LOS ANGELES AVENGERS: THE SKINNY ON SHANNON AFTER SUCCESS IN XFL, CULVER GLAD TO BE AN AVENGER AGAIN.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

Even three time zones away, Shannon Culver made sure the Avengers kept him in mind.

Culver, who left the arena football Avengers behind last winter to join the Orlando Rage of the ill-fated XFL, knew he would end up back in his hometown of Los Angeles eventually, and he didn't want his former coaches to forget about him.

``He would be preparing for a game and he would call us from Orlando,'' Avengers interim coach Robert Lyles said. ``We would be sitting there thinking, 'This guy is amazing.' He knew he wanted to come back here, and the door was always open.''

And Culver, listed at a generous 5-foot-10, 180 pounds and known as ``Skinny,'' doesn't need much of an opening. The Palmdale High and Pierce College product returned to the Avengers last month and hasn't needed much time to make an impact all over again.

In limited action in five games this year, Culver has caught nine passes for 72 yards and three touchdowns.

``It feels good to be back and helping out the team,'' Culver said. ``I'm not getting as much playing time as maybe I would hope, but that's because I came in here late with a couple guys ahead of me and those guys are doing a good job.''

Last year, Culver joined the team in midseason, became known as one of the fastest players in the league and joined an impressive Avengers receiving corps that included league Rookie of the Year Chris Jackson and former USC player Travis Hannah.

Culver also made his mark by setting team records for receiving yards (209) and touchdowns (five) in one game.

Culver worked himself into the Avengers' rotation this year, in part because of nagging injuries to Jackson and Hannah, and has impressed Lyles, formerly the team's defensive coordinator, with his improved play.

``He's a lot quieter this year,'' Lyles said, chuckling because Culver is well known as one of the team's top talkers. ``I mean, he still talks a lot off the field, but on the field it seems like he's really taking care of business this year.

``He's always been fast, but this year he's a lot more durable. He's able to take that physical contact at the line of scrimmage and keep accelerating. Before he would start off kind of slow, but now he has that burst right away.''

It was Culver's speed that drew the attention of the Rage, which used him as a punt returner. The team signed him as a free agent and invited him to camp, but he was viewed as a long shot to make the team. Not only did Culver make the team, he finished third in the league in punt-return yardage.

``Nobody thought I could do it, man,'' Culver said. ``They all thought I would be cut right away. Even the Avengers, really, they didn't think I would make it, I don't think. It was a great experience for me, to play at that level. All of my coaches were from the NFL Europe league, and a lot of the players were, too.''

Orlando was one of the XFL's top teams, but the league folded after just one season and Culver, who turned 30 last month, believed he had a lot of football left to play.

Culver said he received an offer to play in the Canadian Football League, but his continued contact with the Avengers paid off in a one-year contract with his hometown team.

And now, even though he has been playing football almost nonstop since December (including XFL minicamps), Culver says he feels strong and is motivated to play himself into a significant role with the Avengers.

``It takes a while to get the arena game back,'' Culver said. ``It would have been nice to stay with the XFL for another year, because I think I really could have showed them what I was all about, but it's also nice to play here, in my hometown. I can't complain.

``I'm glad I went away and did my thing, because I feel like I matured a lot, but it's nice to be home.''

A CLOSER LOOK

Name: Shannon Culver

Position: Offensive specialist

Age: 30

College: L.A. Pierce, Oklahoma State

Statistics: Last year, Culver was the Avengers' second-leading receiver with 495 yards and 10 touchdowns on 34 catches. This year he has caught nine passes for 72 yards and three touchdowns in four games.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Shannon Culver is back with the L.A. Avengers after a stint with Orlando of the short-lived XFL.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

Box: A CLOSER LOOK (see text)