The Colorado Rapids announced today that the team has reached agreements with returning players Kyle Beckerman and Seth Trembly, as well as newcomer Leo Cullen, who all signed contracts with the club today. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Beckerman, who has become a mainstream midfielder for the Rapids since 2002, made 29 appearances and contributed two assists and one goal during the 2004 season. His composed play and defensive sense made him a regular in the middle of the park in the team's formation, as he shared the midfield responsibilities with players such as Pablo Mastroeni and Seth Trembly.
"I'm just excited to have reached an agreement with the Rapids," said Beckerman. "With the arrival of Fernando (Clavijo), who commands complete respect for all that he has achieved as a player and his experience as a coach, I'm just ready to start playing and do anything to help Colorado in this new era."
Trembly, a young and versatile midfielder, had a superior year in 2004, playing a total of 24 games with the Black and Blue -a personal high in one season- netting one goal and recording one assist. The five-year Rapids player has appeared in a total of 52 games during his Rapids and MLS career.
Both Beckerman and Trembly graduated at the end of last season from the MLS Project-40 program, now known as Generation adidas, and will occupy a senior roster spot going forward. Each team has a total of 18 senior roster spots and 10 developmental ones for a full squad of 28.
Cullen, whose rights were acquired by the Rapids from New England in a trade for Colorado's 3rd Round Draft Pick (33rd overall) during the 2005 MLS SuperDraft, returns to MLS after a one year break. The first pick in the 1998 MLS SuperDraft, has logged a total of 151 games in his six year career in MLS, playing for the Miami Fusion (1998-2001) and the New England Revolution (2001-2003). In 2004 he decided to go back to school to finish his degree in Economics, which he is expected to receive this spring.
