Branch rewarded for 100-yard rushing display
May 16, 2006 - National Football League Europa (NFLE) News Release
COLOGNE Centurions running back JAMAAL BRANCH (New Orleans Saints) has been named Offensive Player of NFL Europe Week 9 for his efforts during his club's 25-7 defeat of the Berlin Thunder on Sunday.
Branch rushed for 124 yards on 26 carries and scored on a 26-yard second quarter sprint for the Centurions first points of the afternoon. He added 2 receptions for 23 yards as Cologne improved to 4-5 on the season.
Splitting his time between the Centurions and the Rhein Fire, Branch has rushed for 158 yards and 1 touchdown on 30 carries this season.
Commenting on his big day, Branch said: "It felt great to help the team out and I'm glad I finally got a chance to show what I can do. I'm glad I got to run behind our offensive line because they made my job a lot easier."
Hamburg Sea Devils linebacker RUSSEL RABE (New Orleans Saints) is the Defensive Player of the Week after recording 6 tackles and 2 sacks for 18 yards during his club's second successive victory -a 13-10 triumph over the Rhein Fire.
Rabe has recorded 27 tackles and 4 sacks this season and has also contributed 5 special teams stops.
Amsterdam Admirals punter GLENN PAKULAK (Oakland Raiders) has been named Special Teams Player of Week 9 following his outstanding kicking during his team's World Bowl-clinching 17-12 victory over the Frankfurt Galaxy.
Pakulak punted 7 times for a 45.3-yard average with a long of 59 yards. He helped the Admirals win the field position battle against the Galaxy by landing 3 of those kicks inside Frankfurt's 20-yard line.
Pakulak leads NFL Europe with an average of 42.2 yards per punt this season.
For the third time this season, English WR SCOTT McCREADY has been named National Player of the Week. In helping the Sea Devils to victory over the Rhein Fire, McCready caught a team-high 7 passes for 87 yards, including a game-winning 8-yard reception from Brock Berlin in the fourth quarter.
McCready said: "I'm glad I could help the team get a victory. Any time you are rewarded for your performance it's great, but the credit for this win has to go to our entire offense."
With one week of the regular season remaining, McCready ranks second in NFL Europe with 37 receptions for 455 yards and 2 touchdowns.
NFL EUROPE LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS - WEEK 9
OFFENSIVE JAMAAL BRANCH RB Cologne
DEFENSIVE RUSSEL RABE LB Hamburg
SPECIAL TEAMS GLENN PAKULAK P Amsterdam
NATIONAL SCOTT McCREADY WR Hamburg
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National Football League Europa Stories from May 16, 2006
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