Post reporter competes in open tryout for arena footballs New York Dragons fulfilling a dream as he swaps pen for pads

Trying out for the New York Dragons had me breathing fire.Word has spread around Long Island that the arena football team, which called the venerated Nassau Coliseum home during the 2000s, is making a much-anticipated comeback in the 516 this June.As someone who grew up on the thrill of watching the black-and-red brawlers, I had to throw my hat — or rather, my helmet — in the ring with some of the best local talent Tuesday night during open tryouts for a chance to make the Entertainment Football Association (ENTFLA) squad.For the first time in ages, I was hitting blocking pads, firing out of my dormant O-line stance, doing quick-cut agility drills, running routes and, unfortunately, a 20-yard dash while trying to keep up with the skillful bunch vying to be one of 26 heading to camp.But hey, I wasn’t expecting anything easy.Head coach Gerald Filardi, a well-known LI football figure who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and currently coaches Half Hollow Hills West, holds a high standard.“We’ve got an eight-game regular season, but we’re going to play 10 games because we’re winning the championship,” he boldly told me of the coming inaugural season.“You’ve got to win in New York.

That’s what the fans want, and that’s what we’re playing for.”Fortunately, Filardi did some recruiting beyond one less-than-physically prime individual — being a third-string center at the JV level only gets you so far — and brought in many of his former players who have proven themselves as standout collegiate athletes.“It’s full circle coming back now,” said 24-year-old Kendall Clark, a former Stony Brook safety who played for Filardi on various teams since he was 10.“I didn’t expect to be here … but he gave me a call.I was on the fence, but I committed fully.”Brian Bun, 27, who played basketball at Green Mountain College in Vermont, knows Filardi professionally and was lured into coming out for defensive end.“I’ll be honest with you, I di...