Joe Sykes

The Albany Empire have added arguably the greatest pass rusher in the history of Arena Football, joe Sykes as the new Defensive Line Coach.

We continue our trip down memory lane with forme Albany Empire players on Monday with the AFL's all-time and single-season Sack leader Joe Sykes. Sykes was one of the first players from the Albany Empire to come in studio with Levack and Goz and right away we knew we liked him. It was almost immediately clear that Joe was one of those players that "flipped the switch" when he was on the field but was super nice off the field. Where is Joe now and is football still in his future?

The Arena Football League Awards are starting to be announced. The Albany Empire are off to a great start. Ryan Cave and Joe Sykes have been names the Offensive and Defensive linemen of the year. The All Arena first and second teams were released earlier this week and the full schedule of when all the awards will be made public can be found HERE.

The Albany Empire went 10 - 2 in their second season and are about to host the Baltimore Brigade at the Times Union Center this Saturday in the Playoffs. The Arena Football League Playoffs are set up as two game home and home series with the team with the highest aggregate score advancing to the Arena Bowl. Defensive End Joe Sykes tells us how he and the Empire are preparing.

The Albany Empire have taken the Capital Region by storm. In just their second year in existence they pack the Times Union Center and have all their fans believing the Empire won't have #UnfinishedBusiness for long. A key reason for the success of the Empire is the all time Sack leader for Arena Football, Defensive End Joe Sykes. Sykes has 62 career sacks and looks like he might be better than ever.

Find out which Empire player was honored by the AFL this week.

Last week I highlighted defensive end Joe Sykes as my player to watch and I normally wouldn't highlight the same player twice but considering the situation for this Saturday's game I am telling you to keep an eye on Sykes again this weekend.

The Albany Empire have won back to back games against the Washington Valor and now the real test of how far they've come this season as they face the Philadelphia Soul. The defending champion Soul spoiled the Empire's inaugural game winning 56 - 35 at the Times Union Center and now the Empire can get revenge at the Wells Fargo Center Saturday, May 19th at 6 pm. To get that win I believe Defensive Lineman Joe Sykes needs to have big game. Which is why he's my player to watch this weekend.