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Marcus Nash will never forget his too-brief stay in the NFL. There's nothing like the sound and fury of a Sunday afternoon.

The fields and the crowds are smaller now. There's always a ceiling over his head. Sunday is rarely a game day.

However, Nash's success level has, uh, shot through the roof.

The Arena Football League playoffs start tonight and Nash, the former University of Tennessee star, is out to update his ring collection.

Nash's Dallas Desperados are home in American Airlines Arena for a 7:30 kickoff (TV: ESPN) against the New York Dragons.

About the rings. He won an SEC title ring at UT in 1997. Nash played little in the NFL, but in two of his three seasons, he received a Super Bowl ring, with Denver in 1998 and with Baltimore in 2000.

"If anything,'' he said this week in a phone interview from Dallas, "I'm a good-luck charm.''

He's been much more than that in the AFL. Since joining the indoor league in 2003, he's put up prolific receiving numbers in a league defined by prolific numbers.

This is his second season in Dallas, and he would like to end it in ArenaBowl XXII on July 27.

Nash has 109 catches for 1,318 yards and 33 touchdowns this year. His six TD catches in one game tied a franchise record.

His biggest year was 2004 in Las Vegas, when he was the AFL's Offensive Player of the Year.

Playing on a 50-yard field that fits into a basketball arena required some adjustment.

"The hits come a lot quicker and faster,'' Nash said. "You don't have that open space to get down.

"If somebody's not hitting you, you're hitting the wall. That's the biggest thing, learning how to fall into the wall and catch the ball at the same time, expecting to get hit.

"It's a lot tougher on your body than the NFL.''

Nash left UT in 1997 with 177 career catches that still trails only former teammate Joey Kent. In Nash's senior year - also Peyton Manning's - Nash caught 76 passes, including 13 touchdowns, both of which are still UT season records. His 1,170 receiving yards were eclipsed by Robert Meachem in 2006.

Nash was Denver's first-round draft pick the following year but lasted only one disappointing season. A broken jaw and salary-cap issues in Baltimore sent him into limbo after 2000.

After being away from the game awhile, he saw the AFL as an avenue back to the big time.

"Most everybody starts off here with the idea of getting some film and getting a look from the league,'' he said.

"The difference is a guy here may be a little too short, or there's a lot of tweeners.''

While he found sustained success in the indoor game he no longer has illusions of getting another chance in the NFL.

"You've got to be realistic,'' he said. "I'm 32 years old. My salary-cap number is pretty high.''

He's seen the AFL game evolve during his tenure. The demise of NFL Europe brought more talent and the end of two-way duty raised the overall level of play.

"It's a fun game,'' he said. "I hope people continue to put the money and love in it that it deserves.''

Several former UT players found a home in the AFL, notably quarterback Andy Kelly, who set several career passing records.

Kelly is on the Georgia Force roster but hasn't played. Lineman Cody Douglas is on Dallas' inactive list. Receiver Bret Smith is working out with the Desperados to learn the arena game.

Nash, meanwhile, is preparing for life after football. He lives in Las Vegas, where he spends the offseason as a personal trainer and bartender.

But he's not sure how far off life after football might be.

"I guess I'll play until I feel I can't beat these young cats any more,'' he said. "Then I'll bow out gracefully.

"For now, I guess I'm still doing all right.''

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.