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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

AFL Names Weekly Award Winners

April 30, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


Arizona Rattlers' QB SHERDRICK BONNER, San Jose SaberCats' FB/LB BOB MCMILLEN, and New York Dragons' WR/DB MIKE FURREY have been named the Arena Football League's Offensive Player, "ADT" Defensive Player, and Ironman of the Week, respectively, for their performances during Week Two of the 2002 season.

Bonner (6-4, 240, Cal St.-Northridge), an eight-year veteran, completed 25-of-32 passes for 344 yards and seven touchdowns, while throwing no interceptions. The three-time All-Arena performer added a rushing touchdown in the Rattlers' 63-59 victory over the rival Los Angeles Avengers. Bonner, who's total passing yardage was the second highest for a quarterback this season, has thrown for a league-leading 13 TDs (tied with San Jose's MARK GRIEB) in two games. This weekly award marks the seventh time in his career that Bonner has garnered weekly league-wide recognition.

McMillen (6-2, 254, Illinois Benedictine), a seven-year AFL veteran, intercepted a SHANE STAFFORD pass and returned it 46 yards for the game-winning TD with :34 left to give San Jose the win, 61-54. It marked the fourth career interception TD return in his career. McMillen also added 5.0 tackles to help lift the SaberCats (2-0) to first place in the Western Division. The bruising fullback/linebacker leads the SaberCats in rushing and is fourth in tackles (5.0).

Furrey (6-0, 185, Northern Iowa), who is in his rookie campaign, made the best of his home debut with the Dragons (1-1) by hauling in eight receptions for 90 yards and three touchdowns. On the defensive side, Furrey had five and a half tackles, forced a fumble and defended one pass in the 69-54 victory over the Buffalo Destroyers (1-1). Furrey is currently second on the Dragons in receiving (134 yards) and third in tackles (7.5).

Other candidates for Offensive Player of the Week included: Carolina's Connell Maynor, Dallas' Adrian Lunsford, Indiana's Eddie Brown, Los Angeles' Chris Jackson and Tony Graziani, New Jersey's Jay McDonagh, New York's Steve Papin, Orlando's Jay Gruden, San Jose's Mark Grieb, and Toronto's Chad Salisbury.

Other candidates for "ADT" Defensive Player of the Week included: Buffalo's Corey Johnson, Chicago's Cedric Walker, Detroit's Chuck Levy, Indiana's Cornelius Coe and Jay Jones, Los Angeles' Chad Dukes, San Jose's Clevan Thomas, and Toronto's Del Lee.

Other candidates for Ironman of the Week included: Arizona's Chris Horn, Carolina's Marrio Grier, Detroit's Chuck Levy, Georgia's Jarrick Hillery and Travis Reece, Indiana's Jay Jones, Los Angeles' Chad Dukes, New Jersey's Dennison Robinson, Orlando's Clif Dell, Tampa Bay's Lawrence Samuels, and Toronto's Charlie Davidson.

"BUILT FORD TOUGH" WINNERS

This week, Predators' coaches selected OL/DL FRED RAY 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 both sides of the ball. Ray is a player who made the Predators roster out of a free agent tryout camp a couple of seasons ago, but has become one of the league's top centers. Proof of this comes from last week's game where he made two-time Lineman of the Year, JAMES BARON, a "non-factor" in the Predators victory over Chicago. His QB, JAY GRUDEN, was not sacked and had plenty of time to throw five TDs. 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 TWO TEAM-BY-TEAM WINNERS
Arizona: Sherdrick Bonner, Chris Horn, Randy Gatewood, Bo Kelly, Hunkie Cooper
Buffalo: Eddie Brown, Bret Cooper, Corey Johnson
Carolina: Marrio Grier, Carl Bond, Cory Fleming, Kevin Gaines, Jon McCall
Chicago: John Moyer, Cedric Walker
Dallas: Tom Briggs, Adrian Lunsford
Detroit: Chuck Winters, Chuck Levy, Toran James, R-Kal Truluck, Kelvin Kinney
Georgia: Ron Carpenter, William Gaines, Oscar Sturgis
Grand Rapids: Willis Marshall, Chris Ryan, Travis McDonald, Israel Raybon, Lucas Yarnell
Indiana: Kyle Moore-Brown, Dejuan Alfonzo, Eddie Brown, Van Johnson
Los Angeles: Carlos Fowler, Derek Grier, Greg Hopkins, Sean McNamara, Mathias Vavao
New Jersey: Jay McDonagh, Dennison Robinson, Mike Horacek
New York: Rodney Filer, Carl Sacco, Donvetis Franklin, Geoff Turner, Sean Tremblay
Orlando: Richard Jones, Clif Dell, Fred Ray, Ernest Allen
San Jose: Sam Hernandez, Mike Ulufale, Clevan Thomas, Bob McMillen, Omarr Smith
Tampa Bay: Lawrence Samuels
Toronto: Chad Salisbury, Charlie Davidson, Anthony Hicks, Anthony Derricks, Del Lee

ARENA HEROES: AFL IN THE COMMUNITY

THIS WEEK: APRIL 30 - MAY 7

CHICAGO
May 2 -- Rush OL/DL A.J. BLAZEK will be speaking to the graduating 5th graders of the D.A.R.E. program at Ridge Elementary in Oak Brook, Ill. These 5th graders have spent the last semester learning the importance of saying no to drugs and making wise decisions throughout life.

May 4 - As part of the "Rush 'Team' Zone," there will be more than 30 children and chaperones at each Chicago home game (more information below). When the Rush take the field at Allstate Arena on Saturday, the Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan Chicago will be in the stands cheering for them.

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

DETROIT
May 2 - Fury WR/DB CHUCK WINTERS, OS ROBERT GORDON, WR/DB SHAWNDELL TUCKER and QB RICKEY FOGGIE will visit Children's Hospital of Michigan from 2-3 p.m.

INDIANA
May 2 -- Firebirds' lineman MARK VALVO and WR/DB DEJUAN ALFOZO will be signing autographs at The Home Court Gift Shop at Conseco Fieldhouse from 6-7 p.m.

ARENA HEROES: SPOTLIGHT CHICAGO

CHICAGO -- In 2001, lineman JAMES BARON earned the AFL's annual HERO award in recognition of his work in the Nashville, Tenn. community. A five-time All-Arena selection and two-time AFL Lineman of the Year (1998, 2001), Baron served as a volunteer and spokesperson for the local YMCA's Urban Services and Li'l Sisters/Buffalo Soldiers programs and donated $10,000 to the YMCA Urban Services program of Middle Tennessee.

This year, the Chicago Rush, who Baron signed with in the off-season, are supporting a community program of his creation. Baron will sponsor a group of children from his hometown of Hammond, Ind. to attend each regular season Rush home game. Kids from different after-school programs will be bussed to Rush games, free of charge. The team has designated the section of seats at Allstate Arena as the "Rush 'Team' Zone." Baron plans to visit the youth groups who attend the various games throughout the season.

ARENAFOOTBALL.COM POLL RESULTS

Q: WHO IS THE MOST UNDER-APPRECIATED STARTING QUARTERBACK IN THE AFL?
CHAD SALISBURY, Toronto - 23% (Phantoms off to a 2-0 start)
Other - 17%
KEVIN MCDOUGAL, Georgia - 16% (Force 1-1, lost by one to Carolina)
RAYMOND PHILYAW, Indiana - 16% (Firebirds 1-1, upset Grand Rapids)
BILLY DICKEN, Chicago - 15% (Rush off to a 1-1 start)
TONY GRAZIANI, Los Angeles - 13% (Avengers off to a 1-1 start)



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 30, 2002


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