AFL NOTES: The Desperados signed veteran defensive specialist Derek Stingley on Oct. 22 to provide veteran leadership to a young secondary that is looking to make a name for itself. Stingley is a seven-year Arena Football League veteran that has played in nine playoff games and two ArenaBowls - winning one. Stingley began his indoor career with the Albany Firebirds (1996-2000) before playing a season each with the Chicago Rush (2001), Arizona Rattlers (2002) and Carolina Cobras (2003).

AFL 2003: Stingley joined the Carolina Cobras during training camp and proceeded to record 53.0 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble despite not playing in two games. He saw his first action with Carolina at Buffalo (2/9) and totaled 2.5 tackles. He registered a season-high 8.5 tackles and an interception the following week against Detroit (2/14). He added two stops at Orlando (2/24) and 1.5 tackles at Georgia (3/21) before totaling eight tackles against Dallas (3/21). He tallied 4.5 stops at San Jose (3/28) and eight tackles and a forced fumble against Tampa Bay (4/11). After registering 4.5 tackles against Georgia (4/18), he closed out the season with four stops against Chicago (5/4), at Orlando (5/9) and against New York (5/16).

AFL 2002: After joining the Arizona Rattlers, Stingley saw action in five games and posted 13.5 tackles. He made his first appearance as a Rattler against Chicago (5/25) but did not record any statistics. Two weeks later, he posted five tackles against Dallas (6/16). He closed out the regular season by posting three stops at Los Angeles (7/6), 2.5 tackles against San Jose (7/12) and three stops at New Jersey (7/20). He posted two tackles in Arizona's quarterfinal playoff game against Carolina (8/4). He did not play in the Rattlers semifinal match-up against Chicago (8/11) but returned to the playing field at San Jose (8/18) in ArenaBowl XVI to register two stops in the Rattlers loss.

AFL 2001: Stingley joined the Chicago Rush prior to the season and finished the year with 59.5 tackles, four stops for losses, two forced fumbles and an interception while returning 29 kickoffs for 537 yards. He made his Chicago debut at Oklahoma (4/21) and registered seven tackles, including one for a loss, and a forced fumble while returning six kicks for 131 yards (21.8 avg.). He returned four kickoffs for 93 yards (23.3 avg.) and totaled two tackles against Carolina (4/28). He then totaled two stops while returning three kickoffs for 55 yards at Detroit (5/6). Against Indiana (5/12) - his former Firebirds team - Stingley recorded 6.5 tackles while returning four kicks for 66 yards. He tallied six stops and six kickoffs returns for 130 yards (21.7 avg.) against Grand Rapids (5/19). He registered five stops, including two for losses, and three kick returns for 25 yards at Milwaukee (5/25) before posting 7.5 stops, a stop behind the line of scrimmage and two kickoff returns for 37 yards against Houston (6/2). He then registered 2.5 stops at Florida (6/9), two tackles at Indiana (6/15) and 2.5 stops and his only interception of the year against Detroit (6/23). At Los Angeles (6/30), he tallied six stops before recording three tackles at Grand Rapids (7/7). He closed out the regular season with five tackles against Orlando (7/21). In the Rush's first round playoff game at Orlando (7/27), Stingley totaled five tackles and a pass deflection. He returned the next week in a quarterfinal round playoff loss at Grand Rapids (8/5) to tally seven stops and a pass defensed.

AFL 2000: In his final season with Albany, Stingley registered 63.0 tackles, four interceptions and a fumble recovery. He opened the season with eight tackles at Nashville (4/13). Against New England (4/22), he totaled five stops, an interception and a fumble recovery. He tallied four tackles and a pick against Tampa Bay (4/29) before posting five stops and an interception at New England (5/5). Stingley intercepted a pass for the fourth consecutive week against Buffalo (5/12) while contributing five tackles. He again totaled five stops against Arizona (5/20), then tallied three stops at New Jersey (5/26). He recorded a season-high 10.5 tackles at Florida (6/24), then posted 7.5 tackles at Houston (7/8). He closed out the regular season with seven stops at Iowa (7/15) and three tackles against Orlando (7/23). Stingley posted three tackles in the Firebirds first round playoff loss to Orlando (7/27).

AFL 1999: Stingley put together a career year in 1999, recording a career-high 79.0 tackles and two interceptions. He kicked off the season with 3.5 stops at Tampa Bay (4/24). He then totaled seven stops at New Jersey (5/2) and at New England (5/7). He also intercepted his first pass of the season against the Sea Wolves. He totaled five stops against Buffalo (5/15) before breaking out with a career-high 14.0 tackles and an interception against Arizona (5/22). He then registered four stops at Orlando (5/28) before recording 3.5 tackles against Orlando (6/7) the following week. He posted 6.5 tackles against New Jersey (6/12) and at Buffalo (6/21). After recording three stops against New England (7/2), he closed out the regular season with six stops at Nashville (7/9), 2.5 tackles against Florida (7/24) and eight stops at Houston (7/30). He opened postseason play with a tackle and two pass deflections against Grand Rapids (8/7). He totaled four stops, five passes defensed and an interception in a semifinal match-up against Arizona (8/14). In ArenaBowl XIII against Orlando (8/21), Stingley registered 2.5 tackles, three pass deflections, a tackle for aloss and an interception in leading the Firebirds to their first Arena Football League championship.

AFL 1998: With an indoor season under his belt, Stingley totaled 53.5 tackles, four interceptions, two tackles for losses and a forced fumble in his second indoor season. After not playing in the season opener against Portland (5/2), he recorded 4.5 tackles against San Jose (5/16). He forced a fumble at New Jersey (5/11) and totaled three tackles against New York (5/23). He broke out with 6.5 tackles and an interception at Portland (5/31). He picked off his second pass of the season against New Jersey (6/27), then tallied seven stops at Iowa (7/2). The following week against Arizona (7/13), Stingley erupted with a season-high 10 tackles, including one for a loss, and an interception. He tallied 3.5 stops at San Jose (7/17) before registering five stops and a tackle behind the line of scrimmage against Orlando (7/25). In the regular season finale at New York (7/31), Stingley tied his season-high with 10 tackles. In his first playoff appearance, Stingley recorded a postseason career-high 13.0 tackles and four passes defensed against New Jersey (8/8).

AFL 1997: Stingley made his Arena Football League debut with Albany and recorded 67 tackles and four interceptions while returning nine kickoffs for 139 yards. He opened his indoor career at Florida (5/4) with five stops and an interception. He totaled six tackles and an interception the following week against Milwaukee (5/10) before registering 4.5 tackles and an interception at San Jose (5/17). Against Iowa (5/24), he tallied six tackles before notching another three stops at New Jersey (5/30). He posted a season-high 9.5 stops and a pick against Tampa Bay (6/7) while returning his first career kickoff 25 yards. Stingley, registered 3.5 stops against New York (6/14) and six stops against Texas (6/28). In the rematch at New York (7/7), he totaled 7.5 tackles while returning two kickoffs for 24 yards. He tallied another seven stops and a 12-yard kickoff return against New Jersey (7/19), then closed out the season with 5.5 tackles and two kick returns for 54 yards at Arizona (7/26) and two stops and two returns for 11 yards at Iowa (8/2).

AFL 1996: Stingley signed with the Albany Firebirds but spent the entire season on the Firebirds Reserve/Injured list with a hand injury.

OTHER PRO EXPERIENCE: 1995 - After finishing his career in the Phillies minor league system in June, Stingley played semi-professional football with the Louisiana Bayou Thunder. 1994 - He was a member of the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system as a center fielder. 1993 - Stingley joined the Philadelphia farm system after being drafted by the Phillies in the 26th round of the June amateur baseball draft.

COLLEGE: Stingley began his collegiate career at Purdue before transferring to Kishwaukee Community College and Triton College. He did not play football in college, but concentrated on baseball.

PERSONAL: Stingley was a football and baseball standout at ORR Community Academy in Chicago, Ill. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1993 June amateur baseball draft and spent three years playing in the Phillies farm system. His father is former New England Patriots wide receiver Darryl Stingley. Derek and his wife Natasha have three children - Isis, Nahjha and Derek, Jr.