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NFL-208                    1/2/04

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Charles Leone                                                                                                               Brendan Moynihan

Alan Taylor Communications                                                                                           National Football League

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FIVE FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR THE

“NFL PLAY OF THE YEAR - PRESENTED BY LEVITRA”â

(vardenafil HCI) 

Fan Voting Begins Today and Runs to 4 p.m. ET Thursday, January 8, on NFL.com

NEW YORK, JANUARY 2, 2004 – The Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl kick returner Dante Hall’s amazing game-winning 93-yard punt-return touchdown in Week 5 against the Denver Broncos is among the five finalists for the “NFL Play of the Year - Presented by LEVITRA”â (vardenafil HCI) - introduced by the NFL this season. 

The award was created by the NFL to recognize the single most exciting play of the year as determined by the fans.  The five finalists for the award were chosen by the NFL from the pool of 17 “NFL Play of the Week - Presented by LEVITRA” – weekly winners as voted on by the fans.

Starting today and running to 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 8, 2004 fans can visit www.nfl.com to view and vote for the play they deem worthy to be named the “NFL Play of the Year - Presented by LEVITRA.” 

The “NFL Play of the Year - Presented by LEVITRA” – winner will be announced and honored at a press conference on Wednesday, January 28th in Houston, Texas, the site of Super Bowl XXXVIII.  For details and video of this year’s nominees, winners and finalists log on to NFL.com.

LEVITRA (vardenafil HCI), a new prescription medication recently approved by the FDA, is a Proud Sponsor of the NFL. LEVITRA is co-marketed by Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Bayer) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Earlier this year, Bayer and GSK entered into a multi-year partnership with the NFL.

“NFL Play of the Year - Presented by LEVITRA” Finalists

Dante Hall, PR - Kansas City Chiefs - Game-winning 93-yard punt return-touchdown in Week 5 against the Denver Broncos
The only two-time winner garners his second win and third of three “NFL Play of the Week - Presented by LEVITRA” - nominated plays with a game-winning 93-yard punt return touchdown in Week 5.  Hall fields a Micah Knorr punt with his team trailing 23-17 and fakes out several Denver Broncos defenders to extend his NFL record to four consecutive games with a return touchdown. For the second week in a row, Hall's return touchdown proved to be the game-winning score as the Chiefs won a crucial early season AFC West battle, 24-23.

Randy Moss, WR - Minnesota Vikings – Forty-six-yard reception from Daunte Culpepper and lateral to Moe Williams for a touchdown in Week 7 against the Denver Broncos
On the last play of the first half in Week 7 against the Denver Broncos, the Vikings Pro Bowl receiver makes a leaping catch of a Daunte Culpepper “Hail Mary” at the 13-yard line and laterals the ball to teammate Moe Williams for a dazzling 59-yard score.  Moss finished the 28-20 win with 10 receptions for 151 yards upping the Vikings record to a perfect 6-0. Moss was also nominated for the “NFL Play of the Week - Presented by LEVITRA” - in Week 5 for a 17-yard touchdown reception from Gus Frerotte against the Falcons and in Week 14 for a 47-yard over-the-shoulder touchdown reception from Daunte Culpepper against the Seattle Seahawks. 

Donte’ Stallworth, WR - New Orleans Saints - 42-yard reception from Aaron Brooks and lateral to Michael Lewis, Deuce McAllister and Jerome Pathon for a 75-yard touchdown in Week 16 against the Jacksonville Jaguars
With six seconds remaining in the game and the Saints trailing by a touchdown, Aaron Brooks hits Donte' Stallworth with a 42-yard pass, who then runs across the field and flips the ball to Lewis, who gains seven yards and pitches the ball back to Deuce McAllister for five yards.  McAllister looks to be tackled when he laterals to Jerome Pathon, who runs 21 yards for the touchdown. The Saints missed the ensuing extra point attempt, which would have sent the game into overtime.

Willie McGinest, DE - New England Patriots - Game-saving goal-line tackle in Week 13 against the Indianapolis Colts
With only 14 seconds remaining in a game between two of the AFC’s elite teams, the Patriots veteran defensive end stops Indianapolis running back Edgerrin James in the backfield on fourth down on the New England one-yard line. The game-saving tackle preserved New England's 38-34 road win and helped the Patriots improve to an AFC East leading 10-2 record and eventually their second AFC East crown in three years. 

Nathan Poole, WR - Arizona Cardinals - Game-winning 28-yard touchdown reception from Josh McCown in Week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings
With four seconds left in the game, on fourth and 25 and the Cardinals trailing by 5, Josh McCown finds Nathan Poole with a 28-yard pass in the end zone. The touchdown gave the Cardinals the win in a game which helped determine the NFC North winner.

2003 NFL Plays of the Week - Presented by LEVITRA

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