A new National Arena League season has brought new faces to the Massachusetts Pirates receiving corp.
With that said, enter 6-foot-1 wide receivers Tavares Martin Jr. and Thomas Owens.
After popular wide receiver Bones Bagaunte departed for the Columbus Lions and journeyman Lamont Bryant’s retirement, the team had shoes left unfilled.
Owens commended the veterans Devonn Brown and Mardy Gilyard for assisting in the adjustment.
“They helped me big time when me and Tavares [Martin] came in,” Owens said. “They just welcomed us in with open arms and we are just taking it in.”
A Washington State alum, Martin has been a sponge taking in everything the veterans have been telling him about how to be successful in arena football.
“They’ve taken us in and have been telling us the best possible way to win,” Martin said. “Just learning how to be a better teammate and put it all together so we can win a championship this year, it’s been great.”
A First Team Selection last season, Brown has been impressed with how his new compatriots have acclimated.
“They’re coming along well, we’re just trying to plug them into different spots,” Brown said. “Get them familiar with the whole playbook and they’re getting the hang of it, they’re learning fast, and we’re moving fast with it.”
Brown and the rest of the team are disappointed with how last season ended, but are optimistic with how preparation for the organization’s upcoming sophomore season has been.
“We’re just trying to progress and not make the same mistakes that we made last year,” Brown said. “Going into camp we’re doing well, we didn’t miss a beat and we’re just gonna keep going and strive for the best this season.”
The Pirates take on the National Arena League Champion Carolina Cobras on opening day April 13 at 7:00 p.m.
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