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FOR USE AS DESIRED JAGUARS RB FRED TAYLOR, JETS LB ERIC BARTON & Running back FRED TAYLOR of the Jacksonville Jaguars, linebacker ERIC BARTON of the New York Jets and kick returner-punt returner DANTE HALL of the Kansas City Chiefs are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the 15th week of the 2004 season (December 18-20), the NFL announced today. OFFENSE: RB FRED TAYLOR, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS · Jacksonville’s Taylor rushed for 165 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries for a 7.5-yard-per-carry average in a 28-25 victory against the Packers in frosty Green Bay, where the temperature at kickoff was 12 degrees with a wind chill of -3. Taylor had a long run of 46 yards and also ran for a 37-yard touchdown to give the Jaguars a 21-17 third-quarter lead which they would not relinquish. Three of Taylor’s carries went for more than 20 yards and six of them went for first downs. His 165 rushing yards account for his season-high and marked the fifth time in the past eight games Taylor surpassed 100 rushing yards. The seven-year veteran from Florida is one of six AFC player with more than 1,200 rushing yards (1,224) and stands fourth in the conference in total yards from scrimmage (1,569).This is the third Player of the Week honor for Taylor and his first since 2000 (Week 12 at Pittsburgh). DEFENSE: LB ERIC BARTON, NEW YORK JETS The Jets’ Barton made his 50th career start and registered nine tackles, one sack, one interception, two passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in a 37-14 win against Seattle. Barton recorded his first interception as a Jet in the second quarter and returned it seven yards to set up a Jets’ touchdown drive. The 6-2, 245-pounder forced a fumble at the Jets’ one-yard line that was recovered in the end zone by teammate SHAUN ELLIS at the end of the third quarter. Barton went on to notch a fourth-quarter quarterback sack for a six-yard loss before recovering a fumble two plays later to set up another Jets’ touchdown drive. The Jets have shutout an NFL-best seven opponents in the second half this season. In his sixth season from Maryland, this is Barton’s first career Player of the Week Award.
SPECIAL TEAMS: KR-PR DANTE HALL, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS Kansas City’s Hall returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown to help the Chiefs defeat Denver in Arrowhead Stadium, 45-17, and keep the team’s playoff chances alive entering Week 16. Hall also returned a pair of punts for a total of 30 yards in the victory. The touchdown return was Hall’s second of the season and the fifth of his career for the most in Chiefs history, surpassing TAMARICK VANOVER (4). The touchdown return also was Hall’s ninth career special teams TD, moving him ahead of Vanover (8) for the most in franchise annals. Of Hall’s 13 career touchdowns (receiving and returns), four have come against Denver (two receiving TDs, one punt return TD and one kickoff return TD). The former NFL Europe Scottish Claymore tied a team single-season record with 57 kickoff returns on the season, a mark he previously accomplished in 2002 and 2003. Hall has 1,458 kickoff return yards on the season, the second-highest seasonal total in team history. In his fifth year from Texas A&M, this is Hall’s sixth Player of the Week Award. 2004 AFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Other nominees for AFC Offensive Player of Week 15 were: Oakland quarterback KERRY COLLINS, who threw five touchdown passes against one interception for a season-high 371 yards and a 119.5 passer rating in the Raiders’ 40-35 win against Tennessee. Collins completed 21 of 37 pass attempts (56.8 percent) on the day. Buffalo rookie wide receiver LEE EVANS (first-round, Wisconsin), who caught five passes for 101 yards and one touchdown in a 33-17 win at Cincinnati. Evans now has three receptions of 60 yards or more on the season. Kansas City running back LARRY JOHNSON, who carried the ball 30 times for 151 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Johnson has 100 rushing yards in three consecutive games. New York running back CURTIS MARTIN, who surpassed 100 yards for the eighth time on the season, rushing for 134 yards and two TDs on 24 carries (5.6 average). Martin has scored a club single-season record 12 touchdowns. New York quarterback CHAD PENNINGTON, who notched a 148.1 passer rating, completing 18 of 24 passes (75.0 percent) for 253 yards with three touchdowns without an interception. Pittsburgh wide receiver ANTWAAN RANDLE EL, who averaged 29.8 yards on five receptions and posted a career-high 149 receiving yards. Four of his five receptions gained 30 or more yards. He scored one receiving touchdown and also threw a 10-yard TD pass in a 33-30 road win against the Giants. San Diego running back LA DAINAIN TOMLINSON, who rushed for a pair of touchdowns and 111 yards on 26 carries in a 21-0 win at Cleveland. Tomlinson has scored a touchdown in a club-record 11 consecutive games. Tennessee quarterback BILLY VOLEK, who threw for a career-high 492 yards and four touchdowns on 40 of 60 passing against one interception for a 107.1 passer rating. Volek also rushed for a touchdown and became the first player in franchise history to pass for 400 yards in consecutive weeks. His 492 yards account for the second-most in team annals. Other nominees for AFC Defensive Player of Week 15 were: San Diego linebacker DONNIE EDWARDS, who made a first-quarter interception in his own endzone to thwart a scoring drive in a defensive effort that led to a shutout. New York defensive end SHAUN ELLIS, who made a touchdown saving-tackle on the Jets’ one-yard line, recorded 1.0 sack and forced a fumble. Pittsburgh linebackers LARRY FOOTE, who registered 11 total tackles and assisted on two tackles for losses. Indianapolis defensive end DWIGHT FREENEY, who recorded 2.0 sacks in a 20-10 win against Baltimore. Freeney leads the NFL with 15.0 sacks and has registered 2.0 or more sacks in three consecutive games. Kansas City cornerback DEXTER MC CLEON, who posted two interceptions and four tackles. Miami cornerback SAMMY KNIGHT, who caught a pair of interceptions and chalked-up nine tackles in a 29-28 Monday night home win against New England. Buffalo linebacker TAKEO SPIKES, who notched five tackles, a fumble recovery and a 62-yard interception return for a touchdown against his former team in Cincinnati. Other nominees for AFC Special Teams Player of Week 15 were: Buffalo rookie tight end JASON PETER (free agent), who in his fifth NFL game, blocked a punt and recovered it in the endzone for a touchdown. Pittsburgh kicker JEFF REED, who was a perfect four-for-four on field goal attempts and was successful on three extra point tries for 15 points. Miami punter MATT TURK, who punted six times for a 45.7 punting average and a 42.8 net average with two punts inside the 20. |