AFL NOTES: Colston Weatherington, one of the most dominant pass rushers in the AFL, proved his worth last season with the second-most sacks in the league (10.0) to earn All-AFL First Team honors for the second straight year. With limited NFL experience under his belt, Weatherington came to the Desperados on Dec. 18, 2003 and showed coaches his big-play ability. Weatherington was named to the AFL's All-Rookie team after finishing eighth in the league with 5.5 sacks in 2004. In his second indoor season, Weatherington continued his dominance on the defensive line, pacing the team in tackles for losses (7.5), pressures (nine) and finishing second in sacks (3.5), while honing his pass blocking skills. In just his third season, Weatherington had one of the best seasons by a Dallas lineman in club history as he was named the 2006 AFL Lineman of the Year along with a spot on the league's All-Arena First Team. He came out of the 2006 season as the club's all-time sack leader (15.5) after posting 7.5 sacks - good for third in the league - and in 2007 upped his total to 26.5 after a career-best 10.0 sacks which were the second-most in the AFL.

AFL 2007 (Dallas): Weatherington was named to the AFL All-Arena First Team after finishing with a team and career-high 10.0 sacks - second most in the AFL - along with 19.5 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, seven passes defensed, five forced fumbles and two blocked kicks. He opened the season at New York (3/4) with 2.0 tackles and 2.0 sacks. Weatherington led the defensive line with two tackles and had one pass defensed against Tampa Bay (3/10). At Orlando (3/26) he registered one sack and a quarterback hurry. Weatherington posted a season-high three tackles, two sacks, one quarterback pressure, one pass defensed and one forced fumble against Austin (3/31). He tallied a season and career-high five quarterback hurries against Columbus (4/5). Weatherington forced a fumble against Philadelphia (4/16) and at Georgia (4/21). At Utah (5/4) he was named Defensive Player of the Game after posting 2.5 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass breakup. Weatherington tallied two tackles and three quarterback hurries against Chicago (5/14). He made two tackles and two sacks against New York (6/16) in a game that the defense recorded five sacks and five turnovers while also holding the Dragons to the lowest yardage total (138) and second lowest point total (13) in franchise history. Weatherington blocked a kick and had two pass breakups at Colorado (6/25). He had two tackles in the Divisional Playoff Game against Columbus (7/7).

AFL 2006 (Dallas): Weatherington strung together another dominating season on the defensive line for the Desperados, finishing the year 10th on the team, tops among linemen, with 13.5 tackles while leading the team with a career-best 7.5 sacks, nine tackles for losses, a team-high tying four forced fumbles and two pass deflections. He recorded multiple-sack games two different times, the first at Chicago (3/5) allowed him to become the club's all-time sack leader, surpassing Tom Briggs (12.5). For his efforts, Weatherington became just the second player in club history to earn a player of the year award as he was named the AFL's Lineman of the Year. He was also named to the All-Arena First Team. On the offensive side of the ball, Weatherington was a key contributor on an offensive line that surrendered just two sacks all season. He started the season-opener against Kansas City (1/29) and posted a tackle while catching a pass for eight yards on offense. He notched two tackles and his first sack of the season at Utah (2/4). He caught a pass for 14 yards while notching two tackles and a fourth quarter sack at Columbus (2/11). Against Austin (2/17) he caught two passes for five yards. He had a tackle against Las Vegas (2/25) before being named the Defensive Player of the Game at Chicago (3/5) with 2.5 tackles - including two sacks, both resulting in fumbles with one recovered by Duke Pettijohn in the end zone for a touchdown, and the other leading to an offensive touchdown. His two sacks allowed him to become the club's all-time sack leader. He earned Defensive Player of the Game honors for the second consecutive week at Tampa Bay (3/12) after recording two tackles, including a sack and a fumble recovery. He added an 11-yard touchdown reception from backup quarterback Chris Greisen, marking Greisen's first career touchdown pass against the Storm. At Orlando (3/19) he blocked his sixth career kick - a third quarter PAT attempt - while also allowing the Dallas offense to rack up 353 passing yards (fifth best in team history), 375 total yards (fourth best), 11 touchdown passes (tops in team history) and 12 total touchdowns, also tops in team history. His pressure against Columbus (4/1) helped force three Destroyers interceptions, while forcing stops on six-of-nine possessions and not allowing a third down conversion on five attempts. His work at New York (4/9) helped keep the Dragons off the scoreboard through the entire first half. He assisted on a tackle and caught a career-long 21 yard pass against Grand Rapids (4/15). At Georgia (4/22) he was named Defensive Player of the Game after collecting 1.5 tackles - all sacks - and a forced fumble on his solo sack. The fumble was recovered by Devin Wyman who rumbled 30 yards for a touchdown that capped off 28 unanswered Dallas points to spring the Desperados to a 55-40 fourth quarter lead. Weatherington's work on offense allowed Dallas to rack up a season-high 362 passing yards (fourth most in team history) and nine touchdowns. He caught a single-game career-best three passes for a single-game career-high 33 yards at Philadelphia (5/6). Against New York (5/12) he had a sack through the back of the end zone which resulted in a safety while his pressure of New York quarterbacks resulted in five turnovers. In the Divisional Playoff Game against Georgia (5/27), Weatherington recovered a fumble that resulted in a Dallas score while helping force stops on six-of-10 Georgia possessions, including three interceptions and a fumble. In the Conference Championship loss to Orlando (6/4), Weatherington racked up 4.5 tackles, including three sacks.

AFL 2005 (Dallas): In playing all 16 games for the second consecutive season, Weatherington finished with 17 tackles, 3.5 sacks (second on the team), 7.5 tackles for losses (team lead) and a team-best nine pressures. Offensively, four of his five receptions were for touchdowns. In the season opener against Chicago (1/30) he posted two tackles, including one for a loss before assisting on tackles, adding a pressure and a one-yard touchdown reception at New York (2/6). Against Columbus (2/13) Weatherington notched three stops, including one for a loss of 17 yards. He recorded his first sack of the season and one tackle against Orlando (2/17) then posted two stops, one for a loss and a fumble recovery that led to Dallas's first lead of the game at Philadelphia (2/27). He caught a three-yard touchdown pass while helping block for a season-high four rushing touchdowns at Los Angeles (3/18). At San Jose (4/15) he added a tackle and his third receiving touchdown on an 11-yard pass. He posted a sack and a catch for 10 yards at Columbus (4/22) before adding two tackles - 1.5 for losses - and a half sack against New York (4/29). He assisted on two tackles and added a pass breakup at Las Vegas (5/7) before posting a tackle, a sack and his fourth touchdown reception on a season-long 17-yard catch at Georgia (5/15). In the season finale against Philadelphia (5/22), Weatherington recorded a single-game high four pressures to go along with 1.5 tackles.

AFL 2004 (Dallas): Weatherington made his AFL debut and responded with team-highs in sacks (7.5) quarterback pressures (five) and blocked kicks (five). He tied for the team lead with two forced fumbles and finished fifth on the team with 25.5 tackles. In his indoor debut against Carolina (2/8), Weatherington posted a tackle and blocked a 44-yard field goal attempt. He picked up two more tackles, his first career sack, a tackle for a loss, a forced fumble and two blocked kicks against Philadelphia (2/15). At Columbus (2/29) he added two more tackles and a pass defensed, then was named Ironman of the Game against Grand Rapids (3/6) after posting 2.5 tackles, half a sack, half a tackle for a loss and catching a 12-yard pass. At Carolina (3/13) he recorded 2.5 tackles (1.5 for losses), one sack, a quarterback pressure and a blocked kick - his fifth of the season. Weatherington totaled two tackles, two passes defensed and a tackle for a loss against Los Angeles (3/21) before adding another tackle and a pass breakup at Philadelphia (4/4). He posted a single tackle at Arizona (4/18) before adding three tackles (one for a loss) and a sack at Orlando (4/25). He notched two more stops, a pass breakup and a 19-yard reception against New York (5/1). Weatherington posted three tackles, a sack and a tackle for a loss at Austin (5/9). Against Columbus (5/22) he recorded two tackles, a sack, a tackle for a loss and a forced fumble while catching an eight-yard pass. In the season finale against Tampa Bay (5/30), he posted half a tackle and a career-high three quarterback pressures.

OTHER PRO EXPERIENCE: 2003 - Weatherington went to training camp with the Dallas Cowboys but was released prior to the season. He signed to Dallas's practice squad on Oct. 6 but was released on Oct. 27. 2002 - He began the year with the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe, where he finished with 15 tackles and a forced fumble. He returned to the Cowboys and totaled a tackle and a pressure in three games. 2001 - Weatherington was a seventh round (207th overall) draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys and spent the season on the Cowboys practice squad.

COLLEGE: As a junior, Weatherington recorded 32 tackles, 22 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, seven sacks and seven passes defensed to earn All-MIAA conference and third-team Division II All-America honors. In his first year at Central Missouri State, Weatherington garnered All-America and MIAA Defensive MVP honors after registering 52 tackles, 19 stops for losses, 12 sacks and two fumble recoveries. After two years out of football, Weatherington made his collegiate debut at Northwest Mississippi Community College and earned all-region and all-state honors after totaling 68 tackles - including 18 for losses - 13 sacks, five forced fumbles, three pass deflections and three fumble recoveries.

PERSONAL: Weatherington earned all-state honors and helped Graceville, Fla., High School to one state title and a runner-up finish. The physical education major was also a member of the 1999 Central Missouri basketball team. Throughout his professional football career, Weatherington has stepped up to support the community in which he resides. Over the years, he has donated his time to worthwhile organizations like The Salvation Army, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Children's Medical Center Dallas. While with the Desperados, Weatherington has signed autographs with children and youth from the Children's Cancer Fund at a Dallas Cowboys game. Weatherington also spoke and signed autographs at Irving High School during the announcement of Adron Tennell being selected to participate in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and made a visit to Ranchview High School. Weatherington has two daughters, Courtnee and Trinity.