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FOR USE AS DESIRED RAVENS QB KYLE BOLLER, CHARGERS LB DONNIE EDWARDS & STEELERS P CHRIS GARDOCKI NAMED AFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 14 Quarterback KYLE BOLLER of the Baltimore Ravens, linebacker DONNIE EDWARDS of the San Diego Chargers and punter CHRIS GARDOCKI of the Pittsburgh Steelers are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the 14th week of the 2004 season (December 12-13), the NFL announced today. OFFENSE: QB KYLE BOLLER, BALTIMORE RAVENS · Baltimore’s Boller passed for a career-high four touchdowns without an interception in leading the Ravens to a 37-14 home win against the New York Giants. The second-year quarterback from California became the fourth passer in the club’s nine-year history to pass for four TDs in a game. Boller produced the highest single-game passer rating of his young career (112.3) and surpassed a 100.0 rating for the fourth time this season, completing 18 of 34 for 219 yards. The 23-year-old led Baltimore on four scoring drives in its first seven possessions, including three touchdown passes with two well-placed high-wire scoring throws to 6-6 rookie wide receiver CLARENCE MOORE. With the victory, Baltimore (8-5) holds its ground in a tightly contested AFC playoff picture. The Ravens play at Indianapolis (10-3) next Sunday night.This is Boller’s first Player of the Week Award. DEFENSE: LB DONNIE EDWARDS, SAN DIEGO CHARGERS · Against Tampa Bay, San Diego linebacker DONNIE EDWARDS returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown with 4:09 remaining in regulation to break a 21-21 tie and help the Chargers deliver a 31-24 victory. The interception was Edwards’ second of the day, tying his career high, and marked the fourth time in his career that he returned an interception for a touchdown. The 6-2, 227-pounder also led the team with 16 tackles and four passes defensed. The Chargers improved their record to 10-3 and remain in first-place in the AFC West.In his ninth season from UCLA, this is Edwards’ second career Player of the Week Award (Week 15, 1999) and his first with San Diego. SPECIAL TEAMS: P CHRIS GARDOCKI, PITTSBURGH STEELERS · In a game largely impacted by field position, Pittsburgh’s Gardocki punted five times for a 42.4-yard average and 39.6-yard net average in a 17-6 victory against the New York Jets in a cold and windy Heinz Field. Kicking in a 25-degree windchill factor at kickoff, the 14-year veteran from Clemson boomed a long punt of 51 yards and twice allowed his teammates to down punts at his opponents’ four-yard line. The Stone Mountain, Georgia native has punted 1,042 times without having a punt blocked, making him the first and only player in NFL history to kick more than 1,000 punts without having one blocked.This is Gardocki’s second Player of the Week Award on the season (Week 11). 2004 AFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Other nominees for AFC Offensive Player of Week 14 were: Tennessee wide receiver DREW BENNETT, who notched a franchise record-tying three touchdown receptions on 12 catches for 233 yards (19.4 average) with a long reception of 42 yards in a 49-38 loss to Kansas City. Bennett’s receiving yards account for the third-most in franchise history. Pittsburgh running back JEROME BETTIS, who rushed for a 12-yard touchdown and threw a 10-yard touchdown pass. Bettis ran for 57 yards in a victory. New England quarterback TOM BRADY, who passed for two touchdowns, completing 18 of 26 attempts (69.2 percent) for 260 yards and a 127.1 passer rating in a 35-28 win against Cincinnati. Brady’s passer rating accounted for the fourth-highest of his five-year career. Indianapolis running back EDGERRIN JAMES, who posted 104 rushing yards on 28 carries and caught seven passes for 54 yards in a 23-14 win at Houston. James leads the NFL in rushing yards (1,395) and scrimmage yards (1,814). Kansas City running back LARRY JOHNSON, who rushed for two touchdowns and 104 yards on seven carries for a 14.9-yard average. Johnson also posted his career-long rush of 46 yards. Indianapolis quarterback PEYTON MANNING, who completed 26 of 33 passes for 298 yards and a pair of touchdowns for a 124.5 passer rating. Manning (46) needs three touchdown passes to surpass DAN MARINO (48, Miami, 1984) for the most in a season in NFL history. Buffalo running back WILLIS MC GAHEE, who rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-7 win against Cleveland. McGahee has surpassed 100 rushing yards in six of eight games played this season. San Diego running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON, who racked up a touchdown and 131 rushing yards on 25 carries (5.2 average). Tomlinson has scored a touchdown in a team-record 10 consecutive games. Tennessee quarterback BILLY VOLEK, who passed for 426 yards and four touchdowns on 29 of 43 passing (67.4 percent) for a 130.6 passer rating. Volek reached career-highs in touchdowns and passing yards. His 426 passing yards stand as the fifth-highest single-game total in franchise history. Other nominees for AFC Defensive Player of Week 14 were: Pittsburgh linebacker JAMES FARRIOR, who totaled 11 tackles and an interception with a 22-yard return. Indianapolis defensive end DWIGHT FREENEY, who notched 3.0 sacks for the second consecutive week for his ninth career multiple-sack performance in 44 career games. Baltimore safety ED REED, who notched four tackles and his NFL-best eighth interception, which led to a field goal on the last play from scrimmage in the first half. New England cornerback ASANTE SAMUEL, who made a key second-quarter interception and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown in a seven-point victory. Buffalo safety TROY VINCENT, who in his first start at free safety, became the first Bills player since 1989 to register 1.0 sack, an interception and a fumble recovery in the same game. Other nominees for AFC Special Teams Player of Week 14 were: New England kick returner BETHEL JOHNSON, who returned five kickoffs for 109 yards, including a long return of 38. Baltimore kicker MATT STOVER, who connected on all three of his field goal attempts from 46, 44, and 27 yards in addition to three extra points. |