Rush Announces 2003 Team Award Winners
May 27, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
May 27, 2003 â Chicago Rush offensive specialist Antonio Chatman, lineman John Moyer, WR/LB Lindsay Fleshman, kicker Keith Gispert and lineman Marcus McKenzie were named winners of the 2003 Rush team awards today at the team's season-ending banquet.
Chatman was voted the team's MVP; Moyer was voted Lineman of the Year for the second-consecutive season; Fleshman was voted Ironman of the Year; and Gispert was named Rookie of the Year. In addition, McKenzie was named the winner of the team's Walter Payton Award for community service for the second-consecutive season.
Chatman's record-setting year has earned him consideration as the league's Offensive Player of the Year. He finished the regular season with 123 catches for 1,608 yards and 29 touchdowns â all Rush team records. In addition, he returned 84 kicks for 2,062 yards and seven touchdowns. He became just the fourth player in AFL history with 25+ receiving touchdowns, 100+ receptions, 1,000+ receiving yards and 1,000+ return yards in the same season. He set a league record for all-purpose yards and tied the AFL mark for kickoffs returned for touchdowns (7). Chatman finished the season ranked in the top five in the AFL in receptions (2nd), receiving yards (3rd) and scoring (5th).
Moyer enjoyed the best year of his career, finishing with personal-highs in tackles (29.5), sacks (9) and interceptions (1). He led all Rush linemen in tackles, sacks, interceptions, quarterback hurries and fumbles forced. In addition, Moyer finished third in the AFL in sacks and fumbles forced.
Despite missing the season's first three games with a broken hand, Fleshman finished the year with 52 receptions and 18 touchdowns, while recording 35.5 tackles and two interceptions.
Gispert enjoyed a solid rookie season with the Rush, playing in 13 games and connecting on 64 of 79 PAT attempts and nine of 21 field-goals, including a game-winning 16-yard field goal in overtime that clinched Chicago's third-consecutive playoff berth. His 91 points led all rookie kickers.
McKenzie again earned the Walter Payton Award for his outstanding work in the Chicagoland community. From visiting patients at Children's Memorial Hospital to attending football camps, McKenzie embodies Chicago's community relations' efforts and the spirit of Walter Payton.
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