Simonton Wins Honors Again
Published on June 10, 2003 under National Football League Europa (NFLE) News Release
SCOTTISH Claymores star running back KEN SIMONTON has been named NFL Europe's Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season.
Also honoured in the final week of the regular season were Berlin Thunder linebacker JAMAL WHITE, Rhein Fire wide receiver/kick returner KENDALL NEWSON and Frankfurt Galaxy defensive end DANIEL BENETKA.
Simonton - allocated to NFL Europe by the Buffalo Bills - led the league in yards from scrimmage (1,074), rushing yards (720) and touchdowns (10) in 2003. He scooped his third NFLEL Player of the Week prize after rushing for 151 yards and catching 5 passes for 28 yards during Scotland's victory over the Amsterdam Admirals on Sunday.
The speedy running back was also named Offensive Player of the Week following Scotland's season opener against Berlin and after a Week 5 performance versus the F.C. Barcelona Dragons that saw him come within three yards of being the first player in league history to have 100 yards rushing and receiving in the same game (108 rushing, 97 receiving).
White, of the Oakland Raiders, helped the defending champion Berlin Thunder end a frustrating 3-7 season on a winning note against the World Bowl-bound Frankfurt Galaxy, earning Defensive Player of the Week honours in the process.
The linebacker recorded 4 tackles, knocked down a pass, forced a fumble and returned a fourth quarter interception 46 yards to the end zone to seal a 27-14 victory for the Thunder.
White ended the 2003 campaign as Berlin's leading tackler with 55 stops. He also added a sack, 2 interceptions, a forced fumble and 4 special teams tackles.
Miami Dolphins allocate Newson grabbed his second Special Teams Player of the Week prize during the Rhein Fire's 33-7 demolition of the F.C. Barcelona Dragons on Saturday. His other award came in Week 6 against Amsterdam.
Newson helped the Fire reach World Bowl XI in Scotland by scoring on a dazzling 67-yard punt return against the Dragons. The star receiver ended the day having returned 6 punts for 121 yards and 1 kickoff for 39 yards.
Like Newson, Galaxy German defensive lineman Benetka also picked up his second Player of the Week award in the final round of games in the 2003 regular season.
Benetka - who has spent the past two summers in training camp with the NFL's New England Patriots (2002) and Indianapolis Colts (2001) - was named National Player of the Week after he notched 4 tackles and 2 sacks during Frankfurt's loss in Berlin.
NFL EUROPE LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS - WEEK 10
OFFENSIVE KEN SIMONTON RB Scottish Claymores
DEFENSIVE JAMAL WHITE LB Berlin Thunder
SPECIAL TEAMS KENDALL NEWSON WR Rhein Fire
NATIONAL DANIEL BENETKA DE Frankfurt Galaxy
National Football League Europa Stories from June 10, 2003
- Galaxy Ready to Face Fire for World Bowl Title - Frankfurt Galaxy
- Simonton Wins Honors Again - NFLE
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