Arizona Rattlers' quest for four

3 key returning players

Quarterback Nick Davila had a bump in the road, literally, in camp, when he was involved in a car accident that kept him out a few days. He says he is fine and ready to go. The reigning league MVP has 569 touchdown passes and three championships in his five seasons with the Rattlers.

had a bump in the road, literally, in camp, when he was involved in a car accident that kept him out a few days. He says he is fine and ready to go. The reigning league MVP has 569 touchdown passes and three championships in his five seasons with the Rattlers. Receiver/jack linebacker Kerry Reed has been a rock on both sides of the ball during the team's three-year streak of titles. Davila wanted to give the ArenaBowl MVP award he received to Reed after he turned the game in Cleveland against the Gladiators with a first-quarter interception return for a touchdown.

has been a rock on both sides of the ball during the team's three-year streak of titles. Davila wanted to give the ArenaBowl MVP award he received to Reed after he turned the game in Cleveland against the Gladiators with a first-quarter interception return for a touchdown. Safety Jeremy Kellem, coming off a career-high 98 tackles last season, had an impressive camp.

3 key departures

Sure-handed, big red zone receiver Tysson Poots became a free agent and signed with the Las Vegas Outlaws, after catching 26 touchdown passes last season.

became a free agent and signed with the Las Vegas Outlaws, after catching 26 touchdown passes last season. Kicker Craig Ratanamorn , who was clutch late in the season and in the playoffs with his field goals and extra points, decided to retire two weeks before the start of training camp, which prompted the Rattlers to try out 14 kickers.

, who was clutch late in the season and in the playoffs with his field goals and extra points, decided to retire two weeks before the start of training camp, which prompted the Rattlers to try out 14 kickers. Defensive back Allen Chapman had 43 tackles and three interceptions in 12 games as a rookie, but he became expendable in camp (and traded to New Orleans) with the emergence of rookies Ben Wells and Antonio Dennard.

Biggest threat to a four-peat

The arch-rival San Jose SaberCats loaded up in the off season with free agents, bringing in QB Erik Meyer and S Virgil Gray, to try to knock the Rattlers from their throne.

The schedule

March 28: Spokane Shock, 6 p.m.

April 4: at Las Vegas Outlaws, 7:30 p.m.

April 11: at Cleveland Gladiators, 4 p.m.

April 18: Portland Thunder, 6 p.m.

April 25: at LA Kiss, 7 p.m.

May 2: San Jose SaberCats, 6 p.m.

May 9: at New Orleans VooDoo, 5 p.m.

May 16: Las Vegas Outlaws, 6 p.m.

May 30: at Spokane Shock, 7 p.m.

June 6: Tampa Bay Storm, 6 p.m.

June 12: at Portland Thunder, 7 p.m.

June 20: Orlando Predators, 5 p.m.

June 27: at LA Kiss, 7 p.m.

July 11: Las Vegas Outlaws, 6 p.m.

July 17: at Spokane Shock, 7 p.m.

July 26: LA Kiss, 3 p.m.

July 31: at San Jose SaberCats, 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 8: Portland Thunder, 6:30 p.m.