career ended, Stephens said he has been working in the mental health field but never gave up hope of playing again.
So, when Phantoms co-owner Randy Jordan approached Stephens recently about the opportunity of playing again, he didn’t hesitate.
“I really missed the competition,” Stephens said. “That’s one thing when you are away from it that you miss the most.”
Stephens said he has been working out hard for the last six months and is completely healthy.
Stephens will be playing on the defensive line, something he did in high school and in the first three years in college, and hopes a good showing with the Phantoms might earn him another shot in the NFL.
“It’s all about the Phantoms now,” Stephens said. “But if I could play well and put a package together, then other teams might be able to see me.”
In other team news:
n Stephens is one of eight players signed for the season. Smith hopes to have a few more players signed before the end of the month.
n One area of need for the Phantoms is quarterback. Florence doesn’t have a QB on the roster but Smith said they are talking with a few candidates, including one who played last year at Montgomery with new Florence coach Carlos Clayton.
n The team will hold one more tryout at The Byrnes Schools on Jan. 12. Registration begins at 9 a.m., and the cost is $50.
n Season and individual tickets are on sale. Season tickets range from $42-159 for the seven game-schedule. Individual game tickets range from $7-28.

[frostbite]

his real nfl experience should be a big plus for the phantoms this season if he has the right attitude and helps them develop their younger players.

does he live in the florence area? what's he been doing the last 2 seasons that he didn't workout for the team before now?

[The Grim Reaper]

He lives in NC and has been working in the mental health field. Our new owner asked him to try out for the team.

[theherohimself]

most teams take pride in getting players moved up to better things such as af2, afl, or nfl... but taking old never has beens and trying to make it look good for the team is kinda funny

[Deep Purple]

Yep...I agree hero. As a lifelong Steeler fan and a hometown Phantoms fan I am leery of putting any hope on this guy. I have to say though that he was good enough to switch from Defensive lineman thru all of high school and 3 years of college TO offensive tackle his senior year at NCA&T, then be selected in the 1st round of the NFL draft as a OT!

As for getting back to the NFL...not likely @ 33 years old, but what else can he say? He is gonna have to prove himself to me before I jump back on his bandwagon.

[frostbite]

theherohimself said:

most teams take pride in getting players moved up to better things such as af2, afl, or nfl... but taking old never has beens and trying to make it look good for the team is kinda funny

i'm gonna kinda defend the phantoms for signing this guy because getting one or two guys like this, if they have the right attitude, can be a big plus for the younger guys.

this isn't a guy who tried out for one or two nfl teams. he was a 1st rd draft pick and spent many years in the league. sure, he was considered a bust. but the experience he brings!

as long as he's not a malcontent who puts himself on a pedestal, and he truly is getting back in shape, he will be able to teach the young guys alot. he will be like another coach on the team.

now i'm not suggesting you get a team full of "retreads" or "has-beens" as you call them - that would be opposite of what the aifa and all indoor leagues say they are trying to do: develop and advance a new generation of arena football players.

good luck to the guy, i hope he's serious about this opportunity and doesn't just show up fat and out of shape expecting to dominate.

[Standard Deviation]

I want to be happy for them, really I do. But I seen this guy practice and play and believe me, there is no amount of invigoration thats gonna make him productive at any level. He may have the young guys attention, until the first D2 lineman pancakes him and then all you have is an old out of shape never was.

[frostbite]

if it was so obvious, what the hell were the steelers thinking when they burned a 1st rounder on him? it couldn't have just been his size.

[Standard Deviation]

Shortly there after the scout that pushed him was canned and the Player Personnel man moved on. Cower had them both stuffed.