The 2006 offseason has been a busy one for GM Raven Hawk and the Shreveport Pride. In the 2003 season, under different leadership, the Pride - formerly known as the Mudbugs - earned a 9-7 record and barely missed the playoffs. Under GM Raven Hawk, things began to change. The Pride went 6-10 in Raven Hawk's maiden voyage at GM and 4-11-1 in his second season. But 2006 looks to be different . . .

In past years, Raven Hawk has spent the offseason looking for young developing players to add to his team. This year, the outlook was different. Early in free agency, The Pride inked Pedro Lopez, a split end from the Tampa Bay Torpedoes. Pedro will fill the hole opposite of Ahmed Miller that the Pride has been trying to fill for three seasons. In addition, the re-signed Jarrett Kline, who was coveted by many other teams.

The biggest move that Raven Hawk pulled off, however, was trading two picks and a young cornerback to Tampa Bay for one of the elite cornerbacks in the league - Edwin Koch. After the big move was made, The Pride was free to re-sign two-time, second-team all-pro James Gregor. Gregor will return to his duties at the Sam-backer position, where in the last three seasons he has racked up 317 tackles, 88 assists, 12 sacks, 5 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles and 4 touchdowns.

Other minor moves include bringing on veteran leadership to the defense and re-signing the core of young players that Shreveport will need to win. Fullback Matthew Renn was sent to Charleston in exchange for a couple of future picks.

If anything can be criticized about Raven Hawk's maneuvers it is that they still haven't filled the void at left guard that was left last season after Paris Johnson retired. Raven Hawk insists that between Everitt Knight and Percy Cherpeski, they can keep the void filled.

Key Additions: CB Edwin Koch, WR Pedro Lopez, DE Jarrett Kline (re-signed), SLB James Gregor (re-signed), DE Harland Weir (re-signed).

Key Losses: FB Matthew Renn (Charleston), CB Leland Sorota (Tampa Bay), CB Franklin Painter (El Paso), G Nathan Frances (El Paso).

Raven Hawk and the Pride look to add further depth to their team through the draft and the second round of free agency. At any rate, the Pride has been restored in Shreveport and the fans expectations are high. Shreveport's main challenger for the Deep South Divisional title looks to be cross-state rival, the New Orleans Breakers.

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Deep South Division Champions
2006, 2009-10, 2019, 2023-24, 2027, 2031-32, 2034-35, 2040, 2044, 2046-47, 2051-53, 2055-56, 2058-62
Eastern Conference Champions
2009, 2031, 2055
CFL Champions
2031, 2055
Hall of Fame
Joshua Mask, Douglas Hartman, Carl Bradford, Leland Wellins, Wally Wooden (#80), Brantley Gilmore (#9)

Nice article!

And I really like the new banner!