Tony Graziani

Playing without their starting quarterback didn't stop the Soul from extending their Arena Football League winning streak. Backup Matt D'Orazio threw eight touchdown passes Thursday night as the Soul remained undefeated with a 71-34 rout of the Los Angeles Avengers at the Staples Center. The win was the team's fourth of the season. Filling in for injured starter Tony Graziani, D'Orazio threw for 197 yards in the first half alone, leading the Soul to a 34-27 halftime lead. Six of his TD passes were caught by Chris Jackson, a former Avengers wide receiver.

NEW ORLEANS - When the Soul signed Tony Graziani in 2005, they not only made him their highest-paid player, but also the face of the franchise. SEPTA buses and highway billboards were splashed with Graziani's image. He was at the front of promotional rallies and television commercials. But those days are over. Graziani suited up for the Soul for the final time yesterday. He's a free agent, looking to move on. "I would have loved to walk out of here with a [championship]

Tony Graziani will return to lead the Soul's offense next season. The Arena Football League team announced the quarterback's return yesterday, along with the re-signings of fullback Wes Ours, wide receiver Scottie Vines, offensive linemen Martin Bibla and Phil Bogle, and defensive linemen Gabe Nyenhuis and Bryan Save. Contract terms were not disclosed. "We feel like we are getting closer every year and we feel Tony is a major reason why," Soul coach Bret Munsey said. "We have a good nucleus, and with Tony's leadership combined with a few more weapons, we can take the next step to winning a championship.

After his team's disappointing 5-11 debut last season, Soul coach Michael Trigg promised that the organization would "open the checkbook" in hopes of signing a premier free-agent quarterback. Yesterday, the Soul went even further, cracking open the bank vault to make Tony Graziani their new quarterback - and the highest-paid player in the Arena Football League. Craig A. Spencer, who co-owns the team with rocker Jon Bon Jovi, would not discuss the financial terms of the contract.

The Soul rode a 27-point second quarter and five touchdown passes by Tony Graziani to a 69-40 victory over the Grand Rapids Rampage in an Arena Football League game last night at Van Andel Arena. With the win, the Soul are 2-0. The Rampage fell to 1-2. The game was decided by the Soul's 27-3 margin in the second quarter, punctuated by an opportunistic special-teams touchdown. Grand Rapids lined up to try a 24-yard field goal on the first half's final play. But Brian Gowins missed the kick, and the Soul's Mike Brown played it off the end-zone net. Brown pitched the ball to Dwayne Missouri, who took it out of the end zone and halfway up the field.

Tony Graziani hopes to return to the Soul next Saturday against the Utah Blaze. But the quarterback, who sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee nearly two weeks ago, isn't going to rush his progression. Especially not with backup Matt D'Orazio playing so well. D'Orazio will start his second straight game in place of the injured Graziani against the Tampa Bay Storm (2-1) today at 2 p.m. at the Wachovia Center. D'Orazio tied his career high by tossing for 338 yards and eight touchdowns in the Soul's win over the Los Angeles Avengers last week.

The Soul maintained its unbeaten Arena Football League season the hard way yesterday, finishing the game without star quarterback Tony Graziani. Graziani left late in the third quarter with an injured left knee on a controversial hit by defender John Nix, but the Soul improved to 3-0 by defeating the New York Dragons, 63-42, at the Wachovia Center. Graziani was injured on what appeared to be a late hit as he threw a touchdown pass to Larry Brackins with 47 seconds left in the third quarter.

With Chicago defenders bearing down during the second quarter of yesterday's Arena Football League game against the Rush, the last thing Soul veteran Mike Brown was expecting was a 54-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. But Brown eluded three defenders to escape his end zone and beat two others in a scamper downfield as he scored perhaps the most dramatic of eight Soul touchdowns in a 60-49 victory at Allstate Arena. "I don't know how I got out, I was just running for daylight," said Brown, who returned four kickoffs on the day for 108 yards.

Tony Graziani was supposed to be firing touchdown passes to Chris Jackson in Los Angeles tonight for the first time since the heralded twosome left the Avengers after the 2004 season. With Graziani out at least three weeks with a sprained ligament in his left knee, that won't happen. Backup quarterback Matt D'Orazio will be under center when the Soul (3-0) play the Avengers at the Staples Center. The Avengers (2-1) won't miss Graziani. Before being knocked out of Sunday's game, he had passed for 732 yards and 20 touchdowns.

The Soul accomplished a few things in its win over the Georgia Force last night. It beat a team with a winning record for the first time all season. It won a home game for the first time all season. It jumped on its opponent and failed to let it wiggle back into the game. The 68-49 victory might have been the Soul's best effort of the season, but will it be enough to dissuade the front office from making moves before tomorrow's trade deadline? Quarterback Ryan Vena had 320 yards passing and nine total touchdowns to lead the way. Syvelle Newton had nine catches for 124 yards (one touchdown)

NEW ORLEANS - When the Soul signed Tony Graziani in 2005, they not only made him their highest-paid player, but also the face of the franchise. SEPTA buses and highway billboards were splashed with Graziani's image. He was at the front of promotional rallies and television commercials. But those days are over. Graziani suited up for the Soul for the final time yesterday. He's a free agent, looking to move on. "I would have loved to walk out of here with a [championship]

Tony Graziani knows how weird next weekend will be. Four years ago, he came to Philadelphia as the Arena Football League's richest man. He's been the face of the Soul, the team's starting quarterback, handpicked by owner Jon Bon Jovi as the man to lead his team to a championship. Now, as the Soul prepare for their first-ever ArenaBowl next Sunday, Graziani is on the bench, the backup to Matt D'Orazio. While Graziani missed time this season after tearing his MCL and later suffering a concussion, D'Orazio emerged as the league's top-rated passer.

Tony Graziani hopes to return to the Soul next Saturday against the Utah Blaze. But the quarterback, who sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee nearly two weeks ago, isn't going to rush his progression. Especially not with backup Matt D'Orazio playing so well. D'Orazio will start his second straight game in place of the injured Graziani against the Tampa Bay Storm (2-1) today at 2 p.m. at the Wachovia Center. D'Orazio tied his career high by tossing for 338 yards and eight touchdowns in the Soul's win over the Los Angeles Avengers last week.

Playing without their starting quarterback didn't stop the Soul from extending their Arena Football League winning streak. Backup Matt D'Orazio threw eight touchdown passes Thursday night as the Soul remained undefeated with a 71-34 rout of the Los Angeles Avengers at the Staples Center. The win was the team's fourth of the season. Filling in for injured starter Tony Graziani, D'Orazio threw for 197 yards in the first half alone, leading the Soul to a 34-27 halftime lead. Six of his TD passes were caught by Chris Jackson, a former Avengers wide receiver.

Tony Graziani was supposed to be firing touchdown passes to Chris Jackson in Los Angeles tonight for the first time since the heralded twosome left the Avengers after the 2004 season. With Graziani out at least three weeks with a sprained ligament in his left knee, that won't happen. Backup quarterback Matt D'Orazio will be under center when the Soul (3-0) play the Avengers at the Staples Center. The Avengers (2-1) won't miss Graziani. Before being knocked out of Sunday's game, he had passed for 732 yards and 20 touchdowns.

The Soul maintained its unbeaten Arena Football League season the hard way yesterday, finishing the game without star quarterback Tony Graziani. Graziani left late in the third quarter with an injured left knee on a controversial hit by defender John Nix, but the Soul improved to 3-0 by defeating the New York Dragons, 63-42, at the Wachovia Center. Graziani was injured on what appeared to be a late hit as he threw a touchdown pass to Larry Brackins with 47 seconds left in the third quarter.

The 16,102 fans watching the Soul at the Wachovia Center on Sunday erupted in a chorus of cheers. Tony Graziani had just hit his favorite target, Chris Jackson, for a 21-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. Then the arena went silent. Graziani lay on the turf, writhing in pain from his left knee. With help, Graziani limped off the field a few moments later, and the Soul went on to beat the New York Dragons, 63-42. But instead of celebrating their 3-0 start, the Soul were left pondering life without their star quarterback.

With Chicago defenders bearing down during the second quarter of yesterday's Arena Football League game against the Rush, the last thing Soul veteran Mike Brown was expecting was a 54-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. But Brown eluded three defenders to escape his end zone and beat two others in a scamper downfield as he scored perhaps the most dramatic of eight Soul touchdowns in a 60-49 victory at Allstate Arena. "I don't know how I got out, I was just running for daylight," said Brown, who returned four kickoffs on the day for 108 yards.

The Soul made all the minor mistakes, which in the down-to-the-last-play style of the Arena Football League usually make the difference. The Soul missed two extra points and amassed four defensive penalties in the second quarter alone, including a slew of pass-interference calls. Their attitude? Yeah, so what? Instead of holding back, or getting called for holding again, the Soul responded with a second-half punch for a 60-49 victory against the Chicago Rush yesterday at the sold-out Allstate Arena to remain undefeated.