By EDDIE DANIELS
The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA – Already, Tampa Bay Storm defensive backs are leaving the field, looking at each other and shaking their heads following completed passes they were forced to watch or defend.

Those passes came from the arm of newly acquired quarterback Brett Dietz, who’s presence in a Storm jersey is a bit of a full circle for the signal caller.

He spent six weeks of the 2006 season on the Tampa Bay practice squad, but he and Storm coach Tim Marcum understood, for him to improve, he had to get live game experience. That would come with the af2’s Louisville Fire

“He came to me after that and said, ‘Coach I got a chance to go to the deuce, what should I do?’ I said, ‘Bret, go,’” Marcum recalled of that conversation near midseason last year. “You can sit here on the practice squad making these throws all day long, but when the lights come on, until they start banging you around, start hitting, you don’t ever really know what Arena Football’s all about.”

If he didn’t know going in, he caught on quick. Dietz, constantly pushed by back up Joel Steele, completed 396 of 559 passes for 4,529 yards, 94 TDs and 11 interceptions. That turn of events earned Dietz the league’s 2006 af2 Spalding Rookie of the Year award and a first-team 2006 American Conference All-af2 selection. He was also the league’s top-rated passer (126.74).

“Honestly, I didn’t know where it was going to take me,” Dietz said. “Depending on how I did, I knew it was a risk coming down to af2 because I was already up on the practice squad in the Arena League, so I knew it was a make-or-break year for me.
“I could do really well or I wouldn’t do as well and I may be looking for another job right now.”

After that sterling season, Dietz had his eye on three teams, Chicago, Columbus and Tampa Bay. Chicago was his No. 1 choice and he signed with the Rush in October 2006. Four months later, Chicago released him.

Dietz then decided to return to af2 and play for the Spokane Shock, which is being coached by his offensive coordinator from Louisville, Adam Shackleford.

“That was the most stressful time after I got released,” Dietz admitted. “There was nobody calling right away and you don’t know what you’re going to do, so I actually signed in af2 again to play one more year.”

In March, just before Dietz headed to Washington State to join the Shock, the Kansas City Brigade scooped him up, placing him on the practice squad.

Then on the night of April 14, Orlando lineman Greg White came free on a rush from Storm quarterback Stoney Case’s right side, delivering a blow which separated Case’s throwing shoulder and sending him to injured reserve.

A short time later Dietz was called.

“Once this happened, it was pretty open, shut, quick, boom,” Marcum said, adding a veteran the likes of Joe Hamilton wouldn’t have fit under the team’s salary cap. “We called [Kansas City Brigade coach] Kevin Porter the next day and said, ‘I’m going to claim Dietz and I want you to be the first to know.’ He said good luck to the kid and that was it.”

This world wind of transactions for Dietz is not exactly new to Dietz. Fresh out of Division III Hanover College, Dietz took his wares to Finland – yes that Finland – to play football.

During that 2004 season, Dietz led the Turko Trojans to Maple Bowl XXV. That regular season, he led the league in passing yards (2,433). He also completed 160 of 272 passes, which included 24 touchdowns.

The following season he came back to the states and played for the National Indoor Football League’s Cincinnati Marshals – his introduction to the indoor style of football. He helped guide Cincinnati to the conference finals.

And now, he’s back in Tampa. This time with a chance to challenge for the No. 1 job instead of life on the practice squad. He’ll suit up Sunday against the Columbus Destroyers as the Storm’s backup.

“I had this kid here for I don’t know how many weeks… and saw him develop into… you kind of knew he was going to be pretty doggone good,” Marcum said.

Marcum admits that if possible, he wants Dietz to watch the reaming nine Tampa Bay contests from the sideline. Nothing against Dietz, but that would be a sign that John Kaleo and team are winning, which the Storm (1-6) desperately needs.

Which means Dietz may have fallen into the role of quarterback of the future.

“If John does well and my job is to be backup all year, then that’s what I’m going to do,” Dietz said. “But if it’s ever my time to come in, I’m going to do my best to be ready and be able to step in and do my best.”

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214 or edaniels@tampatrib.com.