[02.28.03] The Rhode Island Ridicule entered the trading frenzy this offseason when they sent Travis Taylor (WR-Bal) to the Seattle Slimy Slugs for Anthony Thomas (RB-Chi). The trade also included the exchange of draft picks in the 2003 draft. The Ridicule gave their fourteenth round draft pick (14.12 #168) to Seattle for the Slug's fifteenth round draft pick (15.8 #176).

Thomas started his career in Seattle as a free agent pick-up in 2001. He played four games for the Slugs with an amazing 14.3 points per game. As a protected player in 2002, Thomas was not able to recapture the same magic he had in 2001. In seven games with Seattle, he was only able to muster 42 points or just a 6.2 points per game average.

Taylor started his PWFFL playing days in 2000 as an undrafted free agent for the Kalamazoo Vikings. In Kalamazoo, Taylor was able to come off the bench just once in Week 5 to score six fantasy points. Taylor went undrafted again in 2001 and never played a game in PWFFL. However, in 2002 Taylor's luck changed. Originally drafted in 2002 by the Detroit Drive, Taylor was cut by the Drive. He was then picked up off of the free agent wire by the Rhode Island Ridicule where he had great success. During the 2002 season he was able to score 50 points in just five games as a Ridicule. Taylor's future is looking up as long as things hold steady in the NFL's Baltimore Ravens.

The move leaves Seattle thin at runningback with just Faulk, Tomlinson, George (recently acquired from Kalamazoo), and Foster. Seattle's management is hoping for an injury free season or they will have to make a move later in the offseason to secure another runningback by either trade or the draft. This trade does not adversly affect Rhode Island, because they are deep at wide reciever, a position that is very easy to fill with quality talent. Rumor's surround the Ridicule camp that this was a move to replace often hurt Bettis and that RI was not planning on protecting Taylor for the draft.