[size=12e0d0db8]Lorenzo finds new home in Cleveland[/sizee0d0db8]

Darren Hunt
Rockets Beat Writer

The most popular player in El Paso Rockets history now finds himself in a familiar position - trying to lead a rebuilding team to the playoffs.

On Monday the Rockets' General Manager, Jeremy Eckberg, announced that they have traded fan favorite Lorenzo to the Cleveland Flats for the Flats' 2008 second round pick and defensive end Leon Colburn.

"It wasn't a move that we wanted to make, but it was one that we felt was necessary," said Eckberg. "We all love Ernest here in El Paso, but with Dustin [Hayes] waiting in the wings and developing nicely, and with our current cap situation, it was a move we had to make. We had several offers for Ernest's services, but Cleveland's was the best."

The Rockets are currently over next year's salary cap by an estimated $40 million, and by picking up defensive end Colburn, they are expected to move one of their talented defensive ends, Pierre Hinson or William Gaines. Also rumoured to be on the trade block are receiver Edmundo Toy, guard Quincy Stutz, and linebacker Brian Gaylord.

Lorenzo gained fame by becoming the Rockets' first ever starting quarterback, and doing so as a rookie. He struggled his first two seasons, but as he and the team developed he led the Rockets to two consecutive Cavalry Division championships. However, the writing was on the wall when the team selected quarterback Dustin Hayes with the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft.

Lorenzo leaves the team with a 24-32 career record.


[size=9e0d0db8]For fan reaction please turn to page D-4[/sizee0d0db8]

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El Paso Rockets Beat Writer

News out of El Paso! Hurray!!!

Are you related to Darren Hunt Jeebs?

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Nah, but he's a good buddy of mine...

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El Paso Rockets
2016, 2037 Wild Card Team
2005, 2006, 2015 Cavalry Divison champs

Where's page D-4?

I want more details!

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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)

[quotece84cda="Raven Hawk"]Where's page D-4?

I want more details!

[/quotece84cda]

I think JeeberD left that page in the bathroom.

And Jeebs just got back from Taco Bell, so methinks you'll be better off without page D-4.

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Ring of Fire Division Champions - 2009, 2011-2026, 2028-33
Western Conference Champions - 2011-2013, 2016, 2017, 2019-2022, 2024, 2025, 2028, 2033
CFL Champions - 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2025

I think I put D-4 in the recycle bin already. I'll see if I can find it tommorrow...

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El Paso Rockets
2016, 2037 Wild Card Team
2005, 2006, 2015 Cavalry Divison champs

"Lorenzo gained fame by becoming the Rockets' first ever starting quarterback, and doing so as a rookie."

Don't forget he still holds the single-game rushing record for a QB... that's his biggest claim to fame so far! "The Ernest Lorenzo game" is one of the more memorable games in CFL history.

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Division winners in 2003, 2012, 2016, 2019
147-122-3 regular season record
3-5 playoff record

It's still also the Rockets record for single game rushing...

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El Paso Rockets
2016, 2037 Wild Card Team
2005, 2006, 2015 Cavalry Divison champs