MANN READY FOR HIS QB AUDITION FORMER BACKUP READY TO LEAD AVENGERS.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

Brian Mann might have found his easiest day job.

Mann will make his first start at quarterback for the Avengers, who open their Arena Football League season against Arizona today. This pressure is nothing, compared to playing stunt double to Adam Sandler in 'The Longest Yard' or working for JP Morgan on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

``It's a big locker room,'' Mann said of his New York gig. ``It's male-dominated. It's intense. There's a lot of pressure and stress. It's everything you see on TV. There's a lot emotions going around, yelling and screaming. It reminds me a lot of being in a football game because you have to find a way to keep your cool and keep your head.''

Mann, who played collegiately at Dartmouth, will have to do just that if he's to win the quarterback job. The Avengers' lone scrimmage was canceled, so coach Ed Hodgkiss didn't have the opportunity to see Mann or backup Ryan Van Dyke in a game situation. Mann will start but Van Dyke is expected to play.

``He's done very well so far,'' Hodgkiss said of Mann. ``We'll probably play both. We haven't had a chance to evaluate either one enough to get a read. Brian has had a half last year and played well and did everything we asked of him in camp. Ryan Van Dyke's done very well as well. We want to make sure we make the right decision.''

Van Dyke has the prototypical quarterback's body at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds. Mann (6-2, 205), who completed 13 of 23 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns as a backup last year, is lauded for his knowledge of the game and ability to read defenses. He's been a backup quarterback with the Avengers for all four years of his AFL career.

``(Mann's) an Ivy Leaguer,'' said receiver/linebacker Greg Hopkins. ``His cerebral capacity on the field is above and beyond. Now he has the chance to take charge and lead the team. He knows what's going on. He's got a lack of game experience but he's got a good chemistry with the guys he's worked with the last couple of years.''

Mann was tutored by former Avengers star Tony Graziani - whose jersey is still worn by fans - for his first two seasons. Last year, John Kaleo signed a one-year deal and led the Avengers to their first Western Division title.

With salary-cap concerns, Hodgkiss opted to re-sign younger skill players for less money rather than keep Kaleo. So, the Avengers will have a new starting quarterback for the third consecutive season.

While Mann acknowledges it's not the ideal situation, he doesn't feel it will hamper the offense.

``This is my fourth year,'' Mann said. ``The head coach has been the same all four years. I feel real comfortable and I know the system. We have enough of the core guys from last year back, especially on offense.

``We expect to make the playoffs. We have enough talent and experience to do it. It's a realistic goal. I don't want to call it a monkey, but we're worried about getting over that hump of the first playoff win.''

Last year, the Avengers lost to Chicago in the first round of the playoffs. The Avengers have never won a playoff game.

They also struggled with the death of lineman Al Lucas, who died from spinal cord injuries suffered from a hit in a game at Staples Center last April.

Mann spent his offseason as a stunt man again. This time, he worked on the movie 'Invincible,' along with teammates Tony Locke, Kevin Ingram and Sean McNamara. He had to dye his hair, shave his legs and get a fake tan for the part.

Mann said doing movies is fun and he enjoys it but that it's not his focus.

``Anything I do in the offseason is strictly to supplement the Arena Football League,'' Mann said. ``This is what I'm here to do. This is what I want to do. This is what I want to do right now. If one's got to give, it's not going to be Arena football.''

Jill Painter, [phone]

jill.painter(at)dailynews.com

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