af2 arenafootball2

Browner, Burt Honored

Published on July 9, 2002 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO – The arenafootball2 league office announced today that Quad City DS BRENT BROWNER and Cape Fear OL/DL E.J. BURT have been named ADT co-Defensive Players of the Week for Week 15. Other honorees include Peoria DS/KR LINCOLN DUPREE (Ironman of the Week), Carolina QB RAMONE ROBINSON (Offensive Player of the Week) and Wichita OL/DL CHRIS ENNEKING (Built Ford Tough Man of the Week).

Both Browner and Burt tied af2 single-game records in victories over the weekend. Browner, who also earned the ADT award in Week 12, had four interceptions (equaling Dupree – 6/1/02 at Quad City) as the Steamwheelers shut down Bakersfield 27-19. The defensive specialist broke up seven other passes and made four tackles in the game. Burt's 4.5 sacks in Cape Fear's 33-25 win over Albany tied the mark established by Arkansas' REGGIE COOLEY and Norfolk's SPENCER CONLEY on consecutive weekends last year (Cooley – 5/5/01 at Memphis; Conley – 5/12/01 vs. Greensboro). Burt also had two tackles and forced a fumble in the game. His 25 sacks (and counting) are an af2 single-season record.

Dupree becomes the first player to win an af2 weekly award three times this season and is just the third player to be honored in a losing cause (Fresno' s EDDIE KLANESKI in Week 1, Mohegan's BRANDON BURNSIDE in Week 8). The DS/KR ran back two kickoffs for touchdowns of 54 and 57 yards in the Pirates' 60-40 loss to Bossier City, totaling 176 combined return yards. Dupree also had an interception, four tackles and two pass breakups in the game. Previously this year, he was the Ironman of the Week in Week 7 and the ADT Defensive Player of the Week in Week 10.

Robinson didn't have the gaudiest statistics of this week's Offensive Player of the Week candidates, but he may have had the biggest impact. With Carolina trailing Columbus 28-8 at halftime, Robinson took over for starting QB CALEB SLOVER and led the Rhinos on a 34-point scoring run in a 42-36 victory that snapped a seven-game losing streak. Robinson rushed for 38 yards and three touchdowns, including what turned out to be the game-winning score. He also completed 13-of-18 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

Enneking, a Built Ford Tough nominee in seven of the past eight weeks, earns his first league-wide honor. The lineman sacked San Diego QB KANE CLAUNCH for a safety during an early 15-0 surge by the Stealth in its 42-37 win. Enneking later redirected a Riptide field goal attempt that, combined with his safety, made him responsible for a five-point swing in a five-point victory that clinched Wichita's first playoff berth.

Following each game, each team's coaching staff selects one to five players who display a "get it done" attitude as their "Built Ford Tough Men" for that week. At season's end, the league will honor the Built Ford Tough Man of the Year, a player who will win a Ford truck. Other candidates for the league's Offensive, Defensive and Ironman players of the week – chosen by the working media at each af2 game – follow in the Week 15 Results section.

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QUOTES FROM AROUND af2

"I'M IN IT FOR THE GAME. I PLAYED WITH THE RAMS AND THAT WAS ALL GOOD, BUT NOW I JUST WANT TO PLAY BALL. IF THEY WOULD PAY ME $5, I WOULD PLAY." – Pensacola OL/DL ROBERT SMITH on why he plays Arena Football.

"I'M REAL FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAD COACH WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THIS. I WORK IN FRONT OF SUCH FIERCELY INTENSE FOOTBALL FANS. I FEEL THERE'S NO COMPARISON BETWEEN OUR CROWD AND ANY CROWD WE'VE SEEN AT AN OPPONENT'S HOME. THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME." – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Head Coach TERRY KARG on his situation and the strong fan support for the Pioneers.

‘‘WE'RE HAPPY AS AN ORGANIZATION TO CLINCH THE PLAYOFFS. OBVIOUSLY, IF WE WANT TO CONTROL THAT TOP SPOT AND CONTROL THE PLAYOFFS, WE'LL WIN OUR NEXT THREE GAMES.'' – Tennessee Valley Head Coach KEVIN GUY on reaching the playoffs and what his team needs to do to close out the regular season.

"THIS GAME WAS A MEASURING GAME. WE WANTED TO SEE HOW GOOD WE REALLY WERE." – Cape Fear OL/DL TETO SIMPSON on the Wildcats' 33-25 win against Albany.

"WE'RE TOO BIG FOR THEM. WE'RE A MAN-TO-MAN TEAM AND THEY COULDN'T HANDLE US MANO-A-MANO. ANYBODY WHO CAME ACROSS THE MIDDLE, WE PUNISHED THEM. WE CAME IN AND BASHED THEM." – Florida WR/DB TERRELL SUTTON after the Firecats handed Augusta a 54-29 loss.

"THAT SPARKED OUR BUTTS. WE WERE TIRED. WE GOT OUT ON THAT FIELD AND I WAS THINKING ‘OH MAN.' BUT THEY CAME OUT AND PLAYED THE BEST GAME I'VE EVER SEEN THESE GUYS PLAY. WE DOMINATED THEM ACROSS THE BOARD." – Florida Head Coach JOHN FOURCADE refers to an Augusta player's comment that fired up the Firecats.

"WE STARTED OUT KIND OF FLAT, BUT WE HAD A GUT-CHECK, AND THE GUYS CAME OUT AND RESPONDED WELL. I TOLD THEM THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. WE'VE BEEN KILLING OURSELVES ALL YEAR LONG. EITHER WE DO IT NOW OR WE FOLD UP AND CALL IT A YEAR AND QUIT. EVERYBODY LOOKED INTO EACH OTHER'S EYES AND CAME OUT AND PLAYED." – Carolina Head Coach ROD MILLER on trying to motivate his team at halftime of Saturday's 42-36 victory over Columbus.

"IT HASN'T SUNK IN YET. THIS WAS AN EMOTIONAL GAME AND IT'S GREAT TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS IN YOUR FIRST YEAR, BUT ODD TO LOSE AND STILL MAKE IT IN. IT'S A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT, THOUGH." – San Diego Head Coach CREE MORRIS on the Riptide qualifying for the playoffs in its inaugural season despite losing 42-37 at Wichita.

"THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOU CANNOT TURN THE BALL OVER AS MANY TIMES AS WE DID AND EXPECT TO WIN. TO OUR GUYS' CREDIT, THEY CONTINUED TO FIGHT AND GOT IT WITHIN EIGHT POINTS, BUT IN THIS STYLE OF GAME WITH TWO DEFENSIVE-MINDED TEAMS, IT IS INCUMBENT UPON YOU TO TAKE CARE OF THE FOOTBALL." – Albany Head Coach RON SELESKY on the Conquest's failed comeback bid in a 33-25 loss to Cape Fear.

"WE JUST COULDN'T GET IT GOING TONIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO REBOUND FROM THIS. WE 'RE GOING TO COME BACK NEXT WEEK AND MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS WE NEED TO MAKE AND WE'RE GOING TO FINISH THE SEASON WITH THREE WINS GOING INTO THE PLAYOFFS." – Augusta FB/LB DIRK LINCICOME on his team's loss to Florida and how the Stallions will bounce back.

"I'VE BEEN TELLING PEOPLE FOR THREE WEEKS NOW THAT THIS TRIP CONCERNED ME. WE WERE COMING OFF A BRUTAL GAME AGAINST ALBANY, AND IT WAS OUR SECOND STRAIGHT LONG BUS TRIP. AND WE WERE FACING A TEAM THAT WAS FIGHTING FOR THEIR PLAYOFF LIVES. BUT THAT'S JUST AN EXCUSE. WE PLAYED STUPID, AND WE PLAYED SLUGGISH. NOW, THE BEST WAY I CAN SERVE MY FOOTBALL TEAM IS TO START GETTING READY NOW FOR GREENSBORO NEXT WEEK AT HOME." – Richmond Head Coach RICHARD DAVIS on warning people about the difficulty of the Speed's road trip to Charleston. The Swamp Foxes won 49-44.

"IT WAS A BAD DECISION. IN THEORY, IT SOUNDED GOOD WHEN WE DISCUSSED IT, BUT WE SHOULD'VE KICKED IT AWAY.'' – Pensacola assistant head coach ED CUNNINGHAM on the decision to squib kick the ball after the Barracudas scored the go-ahead touchdown with 17 seconds remaining. Macon returned the kick to the Pensacola 24-yard line and scored on the ensuing play to win the game.

"I DON'T HAVE ANY ANSWERS. BUT ANYTIME A TEAM PERFORMS LIKE THAT, I LOOK AT MYSELF. WE DID ALL THE PREPARATIONS DURING THE WEEK, BUT WE CAME OUT TONIGHT AND THERE WAS JUST NO FIRE IN US." – Rochester Head Coach MARK SAUNDERS makes himself accountable for the Brigade's 33-20 loss to Roanoke.

"WE NEED TO SIT BACK AND EVALUATE. A LOT OF OUR PLAYERS QUIT ON US SATURDAY NIGHT AND, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT. I DON'T CARE WHAT OUR RECORD IS AND WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN GO TO THE PLAYOFFS – I EXPECT OUR PLAYERS TO GO ALL-OUT EVERY TIME THEY'RE OUT OF THE FIELD." – Memphis Head Coach DANTON BARTO on his team's performance in a 58-32 loss to Tulsa.

"ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, BUT RIGHT NOW WE NEED AN INSTANT LEADER. WE'VE GOT TO GET IT DONE. YOU CAN TALK THE TALK, BUT WE'VE GOT TO SHOW IT. THERE WAS A SAYING WE HAD WHEN I WAS (WITH THE DALLAS COWBOYS). WE SAID, ‘BELIEVE WHAT YOUR EYES CAN'T SEE.' WE NEED TO GO WITH THE TALENT AND TRY TO MAKE THINGS GOOD." – Jacksonville FB/LB DOMNIQUE ROSS on the Tomcats' must-win situation down the stretch.

‘‘IT WAS A LOT EASIER TO SLEEP AT NIGHT AS A PLAYER. THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS TO DO, AND WE MAKE SO MANY MISTAKES THAT FANS DON'T SEE. GAME NIGHTS ARE INTENSE. THEY'RE A SCRAMBLE. BUT IT'S A LOT OF FUN. I LOVE WHEN I DO HAVE THINGS IN ORDER AND I CAN JUST SIT AND WATCH THE GAME." – Former NFL lineman and Louisville Fire owner WILL WOLFORD on the comparison between life as a player to life as a team operator.

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PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS/SCENARIOS FOR WEEK 16

ALBANY: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Northeast Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs.

AUGUSTA: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch second-round home game (if victorious in first round) with win at Charleston OR Tallahassee loss vs. Columbus.

BAKERSFIELD: Clinched playoff berth.

BIRMINGHAM: Clinched playoff berth.

CAPE FEAR: Clinched playoff berth.

FLORIDA: Can clinch playoff berth with win vs. Pensacola AND loss by Charleston vs. Augusta AND loss by Jacksonville vs. Mobile.

MACON: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched second-round home game (if victorious in first round).

PEORIA: Clinched playoff berth and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs.

RICHMOND: Clinched playoff berth.

SAN DIEGO: Clinched playoff berth.

TALLAHASSEE: Can clinch playoff berth with win vs. Columbus OR loss by Charleston vs. Augusta AND loss by Jacksonville vs. Mobile. Can clinch American Conference Southern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win vs. Columbus AND loss by Florida vs. Jacksonville.

TENNESSEE VALLEY: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch National Conference Southern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win vs. Birmingham.

TULSA: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Central Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs.

WICHITA: Clinched playoff berth.

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