SHREVEPORT, LA - The front office of the Shreveport Pride announced today that they acquired RB Gino Kelly from the Ohio Sentries for RB Mark Ginn and their 2nd round pick next year. Rumor circulated prior to the draft that the Pride were looking to move Mark Ginn and had been unhappy with his production. Ginn's yards-per-carry had been trailing off and 3rd down specialist and punt returner RB Harvey Deaton had been earning more time on the field.
The Pride had recently extended Ginn's contract for an additional three years before the 2036 ended. His agent, Roman Wickland, said that there was tension throughout the negotiations. The Pride didn't want to offer more than a 3-year extension, while Ginn was looking for a 5-year deal. Wickland stated, "Mark would have liked to stay in Shreveport, but we kind of figured he'd be traded." Ginn will have to work hard to get on the field in Ohio, where the Sentries just drafted rookie phenom Korey Hartley out of Arizona.
Pride owner, Raven Hawk, commented, "We really liked Mark, but we didn't think that he was the man that could help us get back to the Bowl. With Gino and Harvey in the backfield, we think we have a shot."
Mark Ginn and his 28 TD's in four years and 3.9 YPC now make their home in Ohio, while Gino comes to Shreveport with only 7 TD's in three seasons and averaging 4.4 YPC.
Gino Kelly was quoted on his way to the airport saying, "Where the f*ck is Shreveport? Louisiana? Like by New Orleans, right? That would be cool. No? Where is it? Awww, sh*t . . . "
Kelly will be wearing #34 in Shreveport as 2nd year corner Devin Bober would not give up #33.