Jerry Giese, Sioux City Journal (Jan. 21, 2010)
The Sioux City Bandits suddenly became better with the signing of James McNear, the former quarterback of the Omaha Beef.

McNear, who passed for 2,233 yards and 41 touchdowns a year ago while leading the Beef to an 11-3 record and the Indoor Football League's Central Division championship, is among the final four additions to the Bandits' roster. First-year head coach Tommie Williams also announced the signing of defensive linemen Joel Reeves and Aaron Curtis along with wide receiver T.J. Williams.

McNear played three seasons at Omaha and each time, Tommie Williams was his offensive coordinator.

"That's one of the reasons I chose to sign with Sioux City," said the 6-1, 185-pound McNear. "Tommie brings optimism to the team, first and foremost. It'll be a learning experience for him, but I like his optimism and he does have resources that are positive for a lot of the guys who have signed with Sioux City. It's important for a first-year coach to be optimistic and have a positive attitude."

McNear, who had career totals of 9,420 passing and 3,027 rushing yards at Concordia-St. Paul, was 5-1 in his career against the Bandits, winning his last five starts. He passed for 687 yards and 16 touchdowns against Sioux City while also rushing for 246 yards and eight touchdowns.

McNear averaged 5.2 yards per rush in six games against Sioux City. A year ago, he averaged 4.5 yards per carry while rushing for 437 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Central Division champions.

"I think James McNear is a tremendous signing for the Bandit organization and fans," Williams said. "He brings a tremendous amount of athleticism to the quarterback position. Anytime you can sign someone of James' athletic ability, you make the signing happen right away."

McNear will have an exciting set of receivers at Sioux City, including T.J. Williams, a 6-2, 185-pounder, who played at Valdosta State after transferring from Michigan State. As a senior in 2008, he had 36 catches for 599 yards and six touchdowns.

Williams is the brother of San Diego Chargers All-Pro cornerback Antonio Cromartie and is also a cousin of Arizona Cardinals cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Williams will also provide vertical speed to the Bandits' passing game, as he ran a 4.4 40-yard dash at the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine.

Reeves, a 6-1, 290-pound defensive lineman, comes to the Bandits from the University of South Carolina. Reeves started his career at Georgia Military College in 2004-05, where he was named a pre-season All-American. He transferred to South Carolina in 2006 and in two seasons there, had 29 tackles and 2.5 quarterback sacks.

Curtis, a 6-1, 290-pound defensive lineman, had 58 tackles and four sacks as a senior at Southern Utah University in 2008, where he won first-team all-conference honors. He finished his four-year career with 143 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and five sacks.

The Bandits will start training camp in mid-February and will kick off the 2010 season in Fort Collins, Colo., against the Colorado Ice on Feb. 27. The home opener is March 6 against Green Bay.

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