Payton ready for next run with Chicago Slaughter

Payton.

Number 34.

Running back.

Chicago.

Quite the attention-getter, isn't it?

That no doubt is part of the reason behind the Chicago Slaughter's signing Thursday of Jarrett Payton as their new running back.

The son of legendary Bears running back Walter Payton now becomes the featured player on coach Steve McMichael's Slaughter, the 2009 Continental Indoor Football League champions who will try to match last year's success this spring in the Indoor Football League.

"There's going to be a lot of people saying, 'Why is he doing this?'" Payton said. "Let me tell you, there's a small window and you want to play as long as you can."

Payton has already been at it a while. He starred at St. Viator High School, played college ball at the University of Miami, had a brief stint with the Tennessee Titans, and then moved on to the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe and the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.

Now he's home again.

"I keep having visions of what it's going to be like when I step out on that field for the first time," he said. "It'll be a dream come true. I get to be home and play and kind of reintroduce myself. I'm not looking to go anywhere else after this."

Though indoor football is predominantly a passing league, Payton believes he can still be a big part of the Slaughter offense.

"I can help in a lot of different areas," he said. "I pride myself in being a running back who can catch the ball and do a little bit of everything."

The ever-demure McMichael sees the signing of Payton as a signal that things are headed in the right direction for yet another championship.

"Jarrett Payton is a high caliber player who was born with a football in his hands," said McMichael, a former teammate of Walter Payton. "The Slaughter is going to blow you away with the talent we are putting together for the 2010 season and will give you a reason to come out and cheer for a winning Chicago football team this spring."

The Slaughter, which plays at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, opens its 14-game IFL season on Feb. 27 at home against the Rochester Raiders.



(dailyherald.com)