AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Trio Nab Player of the Week Honors

Published on May 14, 2002 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


Arizona Rattlers' OS CHRIS HORN, San Jose SaberCats' OL/DL SAM HERNANDEZ, and Tampa Bay Storm's WR/LB LAWRENCE SAMUELS have been named the Arena Football League's Offensive Player, "ADT" Defensive Player, and Ironman of the Week, respectively, for their performances during Week Four of the 2002 season.

Horn (5-9, 170, Montana St.), April's Ironman of the Month, hauled in 12 receptions for 164 yards and three touchdowns, while adding four kick returns for 86 yards in the Rattlers 51-40 victory over the Georgia Force. The former Bobcat currently leads the Rattlers (3-1) in receptions (34), receiving yards (485), kick return yardage (223), and scoring (66). This marks the second time that Horn has earned a league weekly honor. Horn won the Ironman of the Week honors during Week 9 of the 2001 season.

Hernandez (6-3, 250, Sonoma St.), a nine-year AFL veteran, sacked Los Angeles quarterback TONY GRAZIANI twice and helped hold the Avenger offense to only 10 points in the second half in the SaberCats 78-44 victory. Hernandez finished the game with 3.5 tackles, two sacks and a pass deflection. He is currently the all-time career leader sack list (51.5). This award marks the second time that Hernandez has garnered league-wide weekly recognition in his career. Hernandez, a former Lineman of the Year recipient (2000 season) and a four-time All-Arena selection, earned Ironman of the Week during Week 4 of the 1997 season.

Samuels (6-2, 200, Livingston), an eight-year veteran, had his best all-around performance of the 2002 season in the Storm's 66-53 victory over the Chicago Rush. Samuels had nine receptions for 88 yards and three touchdowns on offense, while adding 2.5 tackles, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Since returning to Tampa Bay (1-3) after a season in New Jersey, Samuels currently leads the team in receptions (31), receiving yards (347), touchdowns (7), and scoring (44). It marks the second time Samuels has earned league-wide weekly honor (Week 5 in 1998).

Other candidates for Offensive Player of the Week included: Buffalo's Fred McNair, Carolina's Connell Maynor, Chicago's Billy Dicken, Dallas' Andy Kelly, Grand Rapids' Steve Smith, Orlando's Antonio Stanley, San Jose's Mark Grieb and James Hundon, Tampa Bay's Shane Stafford, and Toronto's Damian Harrell.

Other candidates for "ADT" Defensive Player of the Week included: Dallas' Tom Briggs, New York's Donvetis Franklin, Buffalo's Corey Johnson, and Grand Rapids' Travis McDonald.

Other candidates for Ironman of the Week included: Buffalo's Juan Long, Carolina's Cory Fleming, Dallas' Adrian Lunsford, Grand Rapids' Travis McDonald, Los Angeles' Chad Dukes, San Jose's Omarr Smith, and Toronto's Jermaine Younger and Charlie Davidson.

PREVIOUS WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS

Week, Offensive, "ADT" Defensive, Ironman
Week 1, Chris Jackson (Los Angeles), Ron Carpenter (Georgia), Gary Compton (Indiana)
Week 2, Sherdrick Bonner (Arizona), Bob McMillen (San Jose), Mike Furrey (New York)
Week 3, Lamont Cooper (Buffalo), Andre Bowden (Carolina), Greg Hopkins (Los Angeles)

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"BUILT FORD TOUGH" WINNERS

This week, Orlando coaches selected WR/LB CLIF DELL as one of their Built Ford Tough Players of the Game. The Built Ford Tough Award is a national recognition award given after every game to the player or players on each team best demonstrating determination and toughness in that game. The award honors the players who made a game-saving tackle or score-saving tackle, threw a key block on the big play or exhibited physical sacrifice or consistent tough blocking and tackling on either side of the ball. Last week, despite being knocked unconscious on the first drive of the game while making a tackle and missing the entire first quarter, Dell returned to the game and caught six passes for a career-high 132 yards and three TDs. Dell also tipped a ball that led to a 4th quarter interception and presented Orlando with an opportunity to tie the game. Unfortunately, the Predators came up short losing to the Rampage, 55-69. Up to five players who display the "get-it-done" kind of attitude are honored by each team every week. A point system is maintained on the league's official site, www.arenafootball.com, throughout the season that will culminate in the "Built Ford Tough" Man of the Year, a player who will win a Ford Truck at the end of the season. Here is a list of this week's winners.

WEEK FIVE TEAM-BY-TEAM WINNERS

Arizona: Stacy Evans, Wendall Gaines, Chris Horn, Bobby McGowens, Hunkie Cooper
Buffalo: David Caldwell, Corey Johnson, Dwaine Carpenter, Juan Long
Carolina: Cory Fleming, Kevin Gaines, Andre Bowden, Connell Maynor, Brian Schmitz
Chicago: Anthony Ladd, Lindsay Fleshman, Rich McKenzie
Dallas: Tom Briggs
Detroit: Chuck Winters, Chuck Levy, Robert Gordon, Kelvin Kinney, Harry Deligianis
Georgia: William Gaines, Travis Reece, Jarrick Hillery
Grand Rapids: Travis McDonald, Ricky Simpkins, Isreal Raybon, Terrill Shaw, Chris Ryan
Indiana: Kyle Moore-Brown, Hugh Hunter, Van Johnson, Chris Snyder, Greg Williams
Los Angeles: Chad Dukes, Greg Hopkins New Jersey: Dennison Robinson, Alvin Ashley, Dwayne Sabb
New York: None reported
Orlando: Clif Dell, Jay Gruden San Jose: Omarr Smith, Matt Kinsinger, Albrey Battle, Sam Hernandez, James Hundon
Tampa Bay: John Williams, Mike Black
Toronto: Damian Harrell, Del Lee, Kerry Brown, Jermaine Younger, Charlie Davidson

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ARENA HEROES: IN THE COMMUNITY

THIS WEEK: MAY 14 -- 21

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CAROLINA
May 15 -- Cobras players will be participating in American Red Cross Blood Drive at three locations in Raleigh, Cary and Durham.

May 18 -- Cobras players will stop by Raleigh's Methodist Home for Children.

May 18 -- Members of the Snake Charmers dance team will participate in a Relay of Life Event.

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CHICAGO
May 15 – Lineman A.J. BLAZEK will be speaking to the 5th grade graduates of the Melzer School D.A.R.E. program (Morton Grove, Ill.).

May 18 – JAMES BARON's "Rush Team Zone" will welcome youths from the Values Organization of Hammond Ind.

May 20 – CEDRIC WALKER will address the graduates of the McHenry, Ill. D.A.R.E. program at Parkland Jr. High School.

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INDIANA
May 15. The Firebirds' dance team -- the Flames -- and team mascot "Spike" will be on hand to help X-103 and Coors to give away Firebird and Indianapolis 500 Tickets and other great prizes on East Washington.

May 18. Festival Kids Day on the Circle 11-4. Spike and the Flames will be on hand to sign autographs for 20,000 kids attending the day's events.

May 18. The Flames and Spike will be on hand to help X-103 and Coors to give away Firebird and Indianapolis 500 Tickets and other great prizes in Greenwood.

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NEW YORK
May 21 -- Children at the Grenville Boys and Girls Club will get a chance to play football with six members of the New York Dragons during an outdoor Punt, Pass and Kick clinic. QB MATT NAGY will be joined by MIKE FURREY, GEOFF TURNER, JASON MAXWELL, CARL SACCO, and SEAN TREMBLAY. Approximately 100 children will participate in the clinic, which will consist of several drills and hands-on instruction from the Dragons.

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SAN JOSE
May 18 -- The SaberCats' dance team -- the SaberKittens -- will be at the Greater Body Expo (Bfit Fitness/Trek Alliance Booth) at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, Calif. The event leads up to the "Bay to Breakers Race" on Sunday.

May 19 – The SaberKittens will lend a hand during the Pioneer High School Golf Tournament at Gilroy Golf Course, an event to raise money for the sports programs at the high school.

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ARENAFOOTBALL.COM POLL RESULTS

Q: WHO IS THE MOST DANGEROUS RETURN MAN IN THE GAME TODAY?
HUNKIE COOPER, Arizona - 26%
ANTHONY DERRICKS, Toronto - 25%
LAMONT COOPER, Buffalo - 16%
STEVE PAPIN, New York - 15%
Other - 10%
RON CARPENTER, Georgia - 8%



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 14, 2002


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