FANS RECOGNIZE “RIVER CITY RELAY” AS“NFL PLAY OF THE YEAR - PRESENTED BY LEVITRAâ”(vardenafil HCI)New Orleans’ Miraculous 75-Yard Touchdown AgainstJacksonville Named NFL’s Top Play of 2003 SeasonHOUSTON, JANUARY 28, 2004 – The “River City Relay” -- New Orleans Saints’ last second dramatic 75-yard touchdown in Week 16 against the Jacksonville Jaguars -- has been voted by fans as the “NFL Play of the Year - Presented by LEVITRA.” The winning play was selected from the 17 NFL Plays of the Week awarded throughout the 2003 season. The “NFL Play of the Week / NFL Play of the Year - Presented by LEVITRA” awards were created by the NFL to recognize the single most exciting play during a given week through a vote of fans on www.nfl.com. Pro Football Hall of Famer and former NFL head coach, Mike Ditka, presented New Orleans Saints running back Deuce McAllister with the inaugural “NFL Play of the Year - Presented by LEVITRA” award at a press conference today in Houston, the site of Super Bowl XXXVIII. McAllister received a commemorative plaque and a charitable check for $10,000 in his name to the American Urological Association. Ditka is the spokesperson for "Tackling Men's Health," the NFL's new national men's health education campaign addressing critical health issues impacting millions of men. “We appreciate the support of our partners, Bayer and GlaxoSmithKline, recognizing the top plays every week of the NFL season,” John Collins, NFL Senior Vice President of Marketing & Sales. “Although we feel every play of every game is exciting, our goal was to empower our fans to select the most exciting play.” LEVITRA, a new prescription medication recently approved by the FDA, is a Proud Sponsor of the NFL. LEVITRA is co-marketed and co-developed by Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Bayer) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). In 2003, Bayer and GSK entered into a multi-year partnership with the NFL. In Week 16, trailing by a touchdown with six seconds remaining in the Saints’ December 21 game in Jacksonville, quarterback Aaron Brooks connected with Donte’ Stallworth on a 42-yard pass. Stallworth then ran across the field and flipped the ball to Michael Lewis, who gained seven yards and pitched the ball back to McAllister who ran five yards into a pack of Jaguars before pitching the ball back across the field to Jerome Pathon. With the help of an outstanding block by Brooks, Pathon scampered the final 21 yards for an apparent game-tying touchdown. However, New Orleans became the first team in NFL history to score a touchdown as time expired and lose the game on a missed extra point. The Saints’ dramatic touchdown edged out Nathan Poole’s (Arizona Cardinals) game-winning 28-yard touchdown reception from Josh McCown in Week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings, which gave the Green Bay Packers the NFC North title and eliminated the Vikings from playoff contention. Other finalists included: Dante Hall’s (Kansas City Chiefs) game-winning 93-yard punt return-touchdown in Week Five against the Denver Broncos; Randy Moss’ (Minnesota Vikings) 46-yard reception from Daunte Culpepper and lateral to Moe Williams for a touchdown in Week Seven against the Denver Broncos; and Willie McGinest’s (New England Patriots) game-saving goal line tackle in Week 13 against the Indianapolis Colts. For results and video of this year’s nominees, winners and finalists visit www.NFL.com/playoftheweek. 2003 NFL Plays of the Week - Presented by LEVITRAâ
|