COMMERCE CITY - Robert Taylor figured he'd be playing for Kansas City this season.

Instead, he'll line up as a linebacker for the Colorado Crush (0-1) tonight when it plays the Brigade (1-0) in an Arena Football League Central Division game at the Pepsi Center (7, no television).

Taylor, who played three seasons in the AFL with the Georgia Force and is a veteran of 60 games with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, was released by the Brigade during the final weekend of training camp.

He was signed by the Crush two days before the season opener against Grand Rapids and was in the starting lineup.

"That was the original plan (to play for Kansas City), but God has plans for everybody, so I guess it's a better fit here in Colorado, actually," Taylor said. "It was all about the money. They couldn't fit me under the salary cap."

Crush coach Mike Dailey had to release three productive players - Willis Marshall, Ahmad Hawkins and Andy McCullough - to get under the AFL's $1.9 million salary cap, but those moves created enough spare change to sign Taylor.

"We were able to sign him and get him for significantly less than maybe his value would have been in a free-agent situation," Dailey said. "He's been a good addition. He made some good plays in the opener. He's a very smart player."

Taylor made two tackles, knocked down a pass in the end zone and had Colorado's only carry - he gained 1 yard - in the 44-42 loss to Grand Rapids.

"I guess coach had a little faith in me," Taylor said. "My style of play fits his style of coaching. He likes aggressive play and constantly banging, and that's what I have to do."

Taylor is part of NFL history. During a 2002 game as the Cowboys' starting fullback against Seattle, Thomas opened a hole that helped Emmitt Smith gain 11 yards to become the NFL's all-time leading rusher.

"When he (Smith) came into the league, I was in my sophomore year in high school and I never thought I'd be the starting fullback to help him break the record," Taylor said. "Because of his skills, I got a chance to put the icing on the cake."

Tonight, the Crush will try to give Dailey his 100th career AFL coaching victory, against a Brigade team that started with a win against champion Chicago.

"Coach's favorite saying - and I love it to death - is that when you get in a hole, the only way to get out of the hole is stop digging," Taylor said. "That's our whole objective this weekend, to stop digging."

bentonj@RockyMountainNews.com