Grady, Robinson, Wright earn Week 2 honors

Tuesday March 22, 2011

White, Rucker, and Kyles also awarded for weekend’s highlights

TULSA, OKLA. – Utah QB TOMMY GRADY, Jacksonville DB MICHEAUX ROBINSON and San Jose WR RODNEY WRIGHT have been named Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week, Riddell Defensive Player of the Week and JLS Ironman of the Week, respectively, for Week 2 of the 2011 AFL season. In addition to these three awards, the AFL is also awarding the best catch of the week, the playmaker of the week and the highlight of the week. The Cutters Catch of the Week award winner for Week 2 is WR MARKEE WHITE of the Spokane Shock, while the NiFTy Playmaker of the Week is Chicago Rush WR MICAH RUCKER. The Spalding Highlight of the Week award winner is Chicago Rush DB PERRY KYLES.

RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Grady (6-7, 250, Utah) finished 26-of-39 for 306 yards and seven touchdowns in Utah’s Week 2 72-36 victory over Tampa Bay. He also rushed four times for four yards and two scores on the ground.

RIDDELL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Robinson (5-9, 185, Otterbein College) had seven tackles, two interceptions and five pass breakups in the Sharks 71-57 victory over Georgia in Week 2.

JLS IRONMAN OF THE WEEK
Wright (5-9, 175, Fresno State) caught 11 balls for 133 yards and a touchdown on offense in the SaberCats 60-57 Week 2 victory over the Command, but he also made his presence felt in the return game with seven returns for 164 yards, including a franchise record-tying 58-yard touchdown return.

CUTTERS CATCH OF THE WEEK
White (6-7, 215, Texas State) made an outstanding touchdown catch over the boards in the fourth quarter of the Shock’s Week 2 game against the Gladiators. White finished with 10 catches for 103 yards and three touchdowns.

NIFTY PLAYMAKER OF THE GAME
Rucker (6-5, 220, Eastern Illinois) made an impactful debut for the Rush, catching 11 balls for 83 yards and two touchdowns in his first Arena Football game.

SPALDING HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME
Kyles (5-11, 195, Tennessee) scored a touchdown on a 3-yard net recovery to put the Rush on top of the Soul 34-7 in the second quarter of their Week 2 matchup.

Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week candidates included: New Orleans’ PJ Berry, Dallas’ Matt Fields, Chicago’s Russ Michna and Arizona’s Nick Davila and Cleveland’s John Dutton.
Riddell Defensive Player of the Week candidates included: Utah’s William Mulder, Chicago’s Vic Hall, Orlando’s Paul Griffin, Spokane’s Khreem Smith and Arizona’s Marquis Floyd.
JLS Ironman of the Week candidates included: Utah’s Aaron LeSue, Pittsburgh’s Joshua Rue, and New Orleans’ Alvin Jackson.

About the AFL
Since its inception in 1987, the AFL has afforded the fast-paced and exciting game of Arena Football to millions of fans in a myriad of markets across the country. The NFL Network will once again broadcast an AFL National Game of the Week for the entire regular and post season on Friday nights at 8:00 pm EST, culminating with the ArenaBowl Championship Game in August.