League leaders meet for second week in a row
April 18, 2006 - National Football League Europa (NFLE) News Release
FOR the second week in a row, the top two teams in the standings will go head to head - but this time it is the Amsterdam Admirals (4-1) who will occupy first place when they visit the Rhein Fire (4-1) on Saturday evening.
The Admirals - fresh from an enthralling 35-31 victory over the Fire last weekend - are plotting a course to return to World Bowl and the Fire showed enough last week to suggest they could make a run at the title game being played in their own LTU arena on Saturday May 27.
But there is little room for error as the top two are being chased by the Frankfurt Galaxy (3-2) and the Berlin Thunder (2-2-1). One of those clubs will take another positive step towards catching the top two when they meet in Frankfurt on Saturday night.
On Sunday, the winless Hamburg Sea Devils (0-4-1) will visit a Cologne Centurions (1-4) team that has lost four in a row since winning on opening night. Both clubs know they need a victory to keep their World Bowl dreams alive.
WEEK SIX SCHEDULE
SATURDAY APRIL 22
Amsterdam Admirals at Rhein Fire
LTU arena, Düsseldorf, 7:00 p.m.
Berlin Thunder at Frankfurt Galaxy
Commerzbank Arena, Frankfurt, 7:00 p.m.
SUNDAY APRIL 23
Hamburg Sea Devils at Cologne Centurions
RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, 4:00 p.m.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK - WEEK 5
OFFENSIVE - GIBRAN HAMDAN - QB, Amsterdam
Completed 15 of 22 passes for 244 yards, 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions; QB rating of 144.7
DEFENSIVE - DERRICK STRONG - DE, Rhein
4 tackles (1 for loss), 3 sacks for 18 yards
SPECIAL TEAMS - NORIAKI KINOSHITA - WR, Amsterdam
4 kickoff returns for 126 yards with long of 52
NATIONAL - ALEJANDRO GAMEZ - WR, Berlin
3 receptions for 74 yards and 1 touchdown
NEWS AND NOTES NFL Europe 2006, Week 6 - Page 2
COVER STORY (continued)
The second half of the 2006 season gets underway with a re-match between the top two teams in the league. The Admirals and Fire played out a thriller in the Netherlands last weekend that left both head coaches in a positive mood.
Amsterdam's BART ANDRUS says: "That was a heck of a ball game. You should all feel happy to have seen it. That was well played throughout, was an exciting game with a couple of lead changes and featured two good teams working very hard. I think the difference in the game was that we played pretty well defensively in the second half and continued to score some points.
"We knew going in that this was a big game - as big as any there is in this league - and we had the motto, âBig game, big fun.' We tried to play as big as we could."
Fire head coach JIM TOMSULA remained upbeat following his first loss in charge of Rhein, insisting: "The character and fibre of the Rhein Fire is strong. You can walk away feeling good when you know you have competed at a very high level. I'm expecting this upcoming game to be a hard-fought battle."
The Frankfurt Galaxy will head home - where they are 2-0 this season - to face the Berlin Thunder having picked up a crucial road win in Hamburg last weekend.
Galaxy head coach MIKE JONES says: "Any time you win on the road it is huge. It was a big win for us, but we have to continue to move forward and look ahead. I'm happy that we came through."
Having guided his team to a Monday night victory over Cologne, Thunder head coach RICK LANTZ now has to prepare his club for a second game in six days as they head to Frankfurt.
He says: "Most of us have not had the opportunity to win two games inside of one week, but this week we do. It is going to be a very short week for us and it will be a big challenge, but we will try to appreciate our win over Cologne for a little bit before turning our attention to Frankfurt."
After five weeks, JACK BICKNELL has yet to see his battling Sea Devils enjoy the taste of victory. But that start has not seen Bicknell screaming at his players, as he reveals: "I don't have anybody in my dog house because they are working their butts off. In a way I wish they weren't playing hard or weren't practising the right way or were being a pain in the neck, because then I would have someone to holler at."
After seeing his team lose for the fourth week in a row, Centurions head coach DAVID DUGGAN is calling on his players to make a stand, saying: "When you have a little adversity, it is a true test of yourself as to how you handle it. You have to face it head on and come back with a positive attitude."
You again? Fire and Admirals meet for second time in a week
THE bumps and bruises, the thrill of victory and the pain of defeat will still be fresh on the bodies and in the minds of the Amsterdam Admirals and Rhein Fire players when they meet for the second weekend in a row on Saturday night.
Just seven days after serving up a thriller in the Netherlands - which the Admirals won by a 35-31 scoreline - the top two teams in the standings will go head to head in a bid to stay clear of the chasing pack.
And having won last weekend, the Admirals will be keen to complete a sweep of the back-to-back series - a feat that has not been as hard to achieve as it might first appear.
Throughout NFL Europe League history, there have been 18 weekends when teams have met in back-to-back contests. Of those 18 series, the team winning the first game has gone on to win the second meeting on 12 occasions.
But the Fire should not be disheartened as they have already proven they can win a second meeting having lost to an opponent one week earlier. In Week 7 of the 2000 season, the Fire recorded a 28-27 win over the Berlin Thunder having lost 25-21 the previous week.
The Admirals have previously shown they have what it takes to sweep an opponent on consecutive weekends, downing the Scottish Claymores in Weeks 9 and 10 of the 1999 season and the England Monarchs in Weeks 5 and 6 of the 1998 campaign.
Admirals head coach BART ANDRUS feels comfortable facing the Fire again this weekend, saying: ""The preparation is actually easier because we are going against the same personnel, scheme and philosophy, and we only have one game to break down and that is our own game."
Fire head coach JIM TOMSULA feels his players will be keen to exact revenge on the Admirals on Saturday night, adding: "The advantage of playing a team back to back is that the outcome is still fresh on our minds. We are able to go and tweak the areas we didn't feel comfortable with and build on the areas we were satisfied with."
NFLEL FACTS: Happy Returns
Saturday's meeting between the Amsterdam Admirals and Rhein Fire produced several big returns. Rhein's BRANDON MIDDLETON gained 57 yards on a kickoff return, while teammate FREDRICK JACKSON ripped off a 56-yard punt return. Amsterdam's NORIAKI KINOSHITA added a 52-yard kickoff return.
NEWS AND NOTES NFL Europe 2006, Week 6 - Page 3
Admirals lead World Bowl race at 2006 season's halfway mark
FOLLOWING their 35-31 defeat of the Rhein Fire on Saturday afternoon, the Amsterdam Admirals are on top of the NFL Europe League standings after five weeks.
Being in such a position usually bodes well for a team. In the previous 13 seasons, the club leading in the standings at the halfway mark has gone on to reach the World Bow on 12 occasions.
Only the 2003 Barcelona Dragons topped the standings after Week Five and failed to reach the championship game, falling away to finish the year with a 5-5 mark.
Here is a look at how those clubs leading the standings after five weeks of play have fared:
Season Leader after Wk 5 Fared
2005 Berlin (4-1) 7-3, Lost World Bowl
2004 Berlin (5-0) 9-1, Won World Bowl
2003 Barcelona (4-1) 5-5, Missed World Bowl
2002 Rhein (4-1) 7-3, Lost World Bowl
2001 Barcelona (4-1) 8-2, Lost World Bowl
2000 Rhein (4-1) 7-3, Won World Bowl
1999 Barcelona (4-1) 7-3, Lost World Bowl
1998 Rhein (5-0) 7-3, Won World Bowl
1997 Barcelona (4-1) * 5-5, Won World Bowl
1996 Scotland (4-1) * 7-3, Won World Bowl
1995 Amsterdam (5-0) * 9-1, Lost World Bowl
1992 Orlando (4-1) + 8-2, Lost World Bowl
1991 London (5-0) # 9-1, Won World Bowl
# European Division Leaders
+ North American East Division Leaders
* Qualified for World Bowl as first half champions
Despite seeing his team on course to make a repeat appearance in the championship game, Admirals head coach BART ANDRUS says: "Nothing is a lock in this league so we are just trying to be 1-0 every week and keep our players healthy so we can finish the season with the same guys we have now.
"We just want to score one more point than our opponent in our remaining games. That's what we're about. We won't go into every game planning to score 35 or 38 points."
In much the same way as the table-topping Admirals are not ready to rest on their laurels, the winless Hamburg Sea Devils are not about to fold up the tent and start thinking of life back in the United States.
Head coach JACK BICKNELL insists: "We are playing hard and I have a great amount of respect for my players. Things have not gone our way and I think a win would solve a lot of things and might get us on a run. All we need is a bit of confidence and it might make us a lot better team."
Boyd's record day puts him on pace to set QB rushing mark
ALTHOUGH the Cologne Centurions have endured a difficult first half of the 2006 season, quarterback SHANE BOYD (Pittsburgh Steelers) has proven tough to handle for opposing defenses.
During Monday night's loss in Berlin, Boyd set a new league record for rushing yards by a quarterback, picking up 98 yards on 8 scrambles.
Boyd broke the previous single game mark of 85 yards (on 7 carries) set by Berlin's Andre Ware in a contest against the Barcelona Dragons on May 1, 1999.
At the halfway mark of the 2006 campaign, Boyd has rushed for 178 yards and needs 157 to break the single season rushing record by a QB of 334 yards held by Jon Kitna (Barcelona Dragons, 1997)
Top QB rushers in NFLEL history (single-season)
334 yards Jon Kitna Barcelona 1997
287 yards Jarious Jackson Barcelona 2001
286 yards Seth Burford Barcelona 2003
276 yards Dameyune Craig Scotland 1999
269 yards Reggie Slack NY/NJ 1992
Speaking of his quarterback's rushing skills, Centurions head coach DAVID DUGGAN says: "It is ad-libbed and that was one of the reasons we made a decision to go with Shane as the starter.
"He has the ability to make big plays - he has a very strong arm and a very quick release, but he is also very dangerous with his running ability. His rushing against Berlin was not planned - he is a very big, strong, physical guy and that was just a case of him making plays."
McCready into second place
BY catching an 8-yard pass during the Hamburg Sea Devils 17-13 loss at the hands of the Frankfurt Galaxy, English wide receiver SCOTT McCREADY took sole possession of second place on NFL Europe's all time receiving yards list.
McCready - who is in his fifth NFLEL season - broke a tie with former Barcelona Dragons tight end Demetrius Davis and now ranks second in receptions and yards, having caught 159 passes for 1,763 yards.
With five games of the 2006 season remaining, McCready trails NFL Europe's all-time leader - Mario Bailey (Frankfurt Galaxy 1995-2000) - by 93 receptions and 2,042 receiving yards.
During his stellar six-season career in NFL Europe, Bailey caught a record 252 passes for 3,805 yards and 35 touchdowns.
NEWS AND NOTES NFL Europe 2006, Week 6 - Page 4
National pride on display
NATIONAL players stepped up and made several big plays during the Berlin Thunder's 24-13 defeat of the Cologne Centurions on Monday night.
Mexican wide receiver ALEJANDRO GAMEZ caught 3 passes for 74 yards and scored on a 49-yard reception, German defensive end CHRISTIAN MOHR recorded 2 sacks among 3 tackles and English defensive lineman DANNY WATTS blocked an extra point.
Thunder head coach RICK LANTZ said: "The nationals are doing a great job for us and I am really excited about them. They are integral part of what we do and how we build our team. I loved Alejandro's touchdown. We needed it and it was an exceptional play. We put our nationals in pressure situations and they have played a lot of snaps this season."
Berlin quarterback LANG CAMPBELL added: "The national players played big and it just shows that even though they haven't gone through the college ranks, they are good players."
It is not just in Berlin where national players are making their mark. Here is a look at some of the national player newsmakers at the season's halfway mark.
Japanese WR NORIAKI KINOSHITA ranks second in NFL Europe with a 27.5 kickoff return average (11 returns for 303 yards) and has also caught 6 passes for 123 yards with a long of 48.
Swedish LB CARL-JOHAN BJÃRK ranks third on Amsterdam's defense with 28 tackles and 1 pass defended.
French LB PHILIPPE GARDENT leads the Cologne Centurions defense with 33 tackles and has added 1 sack and 1 interception.
English WR SCOTT McCREADY leads the Hamburg Sea Devils with 18 receptions this season and has moved into second place on the all-time receptions and receiving yards charts.
German S RICHARD YANCY ranks second on the Rhein Fire defense with 20 tackles, 4 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles and 1 interception.
NFL Director of International Player and Football Development TONY ALLEN, who is responsible for national player development, says: "I'm delighted with the performances of the national players and their consistency over the first half of the season.
"To see them making a contribution week in and week out is very rewarding. These players have only done what they have done through their persistence to pursue a dream and play at this level and make plays alongside players of the pedigree playing in NFL Europe this season."
Admirals on pace to re-write NFL Europe League record book
THE Amsterdam Admirals have blazed an offensive trail through the opening half of the 2006 season and are on pace to smash several long-standing NFL Europe League records.
At their current pace, the Admirals will end the season having scored 320 points - that would shatter the single-season record of 310 set by the 1991 London Monarchs.
While that record would be indicative of Amsterdam's success as a team, the Dutch club also boasts several outstanding individuals on pace to enter the record books this season.
Here is a closer look at Amsterdam's leading offensive lights this season.
QB GIBRAN HAMDAN (Seattle Seahawks) leads NFL Europe with a passer rating of 114.7 having thrown for 1,104 yards and 10 touchdowns. If he were to maintain his current rating, Hamdan would break the single-season record of 107.3 set by Kevin Daft (Scotland 2000).
WR SKYLER FULTON (Seattle Seahawks) leads NFL Europe with 24 receptions for 570 yards. He is on pace to record 1,140 receiving yards in 2006 and that would break the single-season record of 1,023 set by Sean LaChapelle (Scotland 1996). Fulton also has four 100-yard receiving games this season and needs one more to tie the single-season record of five held by Eddie Brown (Sacramento 1992), Bobby Olive (Frankfurt 1995) and Jeremaine Copeland (Barcelona 2000).
WR CHAD LUCAS (Green Bay Packers) has scored 7 receiving touchdowns from his 14 receptions this season. If he maintains that pace, he would tie the record for most touchdowns in a season (14, Lawrence Phillips, Barcelona 1999) and break the single-season mark of 12 receiving touchdowns held by Eddie Brown (Sacramento 1992), Kevin Drake (Rhein 2000) and Ruvell Martin (Amsterdam 2005).
The Admirals are also on pace to throw 28 touchdown passes this season. That figure would place them second in the all-time single-season rankings, behind the 2000 Rhein Fire (29).
NFLEL FACTS: Fast Starters
The Rhein Fire entered last weekend's game against the Amsterdam Admirals on pace to concede the fewest points in a single season in NFL Europe League history. Through 240 minutes of football, the Fire's top-ranked defense had conceded just 4 touchdowns and a total of 37 points. Despite those impressive credentials, it took Amsterdam just 2:36 and a total of 4 offensive plays to put 14 points on the board through touchdowns from WR SKYLER FULTON and RB LARRY CROOM.
TEAM BY TEAM CAPSULES NFL Europe 2006, Week 6 - Page 5
AMSTERDAM ADMIRALS (4-1)Head Coach: Bart Andrus (27-28 in NFLEL,Plus 1-0 in World Bowl)Colours: Orange and blue
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: John Allen (3rd season)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Richard Kent/Rex Norris (1st season)
ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORD: 61-54
MEDIA CONTACT: Perry Hendriks
Phone: 31-20-465-0550
Fax: 31-20-465-0555
E-mail: hendriksp@admirals.nl
Internet: www.admirals.nl
LAST GAME: Won 35-31 vs Rhein (4/15/06)
OFFENSE: 32 pts/game; 361.8 yds/game (rank 1); 102.2 yds rush/game (rank 5); 259.6 yds pass/game (rank 1)
Passing: Gibran Hamdan, 1,104 yds
Rushing: Larry Croom, 236 yds
Receiving: Skyler Fulton, 24 rec, 570 yds
DEFENSE: 26 pts/game; 327 yds/game (rank 4); 125.6 rush yds/game (rank 4); 201.4 pass yds/game (rank 4)
Sacks: Claude Harriott, Tony Brown, Earl Cochran, 2.0
Interceptions: Tony Brown, Carl-Johan Björk, Corey Peoples 1
- THIS WEEK: at RHEIN FIRE -
Head coach BART ANDRUS saw a playmaking defense accompany a free-scoring offense last weekend, saying: "We have struggled on defense at times and this was a little bit of a coming out party for them. They were put in some tough situations and came through."... QB GIBRAN HAMDAN (Seattle Seahawks) leads NFL Europe in passing yards and passing TDs (see table) and in passer rating (114.7). Last week he threw 3 touchdowns in a game for the second time this season... QB REGGIE ROBERTSON (Oakland Raiders) completed 6 of 10 passes for 63 yards and 1 touchdown last week. Has thrown for 164 yards and 2 touchdowns on the season... RB LARRY CROOM (San Diego Chargers) leads the team in rushing yards (see table)... RB DIAMOND FERRI (Atlanta Falcons) rushed for 19 yards on 8 carries last week and has 220 on 53 attempts this season. Returned 2 kicks for 35 yards last week... WR CRAIG BRAGG (Chicago Bears) caught 2 passes for 24 yards last week and has 10 catches this season... WR SKYLER FULTON (Seattle Seahawks) leads NFL Europe in receiving yards (see table) and has topped 100 receiving yards in four of five games played this season. Needs just one more 100-yard receiving day to tie the league record of 5 in a season... WR CHAD LUCAS (Green Bay Packers) caught 3 passes for 60 yards and a score last week. Now has 14 catches for 265 yards on the season, including 7 touchdowns, all of them scored in the last three games... Japanese WR NORIAKI KINOSHITA was named Special Teams Player of the Week after returning 4 kickoffs for 126 yards with a long of 52 yards last weekend. Also caught 1 pass for 23 yards, giving him 6 receptions for 123 yards this season. Ranks second in NFLEL with an average of 27.5 on his 11 kickoff returns... TE TORY HUMPHREY (Green Bay Packers) caught 3 passes for 41 yards and 1 touchdown last week. Has 10 receptions for 104 yards this season... DE EARL COCHRAN notched 8 tackles and 1
sack last week. Has 25 tackles and 2 sacks in 2006... DE CLAUDE HARRIOTT jointly leads the Admirals with 2 sacks... DT MARCUS JASMIN (Detroit Lions) posted 2 tackles last week... DT JEREMY CAUDILL recorded 2 tackles against the Fire last weekend and also forced a fumble... DT TONY BROWN (Carolina Panthers) registered 8 tackles and recovered a fumble last week. Has enjoyed a productive first half of the 2006 season, recording 18 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 interception, 3 passes defended and 1 blocked field goal... LB DERRICK BALLARD (Atlanta Falcons) recorded 4 tackles and 1 sack last week, giving him 22 and 1 sack in 2006... Swedish LB CARL-JOHAN BJÃRK had 5 tackles last week and ranks third on team with 28 tackles... LB JEREMY CAIN (Chicago Bears) recorded 5 tackles and knocked down a pass last week... CB JUSTIN PERKINS (Kansas City Chiefs) recorded 4 tackles last week and has 22 stops halfway through the 2006 campaign... S ATARI BIGBY (Green Bay Packers) ranks second on team with 31 tackles after posting 8 last week. Has 15 tackles in his last two games... S COREY PEOPLES (Philadelphia Eagles) produced a game-clinching interception last week and recorded 6 tackles, taking his season tally to a team-high 32... K RYAN KILLEEN (Seattle Seahawks) missed a 44-yard FG last week and ranks second among NFLEL kickers with 32 points (4/6 FG, 20/20 PAT))... P GLENN PAKULAK (Oakland Raiders) punted 6 times for 265 yards (44.2 average) last week and placed 3 kicks inside the Fire 20-yard line. Leads NFL Europe with a 41.9 average on 16 punts.
QB GIBRAN HAMDAN (Seattle Seahawks), GAME-BY-GAME
Att Comp Yds TD Int
Wk 1: vs Ber 25 14 246 1 2
Wk 2: at Col 22 9 209 1 1
Wk 3: vs Fra 15 12 189 3 0
Wk 4: at Ber 22 13 216 2 0
Wk 5: vs Rhe 22 15 244 3 0
TOTAL 106 63 1104* 10* 3
RB LARRY CROOM (San Diego Chargers), GAME-BY-GAME
Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: vs Ber 9 34 1 1 5 0
Wk 2: at Col 15 82 0 0 0 0
Wk 3: vs Fra 13 17 0 0 0 0
Wk 4: at Ber 11 80 0 2 6 0
Wk 5: vs Rhe 8 23 1 3 23 0
TOTAL 46 236 2 5 34 0
WR SKYLER FULTON (Seattle Seahawks), GAME-BY-GAME
Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: vs Ber 6 131 1
Wk 2: at Col 5 105 1
Wk 3: vs Fra 4 144 2
Wk 4: at Ber 3 77 0
Wk 5: vs Rhe 6 113 2
TOTAL 24 570* 6
* Leads NFLEL
TEAM BY TEAM CAPSULES NFL Europe 2006, Week 6 - Page 6
BERLIN THUNDER (2-2-1)Head Coach: Rick Lantz (18-6-1 in NFLEL, plus 1-1 in World Bowl)Colours: Black, green and gold
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Don Eck (3rd season)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Charles âYogi' Jones (1st season)
ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORD: 40-34-1
MEDIA CONTACT: Maik Matischak
Phone: 49-30-300-644-00
Fax: 49-30-300-644-77
E-mail: maik.matischak@berlin-thunder.de
Internet: www.berlin-thunder.de
LAST GAME: Won 24-13 vs Berlin (4/17/06)
OFFENSE: 21 pts/game; 310.8 yds/game (rank 3); 112.8 rush yds/game (rank 4); 198 pass yds/game (rank 2)
Passing: Lang Campbell, 743 yds
Rushing: Marty Johnson, 317 yds
Receiving: Lance Moore, 12 rec, 207 yds
DEFENSE: 23.8 pts/game; 344.2 yds/game (rank 5); 119.6 rush yds/game (rank 2); 224.6 pass yds/game (rank 6)
Sacks: Christian Mohr, 2.5
Interceptions: Anthony Floyd, Robert Redd, 2
- THIS WEEK: at FRANKFURT GALAXY -
Head coach RICK LANTZ takes his team to Frankfurt for a game that could see them take third place in the standings... QB LANG CAMPBELL (Cleveland Browns) has started every game for Berlin and ranks fourth in NFLEL with a 74.5 passer rating... QB B.J. SYMONS (Chicago Bears) has thrown for 148 yards and 2 touchdowns this term... QB BRIAN WROBEL (Green Bay Packers) completed 3 of 4 passes for 47 yards last week... RB LITTLE JOHN FLOWERS returned to action last week after missing one game injured (see table). Rushed for 100 yards and 3 TDs on 29 carries in two games against Frankfurt last season... RB MARTY JOHNSON leads the Thunder in rushing yards (see table)... WR LANCE MOORE (New Orleans Saints) still leads the team in receptions after missing the last two games with a thumb injury... RB DEREK FARMER (San Diego Chargers) rushed 12 times for 54 yards and his first TD of the season last week. He also caught 2 passes for 8 yards... FB JONATHAN EVANS (San Diego Chargers) caught 3 passes for 7 yards last week and has 9 catches this season... WR RICH MUSINSKI (New England Patriots) caught 1 pass for 9 yards last week and has 11 receptions on the season... WR C.J. JONES caught 1 passes for 11 yards last week... Mexican WR ALEJANDRO GAMEZ doubled his tally of catches for the season last week when he caught 3 passes for 74 yards, including a 49-yard TD, earning National Player of the Week honors... TE JASON RANDALL (Atlanta Falcons) caught 1 pass for 28 yards last week... German DE CHRISTIAN MOHR leads the team with 2.5 sacks after posting 2 last week in his total of 3 tackles. Has 19 stops this season... LB ANDRE TORREY (Houston Texans) ranks second on the team with 31 tackles after posting 7 last week... LB JERMAINE TAYLOR (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) leads the team with 37 tackles after adding 5 to his total last week... LB QUENTIN SWAIN posted 7 tackles last week and has 28
this season... CB ROBERT REDD (Atlanta Falcons) had his second interception of the season last week. Ranks second in NFLEL with an 8.9-yard punt return average and leads the league with a 28.2-yard kickoff return average after running back one kick for 62 yards last week.... CB ANTWAUN ROGERS (Denver Broncos) recorded 6 tackles last week... S ANTHONY FLOYD (Houston Texans) registered 3 tackles, 2 pass defenses and his second interception of the year last week... S JAMAAL BRIMMER (New York Giants) posted 2 tackles last week... LB KEVIN HARRISON posted 6 tackles last week... K XAVIER BEITIA (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) has 27 points this season after making his only FG last week and 3 of 3 PATs... P BRIAN SIMNJANOWSKI (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) ranks fourth in the NFLEL with a 37.9-yard average
QB LANG CAMPBELL (Cleveland Browns), GAME-BY-GAME
Att Comp Yds TD Int
Wk 1: at Ams 26 16 139 1 0
Wk 2: vs Rhe 26 14 156 0 2
Wk 3: at Ham 27 13 219 1 1
Wk 4: vs Ams 16 11 117 0 1
Wk 5: vs Col 18 11 112 2 0
TOTAL 113 65 743 4 4
RB LITTLE JOHN FLOWERS, GAME-BY-GAME
Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: at Ams 17 60 1 1` 13 0
Wk 2: vs Rhe 5 13 0 2 6 0
Wk 3: at Ham 12 28 0 3 69 0
Wk 4: vs Ams DNP
Wk 5: vs Col 11 37 0 0 0 0
TOTAL 45 138 1 6 88 0
RB MARTY JOHNSON, GAME-BY-GAME
Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: at Ams 15 58 0 1 1 0
Wk 2: vs Rhe 9 38 0 1 -1 0
Wk 3: at Ham 9 42 0 2 15 0
Wk 4: vs Ams 25 130 2 2 18 1
Wk 5: vs Col 7 49 0 3 22 0
TOTAL 65 317 2 9 55 1
WR LANCE MOORE (New Orleans Saints), GAME-BY-GAME
Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: at Ams 5 44 1
Wk 2: vs Rhe 6 95 0
Wk 3: at Ham 1 68 0
Wk 4: vs Ams DNP
Wk 5: vs Col DNP
TOTAL 12 207 1
TEAM BY TEAM CAPSULES NFL Europe 2006, Week 6 - Page 7
COLOGNE CENTURIONS (1-4)Head Coach: David Duggan (1-4 in NFLEL)Colours: Black, red and white
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Scott Milanovich (1st season)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: John Lyons (1st season)
ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORD: 11-14
MEDIA CONTACT: Karsten Meier
Phone: 49-221-271-430
Fax: 49-221-271-43299
E-mail: Karsten.meier@cologne-centurions.de
Internet: www.cologne-centurions.de
LAST GAME: Lost 14-23 at Berlin (4/17/06)
OFFENSE: 13.2 pts/game; 308.8 yds/game (rank 4); 148.4 rush yds/game (rank 2); 160.4 pass yds/game (rank 5)
Passing: Shane Boyd, 638 yds
Rushing: Fred Russell, 283 yds
Receiving: Jamall Broussard, 18 rec, 187 yds
DEFENSE: 19 pts/game; 295.4 yds/game (rank 3); 138 rush yds/game (rank 5); 157.4 pass yds/game (rank 1)
Sacks: Three players, 1.0
Interceptions: Thomas Houchin, David Bergeron, 2
- THIS WEEK: vs HAMBURG SEA DEVILS-
Centurions head coach DAVID DUGGAN has seen his team lose four straight but says: "Our players remain positive and the only thing that we have asked of them is to make sure they come with a positive attitude and get ready to win a football game next week."... QB KLIFF KINGSBURY (New York Jets) has started three games this season but has yet to complete more than 9 passes in a game (see table)... QB SHANE BOYD (Pittsburgh Steelers) has started the last two games (see table). He set an NFLEL record last week by rushing for 98 yards on 8 carries, a single-game record for a quarterback. Has 178 rushing yards this season... RB FRED RUSSELL (St. Louis Rams) scored his first two TDs of the season last week (see table)... WR JAMALL BROUSSARD (Cincinnati Bengals) leads the team in receptions (see table)... WR REGGIE NEWHOUSE caught 2 passes for 26 yards last week and has 11 catches this season... WR BRIAN BRATTON (Baltimore Ravens) caught 3 passes for 21 yards last week and has 14 this season... German TE WERNER HIPPLER has played in a league record 91 games but missed last week's game injured. Has a career record of 91 catches for 935 yards and 3 touchdowns... TE TRENT SMITH (San Francisco 49ers) caught 2 passes for 18 yards last week... WR MICHAEL GASPERSON (Philadelphia Eagles) led the team with 4 catches for 52 yards last week... Japanese WR MICHIHIRO OGAWA caught 3 passes for 23 yards last week after catching only 1 pass in first four games... DE DARRELL WRIGHT recorded 3 tackles last week... DT BRYAN SAVE posted 3 tackles last week and has 14 and 1 sack on the year... DT ARRION DIXON (Kansas City Chiefs) posted 4 tackles last week for 18 this season... LB DAVID BERGERON (Carolina
Panthers) posted 7 tackles last weekend, giving him 28 to rank second on the team this season. Also had a fumble recovery... French LB PHILIPPE GARDENT leads the Centurions with 33 tackles after adding 5 stops last week... LB JOSH DEAN (Chicago Bears) led the team with 7 tackles last week... CB LANCE FRAZIER (Seattle Seahawks) recorded 4 tackles last week and has 19 stops this season... DE OTIS GRIGSBY (Carolina Panthers) posted 6 tackles last week... S RAYMOND VENTRONE (New England Patriots) recorded 6 tackles last week - plus 2 special teams stops - and has totalled 24 tackles this season... S KEVIN CURTIS (Houston Texans) has 21 tackles this season... K TIM DUNCAN (Oakland Raiders) has 16 points this season after converting 1 PAT and having one blocked last week... P GABE LINDSTROM (Seattle Seahawks) ranks second in the NFLEL with a 40.9-yard average.
QB KLIFF KINGSBURY (New York Jets), GAME-BY-GAME
Att Comp Yds TD Int
Wk 1: at Ham 16 9 75 1 1
Wk 2: vs Ams 12 6 70 0 0
Wk 3: vs Rhein 5 2 9 0 0
Wk 4: at Fra 9 5 31 0 0
Wk 5: at Ber 5 2 16 0 0
TOTAL 47 24 201 1 1
QB SHANE BOYD (Pittsburgh Steelers), GAME-BY-GAME
Att Comp Yds TD Int
Wk 1: at Ham 9 5 29 0 1
Wk 2: vs Ams 15 9 142 0 0
Wk 3: vs Rhein 23 14 163 1 1
Wk 4: at Fra 18 12 141 1 2
Wk 5: at Ber 37 18 163 0 2
TOTAL 102 58 638 2 6
RB FRED RUSSELL (St. Louis Rams), GAME-BY-GAME
Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: at Ham 22 85 0 2 6 0
Wk 2: vs Ams 19 69 0 2 43 0
WK 3: vs Rhein 12 35 0 1 5 0
Wk 4: at Fra 13 62 0 5 29 0
Wk 5: at Ber 11 32 2 3 17 0
TOTAL 77 283 0 13 100 0
WR JAMALL BROUSSARD (Cincinnati Bengals), GAME-BY-GAME
Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: at Ham 4 31 0
Wk 2: vs Ams 6 89 0
Wk 3: vs Rhein 3 12 0
Wk 4: at Fra 3 40 0
Wk 5: at Ber 2 15 0
TOTAL 15 147 0
TEAM BY TEAM CAPSULES NFL Europe 2006, Week 6 - Page 8
FRANKFURT GALAXY (3-2)Head Coach: Mike Jones (13-12) in NFLEL, plus 0-1 in World Bowl.Colours: Purple, orange, red and white
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Whitey Jordan (2nd season)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Ed O'Neil (3rd season)
ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORD: 71-64
MEDIA CONTACT: Joachim Haas
Phone: 49-69-978-2790
Fax: 49-69-978-279099
E-mail: joachim.haas@frankfurt-galaxy.
Internet: www.frankfurt-galaxy.de
LAST GAME: Won 17-13 at Hamburg (4/15/06)
OFFENSE: 19 pts/game; 329.4 yds/game (rank 2); 151.6 rush yds/game (rank 1); 177.8 pass yds/game (rank 4)
Passing: Jeff Otis, 433 yds
Rushing: Roger Robinson, 476 yds
Receiving: Aaron Hosack, 21 rec, 280 yds
DEFENSE: 17.8 pts/game; 294.6 yds/game (rank 2); 121.2 rush yds/game (rank 3); 173.4 pass yds/game (rank 3)
Sacks: Matt Sinclair, Jerome Nichols, 3.0
Interceptions: Lenny Williams, 2
- THIS WEEK: vs BERLIN THUNDER -
Head coach MIKE JONES was in high spirits following last week's victory in Hamburg, saying: "We showed up on special teams and our defense played well. Although our offense struggled a little bit, we found a way to win - so it's all positive."... QB JEFF OTIS (Arizona Cardinals) ranks third in NFL Europe with an 81.6 passer rating (see table) but he has failed to complete more than 4 passes in three of five games this season... QB CRAIG OCHS (Buffalo Bills) has a 104.6 passer rating in 2006, having completed 29 of 45 passes for 387 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception... RB ROGER ROBINSON (Arizona Cardinals) leads NFL Europe in rushing yards (see table), despite missing last week's win with a concussion... RB J.R. NIKLOS rushed 15 times for 74 yards and 1 TD last week, giving him 36 carries for 134 yards this season... Free agent RB BUTCHIE WALLACE made his Galaxy debut last week and rushed for 65 yards on 21 carries... WR AARON HOSACK (Minnesota Vikings) leads the Galaxy in receptions and receiving yards (see table) and ranks second in NFLEL in both categories. Topped 100 receiving yards for first time this season... WR ADAM HERZING (Pittsburgh Steelers) caught 3 passes for 72 yards last week and added 5 punt returns for 28 yards and 2 kickoff returns for 53 yards. Leads NFLEL with average of 10.1 yards per punt return (12 for 121)... WR WALTER YOUNG (Pittsburgh Steelers) jointly leads Frankfurt in receptions (see table). Was held without a catch for first time this season in Hamburg... Mexican WR JUAN WONG has 3 catches for 77 yards and a TD after adding 1 for 11 yards last week... TE KEITH WILLIS (Seattle Seahawks) has 4 catches for 80 yards this season... TE SEAN McHUGH (Detroit Lions) has 4 receptions for 19 yards this year... DE JUSTIN BROWN (Indianapolis Colts) recorded 3 tackles and knocked down 2 passes last weekend and has made 15 stops and 1 sack this season... DE JOSH COOPER notched 1 tackle last week and has 10 on the year... German DT DANIEL BENETKA recorded 4 tackles last week, taking his season total to 6... DT JEROME NICHOLS (Green Bay Packers)
has registered 14 tackles and 3 sacks this season after adding 5 stops and 1 sack to his tally last week... LB MATT SINCLAIR (Miami Dolphins) jointly leads the Galaxy with 3 sacks. Ranks second on Frankfurt's defense with 23 tackles after adding 4 last week... LB JARED NEWBERRY (Tennessee Titans) posted 4 tackles last week and has 20 for the season... LB TRAVIS HARRIS leads the Galaxy with 35 tackles after adding a team-high 11 last week. Has also knocked down 1 pass and forced 1 fumble this season... CB LENNY WILLIAMS (Dallas Cowboys) recorded 2 tackles and returned 2 kickoffs for 40 yards last week. Leads the Galaxy with 2 interceptions... CB BILL ALFORD ranks third on the Galaxy defense with 20 tackles after adding 2 against Hamburg... S BRANDON HAW recorded 2 stops last week and has 14 on the season, along with 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery... S ROB LEE (Buffalo Bills) has 17 tackles this season after adding 1 last week... K DAVID KIMBALL (Oakland Raiders) kicked a 41-yard field goal and 2 extra points last week. Has converted 6 of 9 field goals and 11 of 11 PATs this season for 29 points, placing him third among NFLEL kickers.
QB JEFF OTIS (Arizona Cardinals), GAME-BY-GAME
Att Comp Yds TD Int
Wk 1: at Rhein 8 4 19 0 0
Wk 2: vs Ham 14 9 134 2 0
Wk 3: at Ams 29 18 188 1 0
Wk 4: vs Col 13 4 31 1 1
Wk 5: at Ham 10 3 61 0 0
TOTAL 74 38 433 4 1
RB ROGER ROBINSON (Arizona Cardinals), GAME-BY-GAME
Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: at Rhein 26 103 0 1 0 0
Wk 2: vs Ham 23 150 1 3 26 0
Wk 3: at Ams 14 95 1 2 4 0
Wk 4: vs Col 25 128 1 1 10 0
Wk 5: at Ham DNP
TOTAL 88* 476* 3* 7 40 0
WR WALTER YOUNG (Pittsburgh Stelers), GAME-BY-GAME
Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: at Rhein 1 4 0
Wk 2: vs Ham 7 79 1
Wk 3: at Ams 8 92 0
Wk 4: vs Col 5 70 2
Wk 5: at Ham 0 0 0
TOTAL 21 245 3
WR AARON HOSACK (Minnesota Vikings), GAME-BY-GAME
Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: at Rhein 1 10 0
Wk 2: vs Ham 5 70 1
Wk 3: at Ams 5 61 1
Wk 4: vs Col 3 37 0
Wk 5: at Ham 7 102 1
TOTAL 21 280 3
* Leads NFL Europe
TEAM BY TEAM CAPSULES NFL Europe 2006, Week 6 - Page 9
HAMBURG SEA DEVILS (0-4-1)Head Coach: Jack Bicknell (66-68-1 in NFLEL, 2-5 in post-season)Colours: Dark blue, teal, red
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Vince Martino (2nd season)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Dan Daniel (2nd season)
ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORD: 5-9-1
MEDIA CONTACT: Thomas Bothstede
Phone: 49-407-525-590
Fax: 49-407-525-5959
E-mail: pr@hamburg-seadevils.de
Internet: www.hamburg-seadevils.de
LAST GAME: Lost 13-17 vs Frankfurt (4/15/06)
OFFENSE: 15 pts/game; 246.2 yds/game (rank 6); 95.6 rush yds/game (rank 6); 150.6 pass yds/game (rank 6)
Passing: Brock Berlin, 516 yds
Rushing: Mike Jemison, 336 yds
Receiving: Scott McCready, Mike Jemison, 18 rec, Richard Smith, 178 yds
DEFENSE: 22 pts/game; 347 yds/game (rank 6); 140.4 rush yds/game (rank 6); 206.6 pass yds/game (rank 5)
Sacks: Six players, 1
Interceptions: Four players, 1
- THIS WEEK: vs FRANKFURT GALAXY -
Head coach JACK BICKNELL will not hear a bad word said about his winless players, saying: "When you haven't won in five games no one is very happy, but the effort they give on a daily basis is as high as you could expect. If this team won the next five games it would not surprise me. They are giving me everything they have."... QB BROCK BERLIN (Miami Dolphins) has started all five games this year (see table) and has a QB rating of 51.9. Has yet to throw for more than 129 yards in a single game... QB TODD MORTENSEN (New England Patriots) saw his first action of the season last week, hitting on 4 of 6 passes for 55 yards and 1 touchdown... RB MIKE JEMISON (Pittsburgh Steelers) leads the team in rushing and ranks second overall in NFL Europe (see table). Is still waiting to score his first NFLEL touchdown... RB JIMMY DIXON (Seattle Seahawks) has carried 16 times for 58 yards this season... English WR SCOTT McCREADY jointly leads the Sea Devils in receptions and ranks fifth in NFL Europe (see table). Ranks second all time in NFL Europe with 159 career receptions and 1,763 receiving yards... WR RICKY BRYANT has 5 receptions for 55 yards and 1 score on the year ... WR RICHARD SMITH (Washington Redskins) was held to 1 catch for 13 yards last week and has 13 receptions for 178 yards and 3 touchdowns on the season... WR NATE CURRY (Kansas City Chiefs) caught 3 passes for 50 yards and 1 touchdown last week and has 7 for 87 on the season... TE WESLEY DUKE (Denver Broncos) has 5 receptions for 51 yards and 1 TD this season... TE KORI DICKERSON (Detroit Lions) caught 2 passes for 26 yards last weekend and has 8 receptions for 56 yards on the year... DE SCOTT SCHARFF (San Francisco 49ers) has 10 tackles and 1 sack in 2006 after adding 1 sack among 3 tackles during Hamburg's loss to Frankfurt... DE IVORY McCOY recorded 1 tackle last week to take his season tally to 4... Veteran German DT BASTIAN LANO notched 1 tackle last week to give him 8 on the year...
DT KEYONTA MARSHALL (Philadelphia Eagles) posted 2 tackles last week and has 18 tackles and 1 sack this year... LB KRIS GRIFFIN (Kansas City Chiefs) ranks second on Hamburg's defense with 25 tackles after adding 6 last week... English LB ADEN DURDE made 4 tackles as a starter last week and has 16 for the season... LB SCOTT GENORD ranks fourth on the defense with 18 tackles after adding 1 last week... LB RUSSELL RABE (New Orleans Saints) recorded 6 tackles for the second week in a row and also knocked down 2 passes. Has 16 tackles and 1 sack on the year... CB WILLIE AMOS (Chicago Bears) recorded 2 tackles last week and has 14 on the season. Also has 1 interception and 3 passes defended this year... CB RAYSHUN REED recorded 6 tackles, 2 passes defended and 1 forced fumble last week. Has 17 tackles and a team-high 6 passes defended this season... S SHAWN MAYER (Cleveland Browns) earned All-NFLEL honors with Hamburg in 2005. Recorded 6 tackles last week, giving him 24 on the season. Also recovered a fumble... S JASON SHIVERS (NY Giants) leads Hamburg's defense with 27 tackles after adding a team-best 8 and 1 forced fumble last week... German S CLAUDIUS OSEI recorded 1 tackle last week and has 15 this season... K TYLER JONES (Washington Redskins) converted field goals of 24 and 32 yards last week and added 1 PAT Has scored 21 points this season on 4/4 FG and 9/9 PATs... P ADAM ANDERSON (Detroit Lions) ranks third in NFL Europe with a 40.9 average on a league-high 29 punts. Has a long of 65 yards and has placed 7 inside the 20-yard line.
QB BROCK BERLIN (Miami Dolphins), GAME-BY-GAME
Att Comp Yds TD Int
Wk 1: vs Col 25 10 129 1 3
Wk 2: at Fra 27 16 122 1 0
Wk 3: vs Ber 22 12 70 0 0
Wk 4: at Rhe 22 10 102 1 2
Wk 5: vs Fra 19 8 93 0 0
TOTAL 115 56 516 3 5
RB MIKE JEMISON (Pittsburgh Steelers), GAME-BY-GAME
Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: vs Col 18 80 0 3 32 0
Wk 2: at Fra 12 42 0 4 30 0
Wk 3: vs Ber 26 88 0 6 35 0
Wk 4: at Rhe 16 62 0 1 5 0
Wk 5: vs Fra 20 64 0 4 46 0
TOTAL 92 336 0 18 148 0
WR SCOTT McCREADY, GAME-BY-GAME
Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: vs Col 2 14 0
Wk 2: at Fra 8 95 0
Wk 3: vs Ber 3 19 0
Wk 4: at Rhe 4 34 0
Wk 5: vs Fra 1 8 0
TOTAL 18 170 0
TEAM BY TEAM CAPSULES NFL Europe 2006, Week 6 - Page 10
RHEIN FIRE (4-1)Head Coach: Jim Tomsula (4-1 in NFLEL)Colours: Burgundy, black and white
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Steve Logan (1st season)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Adrian White (3rd season)
ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORD: 62-53
MEDIA CONTACT: Markus Müller
Phone: 49-211-478-730
Fax: 49-211-478-7329
E-mail: markus.mueller@rhein-fire.de
Internet: www.rhein-fire.de
LAST GAME: Lost 31-35 at Amsterdam (4/15/06)
OFFENSE: 22.8 pts/game; 298.4 yds/game (rank 5); 114.4 rush yds/game (rank 3); 184 pass yds/game (rank 3)
Passing: Drew Henson, 773 yds
Rushing: Fredrick Jackson, 325 yds
Receiving: Chris Samp, 19 rec, 204 yds
DEFENSE: 14.4 pts/game; 247.2 yds/game (rank 1); 80.2 rush yds/game (rank 1); 167 pass yds/game (rank 2)
Sacks: Derrick Strong, 4.0
Interceptions: Ronyell Whitaker, 3
- THIS WEEK: at AMSTERDAM ADMIRALS -
Fire head coach JIM TOMSULA believes his team played very well while losing to Amsterdam last week but admits some things need to be tidied up, saying: "I thought we played very hard but we made some mistakes and mistakes will cost you against a good football team."... QB DREW HENSON (Dallas Cowboys) has started all five games this season (see table) and ranks second in NFL Europe with a 90.3 passer rating. Matched his season high in attempts, completions and TD passes last week... QB TIMMY CHANG (Philadelphia Eagles) hit on 1 of 2 passes for 5 yards last week. Has completed 15 of 33 attempts for 138 yards in 2006... RB JACQUE LEWIS (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) rushed for 23 yards and 1 touchdown on 6 carries last week and ranks second on the team with 218 yards. Returned 3 kickoffs for 49 yards last week. Has scored 3 rushing touchdowns this season. Caught 3 passes for 17 yards last week and has made 8 catches for 68 yards this season... RB FREDRICK JACKSON (Buffalo Bills) leads the Fire in rushing (see table) and ranks third in the NFLEL. Returned 3 punts for 68 yards in addition to his running and catching duties last week... WR CHRIS SAMP (Carolina Panthers) leads the team with 19 receptions for 204 yards after adding 6 for 76 and 2 scores last week... WR ZURIEL SMITH (New England Patriots) has 3 touchdown receptions this season (see table) but did not play last week due to a knee injury... WR KENDRICK STARLING (Houston Texans) did not play last week. Has 4 catches for 71 yards and 1 TD this season... English WR MARVIN ALLEN caught a 28-yard pass last week and has 3 for 31 on the season. Has been traded from the Galaxy for Juan Wong... WR BRANDON MIDDLETON (St. Louis Rams) returned 3 kickoffs for 108 yards with a long of 57... TE AARON HALTERMAN (Houston Texans) caught 2 passes for 30 yards last week, giving him 12 receptions for 137 yards this season... DE DERRICK STRONG took his season sack total to 4 after adding 3 for 18 yards among 4 tackles last week. Named Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in Amsterdam... DE WALTER CURRY (Jacksonville Jaguars) has 9 tackles and has added
1 forced fumble this season after making 1 stop last weekend... DT ZACH VILLE (Kansas City Chiefs) registered 1 tackle last week and has 11 for the season. Has also batted down 2 passes... DT JA'WAREN BLAIR has registered 9 tackles this season after adding 3 last week... LB TERRENCE ROBINSON is in his third season with the Rhein Fire and leads the team with 31 tackles after making a club-high 10 stops last week... LB TYSON SMITH (New York Giants) posted 1 tackle last week and has 16 this season. Also recovered a fumble against the Admirals... LB GUY TUELL made 2 tackles last week... German LB RICHARD ADJEI recorded 1 tackle last week... CB RONYELL WHITAKER has 3 interceptions in the past two games after scoring on a 30-yard return of a pick in Amsterdam. Finished the game with 4 tackles. Now has 15 tackles and a team-high 3 interceptions and 7 pass defenses this term... German S RICHARD YANCY is in his seventh season in NFL Europe, fifth with the Fire. Ranks second on the team with 20 tackles after posting 2 last week. Also has an interception and 2 forced fumbles this season... S SIDDEEQ SHABAZZ (Miami Dolphins) recorded 5 tackles and 1 forced fumble last week and has 16 stops this year... Swedish K OLA KIMRIN (Miami Dolphins) is in his fourth NFLEL season (Frankfurt 2001-02, Cologne 2004). Kicked 4 PATs and a 33-yard field goal last week to take his career points total in NFL Europe to 163. Leads all NFL kickers with 36 points (8/13 FG, 12/12 PAT)... P TRAVIS DORSCH (New York Giants) is averaging a league low 37.0 yards per punt this season and has a long of 56 from his 23 attempts.
QB DREW HENSON (Dallas Cowboys), GAME-BY-GAME
Att Comp Yds TD Int
Wk 1: vs Fra 11 5 58 0 0
Wk 2: at Ber 24 17 171 1 0
Wk 3: at Col 28 14 165 1 1
Wk 4: vs Ham 23 15 192 2 0
Wk 5: at Ams 28 17 187 2 1
TOTAL 114 68 773 6 2
RB FREDRICK JACKSON (Buffalo Bills), GAME-BY-GAME
Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: vs Fra 12 48 0 4 40 0
Wk 2: at Ber 16 63 0 4 56 0
Wk 3: at Col 27 96 1 2 13 0
Wk 4: vs Ham 20 79 0 2 31 0
Wk 5: at Ams 16 39 0 4 40 0
TOTAL 91 325 1 16 180 0
WR ZURIEL SMITH (New England Patriots), GAME-BY-GAME
Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: vs Fra 2 20 0
Wk 2: at Ber 2 14 1
Wk 3: at Col 4 46 0
Wk 4: vs Ham 4 59 2
Wk 5: at Ams DNP
TOTAL 12 139 3
THIS WEEK'S MATCHUPS NFL Europe 2006, Week 6 - Page 11
AMSTERDAM ADMIRALS (4-1)
at RHEIN FIRE (4-1)
LTU arena, Düsseldorf, Saturday April 22, 7:00 p.m.
SERIES NOTES
Overall: Amsterdam leads 14-9
At Rhein: Rhein leads 7-4
At Rhein: Amsterdam leads 10-2
Streak: Amsterdam 1
This Season: Rhein 31 at Amsterdam 35 (Week 5)
TELEVISION
US: LIVE/ NFL Network (1:00 p.m. ET, Saturday April 22).
Play-by-play announcer DERRIN HORTON calls the action from Düsseldorf alongside Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl safety DARREN SHARPER.
COACHES
BART ANDRUS is the reigning NFL Europe League Coach of the Year. Has won 11 of his last 16 games in charge of the Admirals, including a World Bowl victory over Berlin last June. Also won a World Bowl ring as a member of the Rhein Fire coaching staff in 2000. Served as quarterbacks coach of the Tennessee Titans in 1999, the year the club went to the Super Bowl... JIM TOMSULA suffered his first loss as a head coach last week. Lost Yello Strom World Bowl XIII at the hands of the Admirals while serving as defensive coordinator of the Berlin Thunder in 2005. Won a World Bowl ring with Berlin in 2004...
GAME NOTES
Fans eagerly awaiting the re-match between the top two teams in the NFL Europe League do not have to wait long to see the Admirals and Fire butt heads again as the clubs do battle for the second time in a week... The Admirals still boast NFL Europe's leading offense, averaging 361.8 yards per game, while Rhein has the league's top-ranked defense, allowing 247.2 yards per contest... Amsterdam leads the league with 160 points and is on pace to score 320 this season, which would break the single season record of 310 set by the 1991 London Monarchs... The Admirals also lead the league in touchdowns scored (21), yards per offensive play (6.7), yards per pass completion (16.6) and offensive plays covering 20+ yards (23: 8 rush, 15 pass)... Rhein has run the football more times than any other team in the league (167) but is averaging an NFLEL-low 3.4 yards per carry... The Admirals have won seven of their last nine games - including Yello Strom World Bowl XIII - dating back to Week 8 of the 2005 campaign... By losing in Amsterdam last week, the Fire suffered the bitter taste of defeat for the first time since Week 8 of the 2005 season... The Fire leads NFL Europe with a +12 turnover ratio (18 takeaways, 6 giveaways)... Rhein's defense is holding opponents to a league-low 80.2 rushing yards per game... Amsterdam's quarterbacks are completing an NFLEL-high 58.7 percent of their passes... Five of the six 100-yard receiving days in NFL Europe this spring have been produced by Admirals receivers... The Fire leads NFL Europe in time of possession, averaging 34:01 per game. Amsterdam ranks sixth in that department, keeping the ball for an average of 27:35 per contest... Amsterdam leads NFL Europe in third down efficiency, converting 44.8 percent of 58 attempts this season... Fire quarterbacks have been sacked a league-high 8 times this term... Rhein is averaging 24.9 yards per kickoff return this season to rank second in the NFL Europe League... In the first meeting between the teams last weekend, QB GIBRAN HAMDAN (Seattle Seahawks) threw for 244 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead the Admirals to victory. WR SKYLER FULTON (Seattle Seahawks) reeled in 6 passes for 113 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a game-winning 42-yarder late in the fourth quarter. QB DREW HENSON (Dallas Cowboys) threw for 187 yards and 2 touchdowns for the Fire but tossed a late interception to end Rhein's comeback attempt.
BERLIN THUNDER (2-2-1)
at FRANKFURT GALAXY (3-2)
Commerzbank Arena, Frankfurt, Saturday April 22, 7:00 p.m.
SERIES NOTES
Overall: Berlin leads 8-6 (Berlin leads 1-0 in post-season)
At Frankfurt: Frankfurt leads 4-3
At Berlin: Berlin leads 5-2
Streak: Berlin 5
Last Season: Frankfurt 7 at Berlin 30; Berlin 31 at Frankfurt 24
TELEVISION
US: LIVE/ DirecTV (1:00 p.m. ET, Saturday April 22) DELAY/NFL Network (8:00 p.m. ET, Saturday April 22)
GERMANY/NETHERLANDS: DELAY/NASN (6:00 p.m. CET, Sunday April 23)
UK: DELAY/NASN (2:30 p.m. BST, Monday April 24)
Play-by-play announcer RICH ACKERMAN is joined in the broadcast booth by Philadelphia Eagles fullback JON RITCHIE.
COACHES
RICK LANTZ has broken a tie for eighth place on the all-time victories chart, moving past Dick Curl (Frankfurt 1998-2000) with 18. Has never lost two regular season games in a row during his NFLEL career, which began in 2004. Has one World Bowl title in his trophy cabinet... MIKE JONES is in his third season with the Galaxy and has a 13-12 record and one World Bowl appearance to his name. Served as a member of the Rhein Fire coaching staff from 1995-2000 and again in 2002-2003, winning World Bowls in 1998 and 2000. Has never defeated Rick Lantz, losing four regular season games and World Bowl XII in 2004.
GAME NOTES
The Thunder heads into Commerzbank Arena boasting a healthy six-game winning streak over the Galaxy, including World Bowl XII in 2004. The last time the Galaxy defeated Berlin was in Week 3 of the 2003 campaign, when they romped to a 41-21 win in Frankfurt... The Galaxy heads into the contest with a two-game winning streak and a 2-0 record at home... Frankfurt boasts NFL Europe's second-ranked offense, averaging 329.4 yards per game... The Galaxy boasts the league's leading rushing attack (151.6 yards per game)... Frankfurt quarterbacks have averaged 12.01 yards per pass completion this season, placing them second in the NFLEL rankings in that department... The Galaxy also ranks second in the league with 20 offensive plays covering 20+ yards (5 rush, 15 pass)... Berlin ranks third in total offense (310.8) and second in passing offense (198.0)... Frankfurt's offensive line has conceded a league-low 3 sacks this season... Frankfurt boasts NFL Europe's top-ranked red zone offense, scoring on 84.6 percent of 13 trips inside the opposing 20-yard line (7 touchdowns, 4 field goals)... The Galaxy also has the league's toughest red zone defense, allowing opponents to score on 66.7 percent of 9 trips inside their 20 (4 touchdowns, 2 field goals)... Frankfurt boasts the most balanced attack in NFL Europe as 46.0 percent of their offensive yards come on rushing plays and 54.0 percent come through the air... Berlin has gained 63.7 percent of their offensive yards on passing plays and 36.3 percent on running plays... Frankfurt's defense has notched a league-leading 8 quarterback sacks through the opening half of the 2006 season... Berlin's defense has allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete a league-high 57.3 percent of their passes this year... Berlin has fumbled an NFLEL-leading 11 times, losing a league-high 6 footballs... Frankfurt quarterbacks have thrown a league-low 3 interceptions... The Galaxy defense has grabbed an NFLEL-low 2 picks in the opening five games.
H
THIS WEEK'S MATCHUPS / WEEK FIVE RECAP NFL Europe 2006, Week 6 - Page 12
HAMBURG SEA DEVILS (0-4-1)
at COLOGNE CENTURIONS (1-4)
RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Sunday April 23, 4 p.m.
SERIES NOTES
Overall: Cologne leads 2-1
At Cologne: Cologne leads 1-0
At Hamburg: Series tied 1-1
Streak: Cologne 1
This season: Cologne 14 at Hamburg 10 (Week 1)
TELEVISION
US: LIVE/NFL Network (10:00 a.m. ET, Sunday April 23)
GERMANY/NETHERLANDS: DELAY/NASN (7:00 p.m. CET, Monday April 24)
UK: DELAY/NASN (12:30 p.m. BST, Thursday April 27)
Play-by-play announcer BOB WISCHUSEN is joined in the broadcast booth by former Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl wide receiver ANDRE REED.
COACHES
JACK BICKNELL is in his 14th season in NFL Europe and has yet to add to his league-leading regular season victory total of 66 this year. Has slipped below .500 by losing his 68th regular season contest last week. Has one World Bowl ring in his collection having led Barcelona to glory in 1997. Has a 2-3 record against Mike Jones... DAVID DUGGAN spent the past two years as Cologne's defensive coordinator. His unit led NFL Europe in total defense in each of the last two seasons. Served as defensive coordinator of Berlin from 2001 to 2003, during which time he won two World Bowl rings.
GAME NOTES
Both clubs go into the contest needing a win to stay in the World Bowl race. Hamburg has yet to win in five outings this season, while Cologne has dropped four games in a row after winning on opening weekend... The Centurions are one of just two teams with a positive turnover ratio, compiling a +2 rating through 13 takeaways and 11 giveaways... The Sea Devils rank sixth in NFL Europe in total offense and total defense... Both clubs have struggled to produce big plays this season. Cologne ranks fifth with 14 offensive plays covering 20+ yards (6 rush, 8 pass), while Hamburg rates sixth with 8 (1 rush, 7 pass)... The Centurions have averaged a league-best 4.9 yards per carry this season... Hamburg quarterbacks have completed an NFLEL-low 50.3 percent of their passes this season and go up against a tough Cologne secondary which has limited opposing passers to a 44.6 percent completion rate - the lowest in NFL Europe... Hamburg is averaging a league-low 4.1 yards per offensive play this season... Cologne has conceded a league-high 8 quarterback sacks this term... Cologne's defenders have intercepted 9 passes this season - the second-highest figure in NFL Europe... Cologne is the most penalized team in the league this season, drawing 44 flags for 422 penalty yards. The Centurions were flagged 101 times last season, ranking them joint-second among the most penalized teams in NFLEL history (102, Frankfurt 2005)... Hamburg have led in the fourth quarter in each of their last three games and then slipped to one tie and two losses... Hamburg ranks sixth in NFL Europe with a -5 turnover ratio (5 takeaways, 10 giveaways)... The Sea Devils are the only NFLEL team not to miss a field goal this season (4/4)... The teams met on opening weekend with QB KLIFF KINGSBURY (New York Jets) throwing a 4-yard touchdown pass to WR BRIAN BRATTON (Baltimore Ravens). Cologne's other score came on a 3-yard run by ALEX HAYNES (Carolina Panthers).
- WEEK FIVE RECAP -
Rhein Fire 31, Amsterdam Admirals 35
(Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam. Attendance: 12,683)
Gibran Hamdan (Ams) 244 passing yards, 3 TD
Skyler Fulton (Ams) 6 rec, 113 yards, 2 TD
Drew Henson (Rhe) 187 passing yards, 2 TD
Chris Samp (Rhe) 6 rec, 76 yards, 2 TD
Frankfurt Galaxy 17, Hamburg Sea Devils 13
(AOL Arena, Hamburg. Attendance: 12,281)
Aaron Hosack (Fra) 7 rec, 102 yards, 1 TD
J.R. Niklos (Fra) 74 rushing yards, 1 TD
Travis Harris (Fra) 11 tackles
Jason Shivers (Ham) 8 tackles
Cologne Centurions 13, Berlin Thunder 24
(Olympiastadion, Berlin. Attendance: 13,559)
Lang Campbell (Ber) 112 passing yards, 2 TD
Shane Boyd (Col) 163 passing yards, 98 rush yards
Alejandro Gamez (Ber) 3 rec, 74 yards, 1 TD
James Thornton (Ber) 9 tackles
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National Football League Europa Stories from April 18, 2006
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