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By Ed Miller The Virginian-Pilot May 24, 2012 James Roe enjoyed the view from his living-room couch. At 36, hehad earned a rest after three seasons in the NFL and nine more inthe Arena Football League. The former Norfolk State star worked as a counselor at anelementary school in his native Richmond. He coached his threechildren in football and track. He turned up every now and then athis wife Rene's beauty salon in the West End, where the familylives. Retirement agreed with him. Then Roe got a call from his old team, the San Jose SaberCats.After a two-year hiatus, the team was re-forming. Roe played his way back into shape during the 2011 season and wasinvited to return this year. The 2012 season, about halfway over,will be his last. Won't it? "I've told my wife this will probably be the last one,"he said. "I've been blessed to play this long. I don't want tooverstay my welcome." In San Jose, that's highly unlikely. For the SaberCats, getting the band back together meant reunitingRoe, the franchise's all-time leading receiver, with quarterbackMark Grieb, who owns all its passing records. Together for more than a decade, the duo has been sort of a BayArea indoor version of Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, with theSaberCats winning ArenaBowl championships in 2002, 2004 and 2007. "James Roe is hands-down one of the best receivers to everplay arena football," SaberCats coach/owner Darren Arbet saidwhen the team re-signed him in March. Roe, who will turn 39 in August, never imagined arena fame would behis legacy. A sixth-round draft pick out of Norfolk State in 1996,he spent three years with the Baltimore Ravens. He appeared in 23games and caught 15 passes before the Ravens released him prior tothe 1999 season. "I kind of thought it was over," he said of his footballcareer. It was just getting started. Roe joined the SaberCats in 2000 andbegan learning the indoor game. He led the team in receptions in2001 and was an "All Ironman" pick from 2003-05, when heplayed receiver and linebacker. The AFL changed its rules after the 2006 season, allowing freersubstitutions and reducing the number of two-way players. Roe hasplayed receiver exclusively since. Few have played it as well. For receivers, the compact indoor fieldrequires a different skill set than the outdoor game. Coverage isbasically man-to-man, so receivers must create space with sharpcuts and body positioning, like in basketball. Because quarterbacks have little time to throw, precise routerunning is paramount. Roe excels at it, Arbet said. "He runs the best routes in the business, in my mind," hesaid. Even in his prime, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Roe was no burner. At38, he's even less likely to outrun defenders. But though heaverages just a little more than 10 yards per catch, more than athird (17 of 49) of his receptions have gone for touchdowns. Not bad, considering he's not only the oldest receiver in theleague, but he's also the second-oldest player. San Antonioquarterback Aaron Garcia is 41. The Arena League Roe returned to is not the one he left. Before itshiatus, the league's median salary was between $40,000 and $50,000,with a few stars making six figures. The new AFL pays most players $400 per game, plus living expenses,with an exception for three players who can make up to $1,000,according to reports. Roe is certainly not in it for the money. "He's been doing it his whole life, and it's something hestill enjoys," Rene Roe said. She and James, who were high school sweethearts, have threechildren: James III, 18; LaChyna, 15; and Zayin, 10. James IIIhopes to head to Fork Union to play post-graduate football nextyear. LaChyna and Zayin are track standouts. Roe works with them when he's home, but being away means missing alot. Rene Roe said she has gotten used to James being gone over theyears, but says she's hoping that will soon change. "I really enjoyed him being home for those two years,"she said. I am an expert from customsiliconeparts.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Medical Grade Silicone Rubber , China Rubber Metal Bonding, Medical Grade Silicone Rubber,and more.
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