Fire's Hutchinson among two Cowboys honoured
May 11, 2004 - National Football League Europa (NFLE) News Release
RHEIN Fire quarterback CHAD HUTCHINSON (Dallas Cowboys) has been named NFL Europe's Offensive Player of Week 6 following an outstanding display of efficiency during his team's 20-13 defeat of the Amsterdam Admirals last Sunday.
Also among this week's award winners was Scottish Claymores kicker ROB HART, who became NFL Europe's all-time leading points scorer during his club's 15-13 loss to Frankfurt, Berlin Thunder safety KEITH DAVIS (Dallas Cowboys) and Claymores wide receiver HERB HAYGOOD (Kansas City Chiefs).
Hutchinson - who started nine games in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys in 2002 - showed his big-league pedigree in leading the Fire to .500 on the season (3-3). The former Major League Baseball pitcher completed 20 of 27 passes for 263 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions for a quarterback rating of 129.1.
Paying tribute to Hutchinson, Fire head coach PETE KUHARCHEK said: "Chad played a super game and he made some key throws at the end when we wanted to keep a drive alive to run out the clock."
Speaking of his NFL Europe experience, Hutchinson added: "I love playing in NFL Europe. The fans are really noisy and we have great support here for the Rhein Fire. Playing in NFL Europe is the best thing for me - it is huge because I needed the reps to get experience.
"I have confidence in my own ability but this was all about getting experience and I will have had that in these 10, hopefully 11, games with the Rhein Fire. We are still in the World Bowl hunt but we probably have to win all our games from here on out to get in. We can do that."
Davis - also allocated to NFL Europe by the Cowboys - was named Defensive Player of the Week after he recorded 3 tackles, knocked down 3 passes and recorded 2 interceptions in the fourth quarter during Berlin Thunder's 28-27 loss to the Cologne Centurions.
Both interceptions set up scoring opportunities for the Thunder, putting Berlin in position for JONATHAN RUFFIN (Dallas Cowboys) and HEINZ QUAST to convert field goals. Through six games, Davis leads NFL Europe with 3 interceptions and has added 40 tackles and 9 pass defenses.
Haygood was named Special Teams Player of the Week after he returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown during Scotland's home loss to Frankfurt. It proved to be Scotland's only touchdown of the day.
Haygood added 5 receptions for 55 yards on the day. This season, he has caught 10 passes for 100 yards and returned 3 kickoffs for 126 yards (42.0 average).
Barefoot English kicker Hart - who has spent the past two summers in NFL training camps with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002) and Miami Dolphins (2003) - became NFL Europe's leading scorer by converting field goals of 24 and 43 yards and adding a PAT against Frankfurt.
Now in his seventh NFLEL season, Hart's career points tally stands at 333, moving him past JESUS ANGOY, who scored 329 points for the Barcelona Dragons from 1997-2003.
Claymores head coach JACK BICKNELL, who also coached Angoy when he was in charge of the Barcelona Dragons from 1991-2003, said: "Jesus was a real good kicker and Rob is obviously in that class too. Rob is a quality kid and a real competitor. I was happy he had the opportunity to break the record."
Claymores general manager STEVE LIVINGSTONE added: "Rob's contribution to the Claymores and the NFL Europe League has been immense. To eclipse Jesus Angoy's record is a huge achievement and a reflection of how consistent Rob has been down the years."
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National Football League Europa Stories from May 11, 2004
- Fire's Hutchinson among two Cowboys honoured - NFLE
- Thunder one victory away from World Bowl berth - NFLE
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