| FOR USE AS DESIRED |
| NFL-PLAY-9 10/31/00 |
TITANS CB SAMARI ROLLE
WINNER OF DIRECTV "NFL PLAY OF THE WEEK" AWARD
Cornerback SAMARI ROLLE of the Tennessee Titans is the winner of the DirecTV NFL Play of the Week Award for the ninth week of the 2000 season, the NFL announced today.
Trailing the Titans 13-7 Monday night with the ball on the Tennessee 34-yard line, Washington Redskins quarterback BRAD JOHNSON threw toward wide receiver IRVING FRYAR. But Rolle stepped in front of Fryar, picked off the pass, and began a long journey towards the end zone.
Rolle cautiously made his way up the sideline, then weaved his way to the opposite sideline before carefully reading his blocks and scampering into the end zone for a spectacular and lengthy touchdown. The half expired during the run.
"Two football fields, nonstop," said Rolle about his run. "I was winded when I got all the way. I was fortunate to make a play and when I looked up, my teammates had made a wall in front of me and we went from there."
The touchdown gave the Titans a 13-point lead and propelled them to a 27-21 victory.
"That kind of broke open the game there," said Titans wide receiver Derrick Mason. "He was determined to get it into the end zone. Some people intercept it and run up the sidelines and out of bounds and are satisfied with that. Not Samari."
Fans can view the DirecTV NFL Play of the Week each Tuesday on nfl.com.
This is the first season of the DirecTV NFL Play of the Week Award. DirecTV will donate a total of $10,000 in the names of the weekly winners to the United Way.
| WEEK | PLAYER(S) | PLAY |
| 1 | Buccaneers QB Shaun King & WR Reidel Anthony |
Faked spike, 8-yard TD pass. |
| 2 | Jets WR Wayne Chrebet | Spectacular game-winning touchdown catch. |
| 3 | Jets CB Marcus Coleman | Defender catches first-half Hail Mary TD. |
| 4 | Jets RB Curtis Martin & WR Wayne Chrebet |
Halfback game-winning TD pass. |
| 5 | Redskins PR Deion Sanders | 57-yard overtime punt return. |
| 6 | Patriots QB Michael Bishop & WR Tony Simmons |
44-yard Hail Mary TD to end first half. |
| 7 | Falcons KR Darrick Vaughn & Rams KR Tony Horne | Began the game with back-to-back kickoff return touchdowns, first time in NFL history. |
| 8 | Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper & WR Randy Moss | Game-winning 39-yard fourth-quarter TD pass. |
| 9 | Titans CB Samari Rolle | Spectacular 81-yard interception-return TD. |