LOS ANGELES WR JERMAINE COPELAND AND ORLANDO SAFETY OMAR BROWN CAPTURE XFL PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS
COPELAND
XPLODES FOR 17 CATCHES TO RALLY XTREME TO VICTORY;
BROWN DOMINATING FOR RAGE DEFENSE IN WIN OVER DEMONS
STAMFORD,
CONN. (Tuesday, February 13, 2001)
- The XFL today named Los Angeles Xtreme WR Jermaine Copeland
as its Offensive Player of the Week and Orlando Rage S Omar
Brown as its Defensive Player of the Week for week two.
Copeland caught 17 passes for 190 yards and a score to help
rally the Xtreme from a 12-point deficit in the final three
minutes and lead Los Angeles over the Chicago Enforcers, 39-22,
in overtime.
The acrobatic wideout lived up to his advanced billing, making several highlight-film catches, but none bigger than his 20-yard TD grab on the Xtreme's last chance in the first overtime series.
After the game-saving score in front of the celebrating home crowd, the flamboyant Copeland debuted his touchdown dance, the "X-Spot," but says it will only be performed at the L.A. Coliseum.
"The 'X-Spot' is an L.A. thing only," said Copeland. "Don't worry, though, we'll be saving some surprises for the game in Las Vegas."
Th 17 catches is an XFL record, but is not even a personal best
for Copeland, who once caught 19 balls in an NFL Europe game
playing for Barcelona, the pro football record until Terrell
Owens' 20 catches for the San Francisco 49ers this past season.
Rage safety Omar Brown was everywhere Saturday night as Orlando
shut down San Francisco, 26-14, to run its record to 2-0.
"It's a real honor to be selected XFL Defensive Player
of the Week, but I know it's really a team award," said
Brown. "If our entire defense doesn't play hard and hold
a great offense to 14 points, I wouldn't have had a chance to
win it. Our entire defense made great plays all night long.
I just happened to make a few that stood out."
The numbers tell the story of Brown's dominance in becoming
the second straight Rage player to capture XFL Defensive Player
of the Week honors (LB Shawn Banks in week one).
Brown had 10 solo tackles, forced a fumble on a kickoff return,
recovered a fumble and rumbled 12 yards for a touchdown, picked
off one pass and knocked down two others.
Others
considered for offensive honors were Los Angeles QB Tommy Maddox
(38-65, 422 yards, 4 TDs, 1 rushing TD) and Birmingham WR Stepfret
Williams (95-yard punt return for a TD and caught eight passes
for 134 yards).
Others considered for defensive honors were Las Vegas LB Kurt Gouveia (100-yard fumble recovery for TD and in on six tackles as Outlaws defense still yet to surrender a TD) and Memphis LB Richard Hogans (five solo tackles and six assists).