Magic Benton practices with Firecats, could be signed this week

ESTERO — Magic Benton knew to keep his distance.

He hadn't attended a Florida Firecats game since he announced his retirement. He hadn't even listened to one over the Internet.

"I was trying to stay away," Benton explained.

It worked, too -- for about eight weeks.

But just as most of his teammates had predicted, the 32-year-old Benton, the most decorated receiver in arenafootball2 history, eventually found his way back.

He practiced with the Firecats on Tuesday for the first time, running routes and catching passes on the turf where he set records the past seven seasons.

"You could tell he wanted to be part of it," said Firecats veteran Brent Burnside. "He never really left."

How could he?

When the Fort Myers resident reported to work at the YMCA, Benton was often approached by people who knew his history -- his supervisor, among them -- and asked how long it would be before he got back to burning rival DBs on Saturday nights in Germain Arena.

When he helped coach the Florida Christian Institute football team, he'd rub elbows with Firecats quarterback Chris Wallace, the FCI head coach, and Burnside, another assistant on Wallace's staff. You can guess what kind of conversations would break out.

"Finally got him out here," Burnside said. "I've been just chipping away at him."

Benton makes it four Firecats mainstays to return since the start of the season, joining wide receiver Ethenic Sands, defensive end Alfred Peterson and linebacker Quincy Sorrell.

But Benton is different.

Benton, a University of Miami product, has long been a face of the Florida franchise, the only player to have played a down for the team in each of its first seven seasons.

When he retired last fall following Florida's loss in the first round of the playoffs, he held af2 records for receptions, receiving yards, TD receptions, most points by a non-kicker and most touchdowns.

Boise Burn receiver George Williams has passed him in the latter two categories. But Benton still has the big three -- receptions, receiving yards and TD receptions.

Not that it drives him.

"It's about winning a ring," Benton said, "and having a fellowship with these guys. That's the fun part -- the locker room, the road trips."

Benton kept himself away from it, he said, so he could spend more time with his family, and this past spring he coached his daughter's youth basketball team.

But he found himself exiting Interstate 75 in Estero about a week ago, when he showed up at a Firecats practice for the first time and met with coaches afterward.

He told them he was ready.

"We are always looking to upgrade," Firecats coach Kevin Bouis said. "The main thing is making sure the older guys -- the ones who weren't here from the beginning -- can come in and just gel. We've got a new thing going, a new environment, and we don't want that to be disrupted."

The timing of Benton's comeback seems about perfect, considering Matt Burstein, Florida's leader in receiving yards, has been battling a tailbone injury the past two weeks.

But after watching Benton in practice Tuesday, Bouis still wasn't sure how soon the receiver would be back in uniform. Florida would have to sign Benton by Thursday if Bouis plans to use him against South Division rival South Georgia, which plays in Germain Arena on Saturday night.

"We'll have to see," Bouis said. "He's right in the mix."

For his part, Benton, who hasn't caught a touchdown pass in more than nine months, doesn't envision himself having the kind of impact he's always had.

Not right away, at least.

"It's not my team -- I'm not one of the leaders of this team," Benton said. "I'll just stay in the background until the time is right."

(naplesnews.com)