AFL NOTES: Jeff Chase, a veteran offensive lineman, returns for his fifth season as the Desperados mainstay at center where he has started 59 of a possible 61 games at the position since he arrived in Dallas on Dec. 12, 2003 following a trade with the Philadelphia Soul. After becoming the anchor of the offensive line in 2005, Chase has helped lead the charge as part of a line that has given up just six sacks over the past two seasons. His work has also helped Clint Dolezel establish several club passing records the previous two seasons. He began his AFL career with Georgia in 2003 but was released on Feb. 26. He signed with Colorado on March 4 and spent the remainder of the season with the Crush.

AFL 2007 (Dallas): Chase played in 13 games with 13 starts in 2007, missing three games due to injury/illness, while also starting the team's Divisional Playoff Game against Columbus (7/7). He began the season at New York (3/4) as the team's starter at center, not allowing Clint Dolezel to get sacked in 34 pass attempts while also helping the team score eight passing touchdowns, average 3.1 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. He helped the offense tally a 4.3 yard-per-rush average, while Dolezel threw for 294 yards and eight touchdowns and allowed only one sack in 37 attempts against Tampa Bay (3/10). At Kansas City (3/16) Chase helped the offense establish a team record 18 rushing attempts while also allowing Josh White to run for a then league-record tying five touchdowns. He started at center against Austin (3/31) and did not allow a sack in 37 pass attempts while also helping Dolezel throw for a season-high 348 yards. Chase started at center against Columbus (4/5) not yielding a sack in 34 pass attempts as Dolezel threw for 299 yards and seven touchdowns. He helped White average 7.0 yards-per-rush while also not allowing a sack against Philadelphia (4/16). At Georgia (4/21) Chase and Co. did not allow a sack in 40 passing attempts as Dolezel completed 70.0% of his passes (28 completions) for 338 yards and eight touchdowns. Against Nashville (4/27) the line did not allow a sack while blocking for White as he rushed for 21 yards on six carries (3.5 avg.). Chase did not allow a sack in 31 pass attempts as Dolezel threw for nine touchdowns while White ran for 4.0 yards-per-carry at Utah (5/4). Chase started at center at Columbus (5/26), but was forced to leave the game with a concussion. He was inactive the next three games at Philadelphia (6/1), against New Orleans (6/9) and against New York (6/16) due to his injury and a subsequent illness. Chase returned to the starting lineup at center at Colorado (6/26), assisting the offensive line in allowing only one sack in 40 pass attempts as Dallas totaled 315 yards. In the Divisional Playoff Game against Columbus (7/7), he started at center and did not allow a sack in 36 pass attempts while helping Dolezel throw for the most passing yards (320) in a playoff game in franchise history.

AFL 2006 (Dallas): Chase was a full-time contributor for Dallas in 2006, starting all 16 games at center. In the season opener against Kansas City (1/29), Chase started at center and saw time as a reserve along the defensive line, but did not record any tackles. At Utah (2/4) Chase allowed Dolezel enough time to throw for 343 yards, the fourth-best passing yardage total in team history. The following week at Columbus (2/11) Chase and Co. did not allow a sack for the third consecutive week, before allowing Dolezel to throw for 345 passing yards against Austin (2/17). Against Las Vegas (2/25) the offensive line did not yield a sack in 37 pass attempts. Chase's blocking at Chicago (3/5) allowed Dolezel to complete 78.1% of his passes - fourth-best in team history - while the ground game racked up a season-high 38 yards. Once again the offensive line did not surrender a sack at Tampa Bay (3/12) as Dolezel threw for nine touchdowns and a season-high 362 passing yards. At Orlando (3/19) Chase and the line provided Dolezel time to throw for 353 yards, 11 touchdowns (team record) and 12 total touchdowns (team record) while not surrendering a sack for the seventh time of the season. Over the next four games, against Philadelphia (3/25), against Columbus (4/1), at New York (4/9) and against Grand Rapids (4/15) Chase did not yield a sack. At Georgia (4/22) Chase once again started at center and did not yield a sack while helping the offense rally in the second half, scoring 28 unanswered points. Against Arizona (4/28) Chase did not allow a sack before allowing the offense to tally 331 total yards at Philadelphia (5/6). Against New York (5/12) his blocking provided Dolezel time to throw for six touchdowns in the first half, establishing an AFL record for touchdown passes thrown in a season (105). In the Divisional Playoff Game against Georgia (5/27), Chase did not yield a sack in 38 pass attempts while helping Dolezel set team playoff records for touchdowns (eight), completions (31) and completion percentage (81.6%). In the Conference Championship Game against Orlando (6/4) the offensive line did not surrender a sack in 47 pass attempts.

AFL 2005 (Dallas): Chase returned for his second season in Dallas and finished with 5.5 tackles and was the club's full-time starting center. In the season opener against Chicago (1/30), Chase posted a tackle while helping Clint Stoerner pass for a club-record 398 yards. Against Columbus (2/13) he was part of an offensive unit that did not yield a sack while helping block for 42 yards on the ground. Chase and Co. did not give up a sack for the second consecutive week against Orlando (2/17). He posted 1.5 tackles while clearing a path for a season-high 80 rushing yards and not surrendering a sack in 23 pass attempts at Philadelphia (2/27). He added one tackle at Austin (3/13) while helping open holes for four rushing touchdowns at Los Angeles (3/18). He was inactive with a left knee injury against Colorado (3/25), but returned the next week against Nashville (4/8) to contribute a tackle while helping block for 5.4 yards-per-rush. He was inactive with a concussion at Georgia (5/14), but returned for the season finale against Philadelphia (5/22) and helped block for 5.0 yards-per-run and two rushing touchdowns, while adding a tackle on defense.

AFL 2004 (Dallas): Following his trade to Dallas, Chase finished the year with 7.5 tackles, one pressure and two forced fumbles while taking over the role as the club's full-time center. In his Dallas debut against Carolina (2/8), he was part of an offensive unit that racked up 250 passing yards and five touchdowns. He notched his first stop of the year against Philadelphia (2/15) before posting 1.5 stops at New York (2/22). He was part of an offensive line that helped Glen Gauntt throw for 259 yards and five touchdowns at Columbus (2/29). Against Grand Rapids (3/6) Chase and Co. allowed Gauntt to throw for 313 yards and eight scores. Chase helped the Dallas defensive line rack up five sacks at Carolina (3/13) and helped the offensive line earn a season-high 332 yards of total offense. Against Los Angeles (3/21) the line allowed just one sack while compiling 311 passing yards. Chase recorded a tackle at Philadelphia (4/4) then forced a fumble that helped give Dallas an early 14-0 lead against San Jose (4/10). At Arizona (4/18) he notched two tackles while helping block for Gauntt, who threw for a career-high 314 yards. Against New York (5/1) Chase and the defense helped force Aaron Garcia into three interceptions, while the offense did not surrender a sack. Chase was part of a line group that sacked John Kaleo twice while opening holes on offense for 27 rushing yards at Austin (5/9), before posting a fumble and a pressure at Chicago (5/16). Against Columbus (5/22) Chase recorded a tackle and was part of an offensive unit that allowed Scott Dreisbach to throw for a team season-high 316 yards.

AFL 2003 (Georgia/Colorado): Chase signed with the Georgia Force on Jan. 26 and made his AFL debut a week later at Colorado (2/2), posting half a tackle. He did not play at Detroit (2/9) or against San Jose (2/16), but returned to action against Buffalo (2/22) to record half a tackle. He was released by the Force on Feb. 26 and signed by the Colorado Crush on March 4. He played three days later at Dallas (3/7) but did not register any statistics. He saw action but recorded no stats the next two weeks before being inactive for two weeks. Against Chicago (4/13) he blocked a Rush field goal attempt, which set up a Crush touchdown pass one play later. He saw action in the next three contests without registering any statistics. He recorded the first solo tackle of his indoor career at Los Angeles (5/10) before being inactive for the season finale against Arizona (5/18).

OTHER PRO EXPERIENCE: 2002 - After signing with the New Orleans Saints, Chase was allocated to NFL Europe where he spent the spring playing for the Frankfurt Galaxy. He returned to training camp with the Saints but was released prior to the start of the season. 2001 - Chase signed as a rookie free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals, but was released during training camp.

COLLEGE: Chase earned second-team All-Lone Star Conference honors as a senior offensive lineman for Texas A&M-Kingsville. He did not play football during the 1999 season. Chase transferred to Texas A&M-Kingsville from Long Beach Junior College and made the switch from defensive line to offensive line. His play along the line helped the team lead the conference in several offensive statistical categories while earning him All-LSC honors. Chase attended Long Beach Junior College, where he played as a defensive lineman after two years away from the game. In 1995-96, Chase was out of football. He began his collegiate career in 1994 as a defensive lineman at Mount San Antonio, Calif., Junior College.

PERSONAL: Chase was an all-league lineman for Rowland, Calif., High School. Chase and his wife, Sarah, have a son, Gunnar. Chase is an annual participant in the Desperados Impact Player Program - a team outreach initiative that allows players and coaches the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children in the Dallas area. As part of the program, Chase spends time with at-risk youth served by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, serving as a mentor and positive role model. Chase has also volunteered his time at Cottrell House, a juvenile detention center in Dallas, speaking to youth about making more positive life choices.