|
FOR USE AS DESIRED COLTS RB EDGERRIN JAMES, BILLS S LAWYER MILLOY & Running back EDGERRIN JAMES of the Indianapolis Colts, safety LAWYER MILLOY of the Buffalo Bills and punter CHRIS GARDOCKI of the Pittsburgh Steelers are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the 11th week of the 2004 season (November 21-22), the NFL announced today. OFFENSE: RB EDGERRIN JAMES, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS Indianapolis’ James recorded an NFL season-high 204 rushing yards at Soldier Field to help the Colts defeat the Bears 41-10. James racked up his yards and one touchdown on 23 carries for an 8.9-yard average and is the first player to reach 200 rushing yards in a game this season. James, who now stands as the AFC’s top rusher with 1,081 yards, earned a first down on 10 of his 23 attempts (43.5 percent) and rushed for five or more yards on 14 of his carries. The Bears entered the game ranked 13th in the league in yards allowed per carry (3.9 yards) and since the club’s first season in 1920 had allowed only one opposing player to surpass 200 yards on the ground in Chicago – Pro Football Hall of Famer EARL CAMPBELL (206) of the Houston Oilers on November 16, 1980. Indianapolis stands at 7-3 and is in sole possession of first-place in the AFC South. In his sixth season from Miami, this is James’ sixth career Player of the Week Award and his second of the season (Week 2). DEFENSE: S LAWYER MILLOY, BUFFALO BILLS Milloy registered a career-high 3.0 sacks and nine total tackles in a 37-17 win against St. Louis. Milloy led a Buffalo defense that limited the Rams to a season-low 35 rushing yards. St. Louis entered the game with the NFL’s sixth-ranked offense and was unable to score a second-half point. Buffalo’s pass rush, with the 6-0, 190-pound Milloy at the helm, accounted for six sacks and helped force three interceptions. The St. Louis native is only the fourth Buffalo defensive back since 1970 to register multiple sacks in one game. Milloy, in his ninth season from Washington, now has three Player of the Week honors to his credit. This is his first as a member of the Bills. SPECIAL TEAMS: P CHRIS GARDOCKI, PITTSBURGH STEELERS In a game of field position, Pittsburgh’s Gardocki was a key asset in keeping the Bengals at bay in a 19-14 Steelers victory at Cincinnati. Gardocki punted seven times, placing five of his kicks inside the Bengals’ 20-yard line and three of them inside the 10. Pittsburgh nursed a 17-14 lead with 10:37 left in regulation, facing fourth down on its own 23-yard line when the 14-year NFL veteran was called upon to give Cincinnati a long field. Gardocki delivered with a 50-yard boot and no return, forcing the Bengals to take possession on their own 36. The Steelers’ defense took care of matters from there as Cincinnati would not cross its own 36 for the remainder of the game. This is the first career Player of the Week Award for Gardocki, who currently holds the NFL record for the most consecutive punts without one blocked (1,026). 2004 AFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Other nominees for AFC Offensive Player of Week 11 were: Pittsburgh running back JEROME BETTIS, who rushed for 129 yards on 29 carries (4.4-yard average) and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer TONY DORSETT for fifth-place on the NFL’s all-time career rushing list (12,863). New England quarterback TOM BRADY, who posted a 119.9 passer rating by passing for 315 yards and a touchdown without an interception, completing 17 of 26 (65.4 percent) in a 27-19 win at Kansas City. Buffalo tight end MARK CAMPBELL, who scored a career-best three touchdowns on four catches. Campbell became the first Buffalo tight end to haul in three touchdown receptions in a game. Denver running back REUBEN DROUGHNS, who rushed for 166 yards, including a 51-yard TD run, on 28 carries (5.9-yard average) in a 34-13 win at New Orleans. Droughns also caught two passes for 25 yards. Kansas City quarterback TRENT GREEN, who passed for 381 yards on 27 of 42 passing (64.3 percent) with two touchdowns and one interception for a 99.4 passer rating. Indianapolis quarterback PEYTON MANNING, who passed for four touchdowns against one interception. Manning is the first quarterback in NFL history to reach 35 TD passes in only 10 games played in a season. Other nominees for AFC Defensive Player of Week 11 were: Kansas City defensive end JARED ALLEN, who tallied 1.0 sack and four tackles. Denver cornerback CHAMP BAILEY, who led the Broncos with 13 tackles and a toe-dragging interception in his own endzone to thwart a scoring drive. Pittsburgh linebacker JAMES FARRIOR, who posted his first-career touchdown on a 14-yard interception return along with four tackles and another pass defensed. Indianapolis defensive back JOSEPH JEFFERSON, who in his first NFL start notched seven tackles, an interception and a forced fumble. New England defensive tackle TY WARREN, who registered seven tackles, including 2.0 sacks, one forced fumble and a pass defensed. Other nominees for AFC Special Teams Player of Week 11 were: Buffalo cornerback-punt returner NATE CLEMENTS, who returned a punt 86 yards for a touchdown – the second-longest punt return in club history. Kansas City punt returner-kick returner DANTE HALL, who returned six kickoffs for a 26.0-yard average. New England kicker ADAM VINATIERI, who added nine points to his league-leading 102 points scored and became just the second player in NFL history to tally more than 100 points in each of his first nine seasons.
|