Carolina Cobras OS Aaron Bailey Named AFL's Offensive Player of the Week
July 30, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Carolina Cobras News Release
RALEIGH, N.C. (July 30, 2002)- Carolina Cobras offensive specialist Aaron Bailey was today named the Arena Football League's Offensive Player of the Week for his outstanding performance in the Cobras 72-64 First Round Playoff win over the defending champion Grand Rapids Rampage last Sunday.
Bailey (5-10, 190, Louisville) caught 10 passes for 172 yards and six touchdowns in the Cobras win as he earned Co-MVP honors with QB John Fitzgerald. His 10 receptions set a new team post season record (which was later tied by teammate WR/LB Cory Fleming), while his 172 yards and six scores set new team playoff marks. His six TD receptions tie him for first place in the AFL post season record books, while his 36 points and receiving yards put him in second and fourth place, respectively.
Bailey became the first player in team history to surpass the 1,000-yard mark for receiving during a season as he hauled in a team-high 89 passes for 1,102 yards and 18 TDs this past year. The former Indianapolis Colt receiver collected four 100-yard receiving games during the 2002 regular season, and including playoffs, has achieved that feat 10 times in 21 career AFL games. Currently he is the team's career all-time leader in scoring (234 points), touchdowns (38), receptions (150), receiving yards (2,017), receiving TDs (37) and 100-yard receiving games (9). All numbers include regular season action only.
Bailey's selection as Offensive Player of the Week marks only the third time in franchise history a Cobras' player has been honored with an AFL Weekly Award. FB/LB Andre Bowden (4.5 tackles, including 2.0 sacks and registering a safety on defense while scoring on a 1-yard TD run offensively) was named ADT Defensive Player of the Week after his Week 3 performance against the Tampa Bay Storm on May 4, 2002, a game in which the Cobras took a 46-36 decision. Former quarterback Fred McNair (23 of 34 for 258 yards and 7 TDs) was named the AFL's Offensive Player of the Week in Week 6 of the 2001 season after leading the Cobras to a 56-49 win over the New York Dragons on May 18, 2001.
The Cobras (7-8) will take on the two-time AFL champion Arizona Rattlers (11-3) this Sunday, August 4, 3:00 p.m. (ET) in a Quarterfinal Playoff match-up, with the winner advancing to the Semifinals the weekend of August 10-11. This is the Cobras first-ever Quarterfinal Playoff contest in team history. The game can be seen live on The New TNN with Eli Gold (play-by-play), Charles Davis (color analyst) and Jill Arrington (sideline/halftime host) describing all the action.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from July 30, 2002
- Carolina Cobras Announce Intention to Move to Charlotte for 2003 Season - Carolina Cobras
- Carolina Cobras OS Aaron Bailey Named AFL's Offensive Player of the Week - Carolina Cobras
- Bailey, Cohen, Samuels Win Awards - AFL I
- Arena Football League Transactions - AFL I
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