Grady, Sykes and Glasper earn weekly honors

Tuesday July 28, 2015

Glasper and Brooks also awarded for weekend’s highlights

LAS VEGAS – Jacksonville Sharks quarterback Tommy Grady has been awarded Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week, while Sharks defensive end Joe Sykes has been awarded Riddell Defensive Player of the Week, and Arizona Rattlers Mac linebacker Tyre Glasper has been awarded J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Week for Week 18 of the 2015 Arena Football League season. In addition to these awards, the AFL is also awarding the Cutters Catch of the Week and AFL Highlight of the Week. The Cutters Catch of the Week has also been awarded to Glasper, while the AFL Highlight of the Week has been awarded to Portland Thunder wide receiver Duane Brooks.

RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Grady (6-7, 250, Utah) passed for 179 yards and five touchdowns in the Sharks’ 63-16 rout of the Tampa Bay Storm in Week 18. The former League MVP ranks 10th in League history with 26,965 career passing yards, 35 yards shy of 27,000. He is now also two passing touchdowns shy of 600 for his career.

RIDDELL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sykes (6-5, 290, Southern) recorded his 17th sack of the season in Week 18, breaking his own single-season AFL record of 16, originally set in 2012. Sykes now has three of the top five single-season sack performances in AFL history (1st, 17 in 2015; 2nd, 16 in 2012; and 5th, 14.5 in 2013). He now ranks third in AFL history with 52 career sacks.

J LEWIS SMALL PLAYMAKER OF THE WEEK / CUTTERS CATCH OF THE WEEK
Glasper (6-3, 265, North Carolina A&T) collected one tackle for loss, one fumble recovery, and an interception in the Rattlers’ 68-55 victory over the LA KISS in Week 18. His interception near the end of the second quarter of the game also earned Cutters Catch of the Week honors. The Arizona linebacker – who is enjoying the best statistical season of his career, having set a new single-season franchise record for sacks with 10.5 in 2015 – made a one-handed interception near the goal line to prevent LA from getting on the board late in the first half. He will receive a Cutters hat and t-shirt in recognition of the catch.

AFL HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Brooks (5-10, 185, Stephen F. Austin) tied the AFL record for kickoff return touchdowns in a season with his seventh of 2015 in the Thunder’s 40-42 loss to the Spokane Shock in Week 18. The special teams ace has set new single-season franchise records with 1,818 kickoff return yards and seven kickoff return touchdowns in 2015.

Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week candidates included: Arizona’s Rod Windsor and Spokane’s Arvell Nelson.

Riddell Defensive Player of the Week candidates included: Arizona’s Tyre Glasper and Spokane’s Mike McMillan.

J Lewis Small Playmaker of the Week candidates included: Arizona’s Kerry Reed and Jacksonville’s Derrick Ross.

The Arena Football League is also awarding the MVP of the Week, where fans are given the opportunity to select the winner. Candidates include Arizona Rattlers wide receiver Rod Windsor, Jacksonville Sharks fullback Derrick Ross, and Spokane Shock quarterback Arvell Nelson. Fans will have 24 hours to vote on ArenaFootball.com beginning at 1 p.m. ET on Wednesday, July 29. The winner will be announced on Thursday, July 30.

About the AFL
Since its inception in 1987, the Arena Football League has showcased a fast-paced and exciting game to millions of fans in a myriad of markets across the country. The ESPN family of networks and CBS Sports Network will nationally broadcast AFL games each week for the entire 2015 season. This season will also be the first with Scott C. Butera leading the way as Commissioner. The AFL schedule culminates with ArenaBowl XXVIII Saturday, August 29, 2015 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.