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DETROIT, MI – Standing outside the old U’s stadium, giving an interview, Kats RB Rudi Johnson just threw his bags to the side and didn’t have a care in the world. Little did he know there was a conspiracy brewing the size of the Kennedy Assassination. When Johnson was done with his interview his bags were gone, they had been stolen. The leagues security personnel flew into action to review the security footage of the area in an attempt to identify the culprit.

What was noticed on the tape was something that the league, the board of governors, team owner Tabbi Brewer, Rudi Johnson, and stadium personnel couldn’t believe. They saw RB Tatum Bell, of New Delhi, slither thru the crowd and scoop up Mr. Johnson’s bags.

We all know the story of Tatum Bell. The player who felt he had a 2nd round commitment from the Kats, a team he desperately wanted to play for. Then RB Rudi Johnson fell to the Kats and owner Tabbi Brewer made the call to take Johnson. The next round they chose last years surprise, Kenny Watson, so that they wouldn’t have a problem splitting playing time.

“Ricky showed me the tape Tuesday afternoon,” Johnson said. “What makes this crazy is that I’ve talked to him after games, and I talked to him a couple hours prior to this—I guess it was before he found out he was going to be shipped to New Delhi.”

Johnson said a woman returned the bags to the practice facility Tuesday evening, but that the contents were gone. “I got the bags back—empty,” he said. “So he’s got a bunch of my underclothes. What he’s going to do with that, I don’t know. He’s got some socks and boxers.” We understand Tatum Bell would like to think he can hold Johnson’s jock, but there has to be a better way of going about it than to steal it.

Johnson said he was also still missing about $200 in cash along with his ID and the credit cards, but said that he did not plan to involve the authorities. “I don’t need the police for this,” he said. “I got my bags back and the credit cards are canceled.”

Johnson did speak with Bell after the bags were returned. “I didn’t want to talk to him, but I let him know where I stand,” he said. “He knows how I feel about it, and it isn’t anything positive.”

While Johnson was a little more passive towards the whole situation his owner, Tabbi Brewer, was a little more aggressive believing that the New Delhi Ownership put him up to the theft, she released a statement through her team about the situation. It reads as follows:

"I personally cannot believe this... I mean if I hadn't seen the video footage myself.  Unfortunately it is true, that the Subs would be so bitter over the signing of their former franchise RB that they would stoop to petty theft to sabotage our team."

"I had hoped after the 2005 steroid scandal, that the league would wise up.  Instead the moral compass of the IFFL has fallen another notch this season.  Not only have teams turned to criminal activity we have a commissioner who reinstates thugs after a simple slap on the wrist.  These same thugs are then signed, coincidentally by the commissioners team, the very next week."

"But in this cesspool of amoral behavior I am personally thrilled to see a shining light.  One which exemplifies the hopes and expectations of Tabbi's Kats.  Mr. Rudi Johnson has proven to his owner, his coach and his teammates that he is a man of high character.  By simply turning the other cheek he has validated the contract offered and I am proud to the woman who brought him here."

"I again commend Mr. Johnson on his decision to take the high road, the honorable road and maybe this time, the easy road."

Bell’s 2007 team, Morehead City, even released a statement on the situation even if it was more of a non statement than an actual statement, “We are aware of the media reports regarding former player Tatum Bell,” the statement said. “Our sole focus continues to be on our regular season opener in South Carolina. We will not have any further comment on the media reports involving Tatum Bell.”

New Delhi team officials have no comment at this time on the situation.

It will be interesting to see if the Kats and the Subs can overcome the odds and meet in the playoffs as the schedule doesn’t see them competing on the field this season.