ALBANY – The Albany Empire practiced on Tuesday morning without Antonio Brown and without a real quarterback.
Head coach Moe Leggett filled in throwing passes to receivers during the two-hour workout at MVP Arena.
“It’s been a while,” said Leggett, a former NFL, CFL and Empire defensive back. “I’ve done it in some pro practices. Emergency quarterback.”
Tuesday probably qualified as an emergency since the Empire still had no quarterbacks on their roster. Brown, the team’s majority owner, decided to release starter Roland Rivers III and backup Jeffrey Legree on Sunday after the Empire were blown out at Orlando for their sixth straight loss.
After Tuesday’s workout, Leggett said Brown was “en route” from Florida.
Brown associate Ryan Larkin said the former All-Pro wide receiver will practice on Wednesday morning – hopefully with a new quarterback –Â and will make his National Arena League playing debut on Saturday against the Jacksonville Sharks at MVP Arena.Â
“He will be playing,” Larkin said. “No doubt. One hundred percent.” Larkin added Brown would go through a private workout on Tuesday night.
Larkin’s presence at practice was a surprise. Brown texted two weeks ago that he had fired Larkin. Asked on Tuesday if he’s been rehired, Larkin responded, “I never left.”
The Empire were still waiting for a true quarterback to arrive. Leggett said wide receiver Charles Tarver is the emergency quarterback, but Leggett expected to have a real quarterback in time for the game.
“I’m very confident about that,” Leggett said. “I’ve been working behind the scenes endlessly trying to find us a quarterback who knows the actual system and knows the game. I highly doubt we’ll go into a game without a quarterback.”
Brown advisor J.R. Rickert said Tuesday afternoon there was “nothing new” on the quarterback front. There was no signing listed on…
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