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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Week Eight Report

June 6, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE MONTH - Grand Rapids Rampage OS STEVE SMITH. In four games, Smith (5-9, 185, Utah St.) recorded 43 receptions, 531 yards, 16 TDs, and four MVP of the Game awards as the Rampage took the lead in the Central Division and went 3-1 during the month of May. The second-year standout's highlight performance came against Carolina when he tallied 11 receptions for 134 yards and 5 TDs in a 64-45 victory. Smith is currently tied for No. 1 in receptions (59), No. 2 in scoring (126 points), and No. 4 in receiving yards (668).

CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE MONTH - San Jose SaberCats QB MARK GRIEB. One of the hottest passing hands in the AFL belongs to San Jose's cannon-armed quarterback. Grieb (6-3, 205, UC Davis) was 76-of-112 for 948 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only two interceptions as he led his team to three consecutive 70-plus scoring games enroute to a perfect (4-0) month. The four-year veteran's highlight performance came against Georgia when he connected on 24-of-33 passes for 292 yards and six touchdowns in a 59-53 victory on May 4. Grieb currently leads the league in touchdowns (43) and passer rating (132.2), while placing No. 3 in passing yards (1,930). Grieb also had a string of 167 pass attempts without an interception to start the season before finally throwing his first last week.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE MONTH - New York Dragons DS DONVETIS FRANKLIN. The ball-hawking rookie recorded 28 solo tackles, 10 assists, one tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery during the month of May. Franklin (5-11, 190, Michigan St.) also added three interceptions, a kickoff recovery for a touchdown, and a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown. He was selected Defensive Player of the Week for Week 6. Franklin is the current league leader in total tackles (52.0) and is tied for No. 5 in passes defended (12).

IRONMAN OF THE MONTH - Los Angeles Avengers FB/LB CHAD DUKES. Dukes (6-1, 225, Pittsburgh) has shined on both sides of the ball for the month of May. The former Panther had 27 rushes, 79 yards, five touchdowns, four receptions, and 51 receiving yards on offense. On the defensive side he forced a fumble, recorded two fumble recoveries, 13 solo tackles, five assists, and a half tackle for loss. In the return game, the 1998 Ironman of the Year had seven kick returns for 155 yards, including a 56-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Dukes was selected Ironman of the Week for Week 6. The fullback/linebacker is currently tied for No. 2 in the league with 99 rushing yards and tied for No. 4 in forced fumbles (2).

ROOKIE OF THE MONTH - Dallas Desperados OS DIALLEO BURKS. Burks (6-2, 195, Eastern Kentucky) has been the "go-to guy" for the expansion Desperados. In four games, Burks tallied 30 receptions, 400 yards, and nine touchdowns. Burks currently leads his team in scoring (78 points), receptions (47), and receiving yards (603). His highlight of the month came when he tallied nine receptions for 164 yards and five touchdowns in a losing effort (77-54) to San Jose on May 25.

KICKER OF THE MONTH - Tampa Bay Storm K MIKE BLACK. Black (5-6, 145, Boise St.) continues to be one of the best in the game. The league's all-time leading kicker connected on a 21-yard, game-winning field goal against Indiana on May 31. For the month, the nine-year veteran went 6-for-12 on field goals (including long of 46 yards). Black has consistently made kickoff returns difficult by "hitting the metal" or causing touchbacks. He was also 24-for-27 on extra points for May.

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WEEK EIGHT INJURY REPORT

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***AS REPORTED TO THE LEAGUE OFFICE BY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5***

ARIZONA RATTLERS (5-2) AT CAROLINA COBRAS (4-3) ARIZONA: OUT: OL/DL Jeff Macrea (lower leg); QUESTIONABLE: DS Derek Stingley (shoulder), OL/DL Tim Croff, OL/DL Wendall Gaines (ankle); PROBABLE: QB Sherdrick Bonner (foot), FB/LB John Peaua (shoulder), DS Ricky Parker (chest).
CAROLINA: None Reported.

NEW YORK (2-5) AT BUFFALO (3-4)
NEW YORK: DS Ty Talton, FB/LB Chris Morant, QB/WR Brent Petrus OL/DL Nate Bell.
BUFFALO: QUESTIONABLE: WR/DB Eddie Brown (hand), WR/DB Kevin Mason (knee); PROBABLE: FB/LB Derrick Chachere (knee), WR/DB Dwaine Carpenter (hip), FB/LB Juan Long (knee), OL/DL Silas Demary (knee).

DETROIT FURY (1-6) AT CHICAGO RUSH (4-3)
DETROIT: OUT: OS Robert Gordon (R humerus fracture), QB Drew Miller (L calf strain).
CHICAGO: OUT: OS Joe Douglass (abdominal); QUESTIONABLE: FB/LB Jamie Bowers (lower extremity); PROBABLE: FB/LB Jamie McGourty (lower extremity), OL/DL Marcus McKenzie (lower extremity).

TORONTO PHANTOMS (4-3) AT GEORIGA FORCE (2-5)
TORONTO: None Reported.
GEORGIA: OUT: FB/LB Rupert Grant (L achilles), OL/DL William Gaines (L shoulder sprain), K Stan Whitlock (L knee contusion), DS Quincy LeJay (R knee chronic ACL), FB/LB Kelron Sykes (L knee arthritis), WR/LB, L.C. Stevens (R ribs contusion/L ankle).

GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (5-2) AT NEW JERSEY (4-3)
GRAND RAPIDS: OUT: OS Terrill Shaw; PROBABLE: DS JoJo Polk, OL/DL Rod Manuel, OL/DL Terry Grooms, OL/DL Tyshaun Whitson, WR/DB Jason Waters.
NEW JERSEY: OUT: WR/LB George Williams (L fibula fracture), WR/DB Coco Blalock (L achilles rupture), DS Marc Williams (L knee tear), OL/DL Dwayne Sabb (L knee tear), QUESTIONABLE: WR/LB James Bowden (L knee sprain), OL/DL Jamarr Ward (R knee strain), OL/DL Hunter Adams (L hamstring strain), FB/LB Chris Pope (L groin strain); PROBABLE:DS Damon Mason (L finger sprain).

INDIANA FIREBIRDS (3-4) AT DALLAS DESPERADOS (3-4)
INDIANA: OUT: WR/DB Donnie Caldwell (ankle fracture), FB/LB Sunungura Rusununguko (ankle sprain); QUESTIONABLE: OL/DL Brian Creel (knee sprain), OL/DL Mark Valvo (hamstring strain), DS Cornelius Coe (ankle sprain), FB/LB Umar Muhammad (ankle sprain), OS Eddie Brown (knee sprain).
DALLAS: None Reported.

SAN JOSE SABERCATS (7-0) AT LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (4-3)
SAN JOSE: PROBABLE: DS Wendell Davis (shoulder contusion), FB/LB James Williams (laceration), FB/LB Matt Kinsinger (hamstring strain).
LOS ANGELES: None reported.

TAMPA BAY STORM (2-5) AT ORLANDO PREDATORS (3-4)
TAMPA BAY: None Reported.
ORLANDO: OUT: FB/LB Brian Goolsby WR/DB Junior Lord, FB/LB Tommy Dorsey; DOUBTFUL: FB/LB Chris Johnson, QB Craig Whelihan, DS Tommy Henry; QUESTIONABLE: OS Rodney Brown, OL/DL Joe Sipp.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 6, 2002


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