WR Maurice Purify opts to leave Rattlers after released from IR

Wide receiver Maurice Purify, who helped the Rattlers to three consecutive championships, has decided to leave the team after he was physically cleared by the team to play.

Once he passed his physical, Purify became a free agent. Coach and General Manager Kevin Guy said that Purify was offered to come back.

According to Purify on his Facebook page, he made it sounds like the Rattlers didn't want him anymore, saying, "I always thought I'd be giving this speech when I retired as a Rattler," before thanking the organization and the fans.

"Nobody knows what Mo is thinking," Guy said. "It's not like we didn't offer for him to come back. The decision is in his court. If he doesn't want to be here, that's on him. At the end of the day, we offered him."

Purify, 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, underwent knee surgery late last season and spent training camp and the first seven weeks of this season still rehabbing his knee.

Guy said that Purify cleared his physical, "but he doesn't think he's ready yet."

"Going to take some time to get in shape," Guy said on Monday.

The Rattlers (5-2) haven't had all of their top receivers for every game this season.

They lost Tysson Poots in free agency to Las Vegas in the offseason.

Rod Windsor and Kerry Reed missed the first two games, while still recovering from camp injuries.

Reed missed last week's win in New Orleans because of a hamstring injury suffered in the second quarter two weeks ago at home against the San Jose SaberCats.

Purify, who starred at Nebraska, was first-team All-Arena for the Rattlers in 2012, when he caught 126 passes for 1,932 yards and 46 touchdowns. He was the Offensive Player of the Game in the ArenaBowl, catching seven touchdown passes in a rout of the Philadelphia Soul.

Purify had 84 catches for 1,235 yards and 30 touchdowns in 13 games last season for the Rattlers, before he suffered a knee injury that required major surgery.

Purify thanked the Rattlers and the fans on Facebook:

"I always thought I would be giving this speech when I retired as a Rattler," he wrote. "First I wanna say thanks to the Arizona Rattlers owner Rod Shurts has put together a first class organization. He has been the best owner I've ever played for. Then I wanna say thanks to coach KG he has built something special here in AZ. He knows how to get the best out of players. He has made me a better and smarter player and person. Then the fans thanks for everything you do for us. You are the best, you guys know how to make the players feel special. You have a lot of knowledge of the game a respect the hard work we put in every week. To my teammates I wanna say thanks. Y'all helped me get to where I wanted to be as a football player. Every player plays to win championship and I was blessed to win three of them with you guys. That's something people won't have a chance to do one time we was able to do it three times that's something special. Wanna wish y'all luck on your four peat. This isn't a retirement post I will be back on the field still have a lot in the tank. I will return and be one of the best receivers in the league. I'll win another championship somewhere don't know where yet, but I will get my forth ring. Free agency has now started."



