I checked in with former Shock linebacker Kevin McCullough, who returns to Spokane on Saturday with the Arizona Rattlers.

In one of the franchise's most controversial moves, Spokane traded McCullough to Oklahoma City last June. The trade of the popular McCullough opened the door for Antwan Marsh to take over at Jack linebacker and the Shock went on to win the ArenaBowl. McCullough finished the year at OKC before joining the Rattlers this season.

McCullough talks about the trade and his current situation with the Rattlers in an article that will run in Thursday's S-R. Here's a link.

The latest AFL poll is out and Arizona remains No. 1. Spokane (2-4) is No .10. Pittsburgh (3-3) didn't make the top 10.

Read on below for several more notes.

Former Shock linebacker Kevin McCullough has been placed on recallable reassignment by Oklahoma City. McCullough was traded to OKC during the Shock’s bye week in early June. Antwan Marsh, who replaced McCullough, has three interceptions and three rushing touchdowns in four games.

No word on whether McCullough requested the move.

(Note: I’ll have a Shock notebook posted in about an hour.)

Kevin McCullough, traded from Spokane to Oklahoma City earlier this week, had an interception and 47-yard touchdown return but the Yard Dawgz still lost, 50-48, at Tampa Bay on Saturday night.

McCullough’s pick gave OKC a 42-41 lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Storm rallied to win, stopping an OKC two-point conversion attempt in the closing seconds. OKC dropped to 3-6. More here and here (wow, OKC made 13 roster moves last week, including the additions of ex-Cougar Mkristo Bruce and former Shock O lineman Rico Ochoa).

Meanwhile, Arizona, with ex-Shock QB Nick Davila tossing eight touchdowns and two interceptions, edged Milwaukee in OT to improve to 5-3, one game behind the Shock. Arizona entertains OKC this weekend.

As mentioned in a previous post, Spokane has cut ties with linebacker Kevin ‘The Chainsaw’ McCullough. He’s been traded to Oklahoma City for claim order position (there’s a number order for claiming free agents. Oklahoma City is No. 6 vs. Spokane’s No. 8.).

Also, defensive back Al Phillips was activated off injured-reserve and then released. He was on I-R with a knee injury.

More later.

The Spokane Shock are cutting ties with ‘The Chainsaw.’

Shock head coach Rob Keefe on Tuesday informed Kevin McCullough, one of the team’s most popular players and a 2½-year starter at linebacker, that he will be traded or released. The move comes just days after McCullough’s first interception of the season, which he returned for a touchdown in Spokane’s win over former No. 1 Jacksonville.

“It’s one of the toughest things I’ve had to do and I know I’m going to get nailed for doing it, but I just have to do what’s best for the team,” Keefe said. “Kevin’s a great person, but from a coaching standpoint winning is the goal.”

McCullough, nicknamed ‘The Chainsaw’, had 15 interceptions in 2008-09 when the Shock went 37-3 in arenafootball2. He said he was “floored and just completely blindsided” upon hearing the news from Keefe. “I felt honestly a little betrayed by an organization I’ve done a lot for, not just on the field but off.”

Here’s a link to the entire article. I’ll update this story later today.

Raul Vijil and Kevin McCullough (pictured above) earned AFL player of the week honors after helping Spokane to a 67-57 win over Jacksonville on Saturday.

Vijil, who had seven touchdown catches, was named the offensive player of the week. The EWU product finished with 11 catches for 130 yards. McCullough earned the catch of the week with a one-handed interception of an Aaron Garcia pass and returned the ball 8 yards for a touchdown. He finished with three tackles.

More below.

Kevin McCullough (pictured above), a fixture at linebacker for the Shock the last two seasons, is coming back to Spokane, which also signed two other players.

Read on for more. (There’s additional info on the three at spokaneshock.com.) 

Shock linebacker Kevin McCullough’s diving interception in the third quarter was honored by af2 as the catch of the week.

More here.