World Bowl rivals Davey and Jackson are MVPs; Lantz is top coach; All-NFLEL team announced

Published on June 9, 2004 under National Football League Europa (NFLE) News Release

BERLIN Thunder quarterback ROHAN DAVEY has been chosen as the NFLEL's Offensive MVP, while defensive end COREY JACKSON of the Frankfurt Galaxy has been selected as Defensive MVP. The two players will be in opposition on Saturday when their teams contest World Bowl XII at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

RICK LANTZ who led the Thunder to a record-equalling 9-1 mark in his first year as an NFLEL head coach, was named as the Coach of the Year. The former Navy head coach saw his team set another record by clinching a World Bowl berth as early as Week Seven of the season and came within one play of achieving a perfect season, Berlin's only loss coming by one point on the final play of the game in Cologne.

The Thunder and Galaxy each had six players named to the 2004 All-NFLEL team, tying with the Scottish Claymores for the highest number from one franchise. The Rhein Fire sent five players to the team, while the Amsterdam Admirals and Cologne Centurions each had two selections.

Davey, allocated by the New England Patriots, was named as quarterback on the All-NFLEL team as well as being selected as Offensive MVP by the league's head coaches. He led the league with 19 touchdown passes, finished the season with a league-high passer rating of 105.6 and was named Offensive Player of the Week on three occasions.

Three of Davey's offensive line were named to the All-NFLEL team, tackle DAVE KADELA, center BEN CLAXTON and guard TROY ANDREW.

Jackson, allocated by the Cleveland Browns, finished second in the league with 9.5 sacks and posted 26 tackles for the Galaxy, picking up two Defensive Player of the Week awards. He was also named to the All-NFLEL team, along with fellow Galaxy defensive end Bobby Setzer.

The All-NFLEL team, chosen by the NFLEL coaches, media and fans voting online at NFLEurope.com, saw a historic selection in the form of the Scottish Claymores' English wide receiver SCOTT McCREADY, who became the first national named as a position player after leading the league with 59 receptions.

The Claymores also had three members of their defense selected, defensive tackle ALAN HARPER, linebacker JIMMY McCLAIN and cornerback ALPHONSO ROUNDTREE.

Three players chosen have previously earned selection to the All-NFLEL team. Frankfurt tackle PATRICK VENZKE was named as the offensive national player, having previously been chosen in 2002 as a member of the Rhein Fire. Scotland kicker ROB HART was selected for a third time, having been chosen in 2001 and 2003, while Claymores punter NICK MURPHY was picked last year as a member of the Barcelona Dragons.

(All-NFLEL team follows)...

NFL EUROPE LEAGUE HONOURS 2004

COACH OF THE YEAR

Rick Lantz (Berlin Thunder)

OFFENSIVE MVP (Selected by the NFL Europe head coaches)

Rohan Davey (Berlin)

DEFENSIVE MVP (Selected by the NFL Europe head coaches)

Corey Jackson (Frankfurt)

ALL-NFL EUROPE LEAGUE TEAM

(Selected by the NFLEL coaching staffs, media

and by fans voting online at NFLeurope.com)

OFFENSE DEFENSE

QB Rohan Davey (Berlin) DE Bobby Setzer (Frankfurt)

RB Skip Hicks (Frankfurt) DT David Nugent (Rhein)

WR Chas Gessner (Berlin) DT Alan Harper (Scotland)

WR Adam Herzing (Rhein) DE Corey Jackson (Frankfurt)

WR Scott McCready (Scotland) LB Jimmy McClain (Scotland)

TE Tony Donald (Amsterdam) LB Mason Unck (Frankfurt)

T Dave Kadela (Berlin) LB Bobby Brooks (Cologne)

G Dave Volk (Amsterdam) CB Alphonso Roundtree (Scotland)

C Ben Claxton (Berlin) S Keith Davis (Berlin)

G Troy Andrew (Berlin) S Abdual Howard (Rhein)

T David Pruce (Frankfurt) CB Will Hunter (Cologne)

Nat. Patrick Venzke (Frankfurt) *** Nat. Richard Yancy (Rhein)

K Rob Hart (Scotland) * P Nick Murphy (Scotland) **

ST Shockmain Davis (Rhein)

(Nat - National player; ST - Special Teams player)

* Selected in 2001, 2003

** Selected in 2003

*** Selected in 2002

National Football League Europa Stories from June 9, 2004

• Chart-topping dance act Dr Alban to star in World Bowl XII halftime show - NFLE
• World Bowl rivals Davey and Jackson are MVPs; Lantz is top coach; All-NFLEL team announced - NFLE
• World Bowl XII Injury Report - NFLE

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