Sports stats



Burley Named AFL Offensive Player Of The Year

July 11, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Utah Blaze News Release


SALT LAKE CITY - The Arena Football League announced that Utah Blaze WR SIAHA BURLEY (5-10, 176, Central Florida) was named the League's Offensive Player of the Year, live on ESPNews today.

"This is not an award that I have earned alone," Burley said. "Joe Germaine had an outstanding season and is a major reason why I received this award. It is truly an honor and I accept this on behalf of the Utah Blaze and all of my teammates."

The 2005 AFLWA Offensive Player of the Year finished the 2007 regular season by shattering league records for receptions (166) and receiving yards (2,129). The previous marks were 154 (MARCUS NASH in 2004) and 1,982 (CALVIN SCHEXNAYDER in 1998), respectively. Burley also finished with 49 receiving touchdowns (No. 2 in AFL).

Burley, who was All-Arena First Team this season, became the first player in United States professional football history to reach 2,000 receiving yards in a single season. The six-year veteran achieved the mark in just 15 games. His record-setting, 2,000-yard ball was sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

One of the highlights of the season came when he was named Offensive Player of the Game in the Blaze's 47-37 playoff-clinching victory over the Los Angeles Avengers on June 23. Burley hauled in 11 receptions for 133 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. It marked the second straight season the Blaze made the postseason in the team's two-year existence.

Burley currently has a streak of 37 straight regular-season games with at least one receiving touchdown and third straight season with at least 44 touchdowns. He has never failed to score a touchdown with the Blaze (31 total games) and has recorded at least three receptions in each of those games. In 28 of those games, he has recorded multiple touchdowns. Over the last two seasons, Burley has averaged 10 receptions for three touchdowns per game.

ABOUT THE BLAZE

The Utah Blaze were winners of the 2006 Commissioner's Award, given to the Arena Football League's Organization of the Year, and the Best Support Staff Award. 2008 Season Tickets are now available by logging onto www.utahblaze.com or by calling (801) 257-3111. The Blaze are owned and operated by the Ken Garff Automotive Group - www.kengarff.com.

ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR**

YEAR PLAYER, TEAM

2007 SIAHA BURLEY, UTAH BLAZE

2006 Damian Harrell, Colorado Crush

2005 Damian Harrell, Colorado Crush

2004 Marcus Nash, Las Vegas Gladiators

2003 Chris Jackson, Los Angeles Avengers

2002 Mark Grieb, San Jose SaberCats

2001 Aaron Garcia, New York Dragons

2000 Mike Horacek, Iowa Barnstormers

1999 Eddie Brown, Albany Firebirds

1998 Calvin Schexnayder, Arizona Rattlers

1997 Barry Wagner, Orlando Predators

1996 Eddie Brown, Albany Firebirds

1995 Barry Wagner, Orlando Predators

1994 Eddie Brown, Albany Firebirds

1993 Hunkie Cooper, Arizona Rattlers

1992 Jay Gruden, Tampa Bay Storm

1991 George LaFrance, Detroit Drive

1990 Art Schlichter, Detroit Drive

1989 George LaFrance, Detroit Drive

1988 Ben Bennett, Chicago Bruisers

1987 Russell Hairston, Pittsburgh Gladiators

**Award known as Most Valuable Player from 1987-95

• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from July 11, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central