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FOR USE AS DESIRED CHIEFS RB
PRIEST HOLMES, JETS DE JOHN ABRAHAM Running back PRIEST HOLMES of the Kansas City Chiefs, defensive end JOHN ABRAHAM of the New York Jets, and rookie kick returner-punt returner B.J. SAMS of the Baltimore Ravens are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Month for October, the NFL announced today. OFFENSE: RB PRIEST HOLMES, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS The Chiefs’ Holmes posted three 100-yard rushing games and 10 touchdowns in four October contests to help the team reach a 3-1 record for the month. Holmes carried the ball 106 times in October for 482 yards (4.5 average) and nine rushing touchdowns. He also caught 10 passes for 170 yards (17.0 average) with one receiving touchdown. The eight-year veteran from the University of Texas led the NFL in October rushing yards and leads the league in rushing through eight weeks (833). Holmes aims to be the first NFL rushing champion since Cleveland’s MARION MOTLEY (1950) to be 30 years old or older at the start of a season. Through seven games, Holmes (13) also is on pace to become the first player in NFL history to record 20 or more rushing touchdowns in three consecutive seasons. This is Holmes’ second career Player of the Month Award (October 2002). DEFENSE: DE JOHN ABRAHAM, NEW YORK JETS New York’s Abraham led all NFL players in October sacks with 6.5 along with 16 tackles, 11 quarterback pressures, two passes defensed, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries to help the Jets earn a 3-1 record in the month and share the AFC East’s top record with New England (6-1). Abraham had either a pass defensed or a forced fumble – or both – in three of four October games. A player whose childhood idols were WALTER PAYTON and JERRY RICE, Abraham applied continual pressure on opposing quarterbacks with a pair of multi-sack games and posted 1.5 sacks in the Jets’ other two contests. In his fifth year from South Carolina, this is Abraham’s second career Player of the Month honor (November 2001). SPECIAL TEAMS: KR-PR B.J. SAMS, BALTIMORE RAVENS Baltimore punt returner-kick returner B.J. SAMS, returned two punts for touchdowns in the month and leads all AFC players in punt return average (13.2 yards) on the season. For October, Sams returned 11 punts for 188 yards to produce a hearty 17.1 average. The rookie free agent’s two October punt return touchdowns account for all such touchdowns in the AFC this season. The 5-10, 185-pound Sams recorded the NFL’s longest punt return of the season with his 78-yarder for a score against the Redskins on October 10 (Week 5). Sams also returned a punt for a touchdown against Kansas City on October 4 (Week 4). From McNeese State, the 24-year-old Sams is the first Ravens player to earn a Special Teams Player of the Month Award since JERMAINE LEWIS in December of 2000. 2004 AFC PLAYERS OF THE MONTH
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