Trio Signed to AFL's Carolina Cobras
Cleveland, Henderson, and Thompson

Kathy Johnson

Huntsville, AL. - 12.13.01 - Former Tennessee Valley Vipers Head Coach, Bret Munsey, knew the hardest positions to fill were center and defensive specialist.

After the season, Munsey took a job with the Carolina Cobras of the Arena Football League. In his move to the AFL he is taking three Vipers with him to help fill those positions

Center Justin Cleveland and defensive specialists, Geno Henderson and Arkee Thompson, all have agreed to contracts with the Cobras.

"This is a great starting point for us," Munsey said. "We know what we are getting with these three guys. They were all great players in af2 and I thought they deserved a shot at the next level."

"The competition will be higher here and they will have to compete for a roster spot. I felt we had some of the best talent in the league last year, and I think there will be more players taken from last year's team," he concluded.

Justin Cleveland was the anchor on an offensive line that only gave up five sacks during the entire season.

He recorded 18 tackles, one tackle-for-loss, one sack and one pass break up. He had a sack against Tallahassee in the playoffs that resulted in a safety.

Cleveland was given the team's Ironman Award for the 2001 season.

Arkee Thompson and Geno Henderson were a force in the Vipers secondary.

Henderson finished the season with 71 tackles, three interceptions and 18 pass break ups. He recorded 16 tackles, one interception and four pass break ups in two playoff games.

Thompson led the Vipers with 106 tackles, one shy of David Knott's team record.

Recording eight interceptions and 49 pass break ups, he also returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown against Baton Rouge and returned one 28 yards for a touchdown against Quad City.

Thompson also returned an onside kick 10 yards for a touchdown against Quad City.

His 49 pass break ups and his 13 tackles against Bossier City set a team record.

He finished 2^nd in the af2 in tackles, 2^nd in passes defended and 5^th in interceptions.

The Vipers now have four players who have signed with the Arena Football League. The trio joins Matt Sauk, who signed earlier with the Los Angeles Avengers.