DeDe Dorsey, last year’s leading rusher, returns to the Locomotives

By Case Keefer (contact)

Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

DeDe Dorsey did all he could to watch the Las Vegas Locomotives season opener two weeks ago at Sam Boyd Stadium.

It just wasn’t meant to be.

“I wasn’t at home, so I tried to watch it on the Internet,” Dorsey said. “But it was really choppy and I couldn’t see anything.”

That was probably for the best. Dorsey, the leading rusher on the 2009 Locomotives team that won the UFL championship, wouldn’t have enjoyed the sight.

Las Vegas lost 27-20 to the Florida Tuskers and couldn’t establish any presence with its run game.

The Locomotives have reason to believe that will change when the two teams meet again at 3 p.m. Thursday in Orlando on Versus. They have re-signed Dorsey after the Detroit Lions cut him right before the kickoff of the NFL season.

“It’s really nice to see a guy that played so well for you walk back in the door,” Locomotives coach Jim Fassel said. “I was hoping for the best — seriously — for him to make it in the NFL. But it didn’t work out, and we’re glad to have him back.”

Dorsey signed with the Lions a few months after the UFL season ended last year. His production with the Locomotives was undeniable, as he averaged more than six yards per carry in the six regular season games and earned the Championship Game MVP Award.

He appeared poised to follow his UFL success with making the Lions roster and led the team in receptions through their first two preseason games. But Dorsey didn’t make the final cut.

It was the second straight year Dorsey suffered the same fate, as last year the Cincinnati Bengals cut him on the final day before he wound up in Las Vegas.

Dorsey said he thought he played well enough to make the team.

“Yeah, you want to play there,” Dorsey said. “But if I’m not going to be there, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere but here.”

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Dorsey gives the Locomotives a fast, shifty running back to complement the power of Marcel Shipp.

Although Dorsey has only practiced with the team for the few days, Fassel said he would be on the field frequently against the Tuskers.

“I’m not going to ease him in,” Fassel said. “He’s going to get a game check, so he needs to earn it.”

Dorsey has no issue with that.

“I’m not a big fan of sitting,” Dorsey said. “Me and sitting don’t go together very well. You can ask my teachers growing up.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.