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FOR USE AS DESIRED BUCCANEERS
RB MICHAEL PITTMAN, BEARS DE ALEX BROWN & Running back MICHAEL PITTMAN of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, defensive end ALEX BROWN of the Chicago Bears and wide receiver JAMES THRASH of the Washington Redskins are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the ninth week of the 2004 season (November 6-7), the NFL announced today. OFFENSE: RB MICHAEL PITTMAN, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS Pittman played an instrumental role in the Buccaneers 34-31 win against the Kansas City Chiefs, rushing for 128 yards on 15 carries, including three touchdown runs. With Tampa Bay trailing 24-21 early in the third quarter, Pittman raced for a 78-yard touchdown, the longest run in franchise history and longest of his career. Then after the Chiefs took a 31-28 lead into the fourth quarter, Pittman’s three-yard touchdown run with 11:50 remaining proved to be the game-winning score. The San Diego native scored for the first time on the day on a one-yard run in the second quarter and averaged 8.5 yards per carry. He also added two receptions for 30 yards. After starting the season with four consecutive losses, the Buccaneers have won three of their past four games, including two in a row at home. In his seventh season from Fresno State, this is Pittman’s first Player of the Week Award. DEFENSE: DE ALEX BROWN, CHICAGO BEARS Brown wreaked havoc on the New York Giants offense throughout the game, helping the Bears to an impressive 28-21 road victory. Brown posted a 2004 season-high 4.0 sacks, aiding the defense in limiting New York to 258 total yards and 167 passing yards after entering the game averaging 346.7 and 209.4, respectively. Brown totaled eight tackles and played a major role in Chicago forcing the Giants into five turnovers. With the Bears holding a seven-point advantage in the waning moments, Brown’s final sack of quarterback KURT WARNER forced a fourth-and-20. When the following play resulted in an incomplete pass, Chicago’s victory was secure. The 4.0-sack performance was only the third by a Bear since sacks have been compiled as an official statistic in 1982 and the first since RICHARD DENT’s 4.5 on December 27, 1987 against the Raiders. In his third season from Florida, this is Brown’s first Player of the Week Award. It also marks the first time Bears’ defenders have captured consecutive defensive honors (BRIAN URLACHER, Week 8) since MARK CARRIER, RICHARD DENT, MIKE SINGLETARY and MIKE MERRIWEATHER did it in Weeks 9-12 of the 1990 season. SPECIAL TEAMS: WR JAMES THRASH, WASHINGTON REDSKINS Thrash excelled in all phases of special teams as the Redskins earned a 17-10 win against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. His 43-yard punt return in the second quarter led to a 24-yard field goal by OLA KIMRIN, giving the Redskins a 3-0 advantage. Thrash led the team with four special teams tackles, downing two balls inside the five-yard line. He also helped limit Detroit’s dangerous return specialist EDDIE DRUMMOND to a 4.2-yard punt return average in the win. In his eighth season from Missouri Southern, this is Thrash’s first Player of the Week Award. 2004 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 9 were: Seattle running back SHAUN ALEXANDER, who carried 26 times for 160 yards, including touchdown runs of one and four yards in a 42-27 win at San Francisco. Alexander leads the NFL with three 150-yard rushing games this season. Arizona rookie wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD, who posted five receptions for 92 yards, including the game-winning two-yard touchdown catch with 19 seconds remaining in a 24-23 win at Miami. Tampa Bay quarterback BRIAN GRIESE, who completed 22 of 34 attempts for 296 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, finishing with a 111.9 passer rating. Seattle quarterback MATT HASSELBECK, who passed for three touchdowns and no interceptions, completing 17 of 28 attempts for 285 yards and posting a 130.8 passer rating in the win. Washington running back CLINTON PORTIS, who rushed for 147 yards on 34 carries and also threw a 15-yard touchdown pass. Chicago running back ANTHONY THOMAS, who gained 110 yards on 28 carries, including touchdown runs of four and 41 yards. Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 9 were: Tampa Bay cornerback RONDE BARBER, who had nine tackles, one forced fumble and 1.0 sack. Washington defensive tackle CORNELIUS GRIFFIN, who totaled seven tackles, 2.0 sacks and two pass deflections. Seattle linebacker ANTHONY SIMMONS, who led the team with six tackles and scored on a 23-yard interception return to seal the win. Tampa Bay safety DWIGHT SMITH, who totaled six tackles and added one interception and one forced fumble. Arizona cornerback DUANE STARKS, who had seven tackles and a key 41-yard interception return touchdown, helping the Cardinals rebound from a nine-point second-half deficit en route to the win. Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 9 were: Minnesota punt returner NATE BURLESON, who returned two punts for 96 yards, including a 91-yard punt return touchdown, the second-longest in team history, against Indianapolis on ABC’s NFL Monday Night Football. Tampa Bay running back GREG COMELLA, who led the team with a season-high four special teams tackles and had a 20-yard kickoff return that set up a field goal attempt. |