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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

AFL Announces Players of the Week

May 7, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


Buffalo Destroyers' OS LAMONT COOPER, Carolina Cobras' FB/LB ANDRE BOWDEN, and Los Angeles' WR/LB GREG HOPKINS have been named the Arena Football League's Offensive Player, "ADT" Defensive Player, and Ironman of the Week, respectively, for their performances during Week Three of the 2002 season.

Cooper (5-7, 170, Wayne State, NE) piled up 415 all-purpose yards, the second highest in league history (BARRY WAGNER had 434 yards vs. Iowa in 1996), in a 50-48 loss to the Detroit Fury. The two-time "Don't Blink" Player of the Year recorded 11 receptions for 202 yards and two touchdowns, while adding eight kick returns for 202 yards and two touchdowns. The former Wildcat broke seven Buffalo single game records including: most receiving yards (202), most kickoff returns (8), most kickoff return yards (202), longest kickoff return (56), combined kick return yards (213), and most combined kick returns for touchdowns (2). This marks the second time that Cooper has earned a league weekly honor. Cooper won the Ironman of the Week honor during Week 14 of the 1997 season.

Bowden (6-1, 249, Fayetteville St.), a eight-year AFL veteran, sacked Tampa Bay quarterback SCOTT MILANOVICH for a safety near the end of the third quarter to swing momentum in the Cobras (2-1) favor as Carolina picked up the 46-36 Southern Division victory. Bowden recorded 4.5 tackles, two sacks and a safety. He currently stands No. 4 all-time on the career sack list (33.5). This award marks the fifth time that Bowden has garnered weekly recognition in his career. Bowden last won the Ironman of the Week honor during Week 1 of the 1998 season.

Hopkins (6-2, 205, Slippery Rock), a six-year veteran, had his best performance of the 2002 season in the Avengers (2-1) 51-50 Western Division victory over the Dallas Desperados. Hopkins had nine receptions for 123 yards and three touchdowns on offense, while adding two tackles, a fumble recovery, and a 10-yard interception return for a touchdown on defense. Hopkins is currently ranked No. 2 on the Avengers in receptions (17), receiving yards (234), and touchdowns (4). He is also No. 4 in tackles (9.5), while leading in forced fumbles and tied for the team lead in interceptions. It marks the second time Hopkins has earned league-wide weekly honor (Week 2 in 1998).

Other candidates for Offensive Player of the Week included: Arizona's Sherdrick Bonner, Chicago's Antonio Chatman and Billy Dicken, Georgia's Markeith Cooper, Indiana's Eddie Brown, Los Angeles' Tony Graziani and Chris Jackson, New Jersey's Jay McDonagh, New York's Steve Papin, San Jose's James Hundon and Mark Grieb.

Other candidates for "ADT" Defensive Player of the Week included: Arizona's Jerrick Bledsoe, New York's Shea Showers, Orlando's Kenny McEntyre, Toronto' s Charlie Davidson.

Other candidates for Ironman of the Week included: Arizona's Chris Horn, Carolina's Andre Bowden, Chicago's Dameon Porter, Detroit's Chuck Winters and Chuck Levy, Indiana's Jay Jones, New Jersey's Dennison Robinson, and San Jose's Jerry Reese.

PREVIOUS WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
Week, Offensive, "ADT" Defensive, Ironman
Week 1, Chris Jackson (Los Angeles), Ron Carpenter (Georgia), Gary Compton (Indiana)
Week 2, Sherdrick Bonner (Arizona), Bob McMillen (San Jose), Mike Furrey (New York)

"BUILT FORD TOUGH" WINNERS

This week, Gladiators' coaches selected QB JAY MCDONAGH as one of last week's Built Ford Tough Players of the Game. The Built Ford Tough Award is a national recognition award given after every game to the player or players on each team best demonstrating determination and toughness in that game. The award honors the players who made a game-saving tackle or score-saving tackle, threw a key block on the big play or exhibited physical sacrifice or consistent tough blocking and tackling on either side of the ball. Last week, McDonagh completed 25 of his 39 attempts for 239 yards. In addition to passing for one touchdown he also posted two rushing TDs in a tough 45-44 victory over the Orlando Predators. Up to five players who display the "get-it-done" kind of attitude are honored by each team every week. A point system is maintained on the league's official site, www.arenafootball.com, throughout the season that will culminate in the "Built Ford Tough" Man of the Year, a player who will win a Ford Truck at the end of the season. Here is a list of this week's winners.

WEEK THREE TEAM-BY-TEAM WINNERS
Arizona: Sherdrick Bonner, Jerrick Bledsoe, Chris Horn, Maurice Bryant, Wendall Gaines
Buffalo: Silas Demary, Corey Johnson, Jerry Crafts, Eric Miller, Dwaine Carpenter
Carolina: Marrio Grier, Andre Bowden, Clarence Lawson, Cory Fleming, Jamaal Garman
Chicago: A.J. Blazek, Antonio Chatman
Dallas: Adrian Lunsford
Detroit: Chuck Winters, Chuck Levy, Toran James, Toran James, Kevin Scott
Georgia: Markeith Cooper, William Gaines, Travis Reece
Grand Rapids: Demetrius Crowder
Indiana: Kyle Moore-Brown, Shawn Foreman, Van Johnson, Ricky Hall, Umar Muhammad
Los Angeles: John DeWitt, Chad Dukes, Greg Hopkins, Kevin Ingram, Tony Plantin
New Jersey: Jay McDonagh, Dennison Robinson, Alvin Ashley
New York: Donvetis Franklin, Sean Tremblay, Robert Stewart, Nate Bell, Rodney Filer
Orlando: Ernest Allen, Jay Gruden, Fred Ray
San Jose: Sam Hernandez, Albrey Battle, Clevan Thomas, Matt Kinsinger, Barry Wagner
Tampa Bay: None Reported
Toronto: Charlie Davidson, Anthony Derricks, Kerry Brown, Del Lee, Jermaine Younger

ARENA HEROES: IN THE COMMUNITY

THIS WEEK: MAY 7 -- 14

CHICAGO
May 7 -- Members of the Rush will be speaking to the 5th Grade D.A.R.E. graduation class at Notre Dame School in Clarendon Hills, Ill.

May 13 -- Rush DS TRISTAN MOSS will be the featured guest speaker at the McHenry D.A.R.E. graduation, speaking to 350 graduates of the program.

GRAND RAPIDS
May 7 - Team mascot 'Blitz' will be at the Kwanis Club of Wyoming's annual Kid's Day Parade.

May 8 - 'Blitz' will stop by Godfrey Early Child Center.

May 10 - 'Blitz' will wrap up the week at Grand View Elementary's Walk-a-thon.

May 10 - Members of the Rampage team will read to kids at Academia de Espanol beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET.

May 10 - Rampage QB CLINT DOLEZEL and WR/LB MICHAEL BAKER will speak to kids at the Visser Family YMCA's Family Night.

NEW JERSEY
May 11 - More than 3,000 honor students from 31 schools in Northern New Jersey are invited to attend the Gladiators' game on Saturday free of charge as part of the team's "Strength & Honor Roll" program.

ARENA HEROES SPOTLIGHT

NEW JERSEY -- More than 3,000 honor students from 31 participating schools - elementary through high school - are eligible for free admission to the Gladiator's game this weekend, when New Jersey hosts Carolina, as part of the team's "Strength & Honor Roll" program. The Gladiators will also provide a free voucher for their home game on June 23 (against Buffalo) for students at participating schools that make the honor roll for the fourth marking period.

The program is part of an ongoing grassroots education initiative called "Go to School With The Gladiators," designed to utilize the team's players to serve as role models for the community. In addition, the Gladiators also sponsor visits by their players and coaching staff to schools in order to conduct special assemblies. Since last fall, more than 10,000 New Jersey students have been part of these programs.

There are two components to school visits -- the Gladiator S.T.E.E.L. T.E.A.M. and "Adopt-A-Gladiator."

S.T.E.E.L (Speaker Topic Evolves Everyone Learns)
T.E.A.M. (Together Everyone Achieves More).
A Gladiator coach and two players go to a school and provide a 45-minute assembly for the whole school or deserving grade/class. A short video is shown that explains more about the New Jersey Gladiators and Arena Football. Each coach/player then takes five minutes to talk to students about a positive message involving life lessons. The Gladiators work with each individual school's administration to select the best topic for each presentation.

Adopt-A-Gladiator.
An opportunity for players or coaches to visit a class or grade once a month for the remainder of the school year. Upon each visit, the player will discuss a different topic appropriate for that class. The Gladiators work with each school to determine the best player that fits the school's needs.

ARENAFOOTBALL.COM POLL RESULTS

Q: WHO IS YOUR EARLY SEASON FAVORITE FOR OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR?

MARK GRIEB, San Jose - 22% (Leads the AFL in passing yards)
Other - 21%
CHRIS JACKSON, Los Angeles - 18% (Leads the AFL in scoring and receptions)
SHERDRICK BONNER, Arizona - 17% (Leads the AFL in passing TDs)
CHAD SALISBURY, Toronto - 15% (Early Eastern Division leaders)
MIKE HORACEK, New Jersey - 7% (Former Offensive Player of the Year and currently No. 3 in receptions)



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 7, 2002


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