NFL EUROPE

• Sam, Baugher & Hardmon win NFL Europa weekly honors

  
  

  New York, NY (Sports Network) - Wide receiver P.K. SAM of the Miami Dolphins, punter DANNY BAUGHER of the New England Patriots, and linebacker BYRON HARDMON of the Hamburg Sea Devils are the NFL Europa League Offensive, Special Teams and Defensive Players of the Week for games played the fifth week of the 2007 season (May 12-13), the league announced today.

  Sam, allocated to NFL Europa by the Dolphins, recorded six catches for 122 yards and one touchdown in the Rhein Fires 27-24 victory over the Frankfurt Galaxy. The former Florida State star had four receptions for 104 yards in the first half, including catches of 46 and 34 yards, and scored on an eight- yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.

  "It seemed like everything came together in this game," said Sam. "It showed on the field and we came up with a victory."

  This season, Sam has 15 receptions for 274 yards and his 18.3 yards-per-catch average is the highest among the leagues top 10 receivers.

  New Englands Baugher averaged 45.2 yards on five punts and placed two punts inside the 20-yard line in Rheins win. A finalist for the Ray Guy Award as the top college punter during his senior season at Arizona, Baugher ranks second in NFL Europa this season, averaging 42.5 yards per punt, including nine punts inside the 20.

  Hamburgs Hardmon had four tackles, one sack, two passes defensed and a 34- yard interception-return touchdown in the Sea Devils 24-17 win over the Amsterdam Admirals. On the games opening drive, the former Florida standout intercepted a pass and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown to give Hamburg an early 7-0 lead.

  Hardmon has recorded 17 tackles, one sack, one interception and three passes defensed this season.

  French linebacker and reigning NFL Europa Defensive MVP PHILIPPE GARDENT was named National Player of the Week after he recorded a team-leading 10 tackles during the Cologne Centurions 24-10 victory over the Berlin Thunder. Gardent also added one special teams stop.

  The fifth-year linebacker, who spent the 2006 NFL season on the practice squad of the Washington Redskins, leads all defenders in NFL Europa with 38 tackles and has also added one sack, two passes defensed and three special teams tackles.

  (Courtesy of NFL Europa)

  05/15 13:22:46 ET