No shocking developments

It’s something Spokane Shock head coach Chris Siegfried has seen before at the meat market branded an “open tryout.”

For every 130-pound wide receiver who shows up with hands of steel, for every wannabe quarterback throwing wounded ducks, and for every lineman barely finishing the 40-yard dash, Siegfried finds something – besides a few laughs.

“You never know who shows up,” Siegfried said during the 8 a.m. workout at the Spokane Soccer Center for the city’s new arenafootball2 franchise. “Every workout I’ve ever had, I’ve had at least one guy that has been invited to camp, whether a two-day tryout or under contract, every single workout I’ve ever had in the last five years.”

For those who showed up, it ran like a regular NFL combine: testing the speed, athleticism and agility of the players, then separating them into position drills.

“From my standpoint, I don’t get any financial benefit out of this tryout,” Siegfried said. “My benefit is, ‘Did I find somebody?’ First workout I found two guys, Billy Newman and Orlando Winston.”

Tyler Peterson, who just finished his senior season at Carroll College, during which he averaged 19.2 yards a catch and caught 16 touchdowns for the NAIA champion Saints, heard about the tryout Tuesday.

The first-team NAIA All-American and his father, Conrad, made the five-hour trip from Helena Sunday night to give it a shot.

“It was just a little notice, so I got in some shape,” Peterson said. “I had known I wanted to play at the next level, but it’s NAIA, so it’s not like people are going to come looking for me. I don’t have an agent, I don’t know how to go about it. I hope things go well and I hope the coaches are impressed.”

A 4.53 40 dropped a few jaws and helped the 5-foot-11 Peterson catch Siegfried’s attention.

“He’s here, (former Eastern Washington receiver) Raul Vijil’s going to be here,” Siegfried said. “I’ve looked at Raul’s highlight tape, and he’s pretty good. We’ve got a number of receivers under contract already, but those are guys who could possibly make us even better, so you don’t want to leave anything unnoticed.”

Also making an appearance at the workout was former Wyoming quarterback J.J. Raterink, who has already been signed and is expected to compete for the starting position.

He just flew into Spokane for the first time from Denver, where he was working in sales for the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche.

“I wasn’t sure if I was staying in that side of sports, or ending up back here,” Raterink said. “I’ve always planned on playing in some capacity, but I’ve never had the opportunity.”

Raterink had tried out for Arena League teams in Las Vegas and Chicago, and although those teams were set at the quarterback position, they helped him find a place in Spokane.

“I’ve been waiting to get up and throw,” Raterink said. “It’s more of an ‘It’s about time,’ thing,”

Even for those who might not make it, it’s still a valuable experience.

Clark Pauls, an offensive lineman from Davenport, who just finished his last season at Whitworth, had never done anything like this before.

“It was pretty cool,” Pauls said. “If I don’t make it, I’ll try out again. It’s a good test to see where you’re at.”