NFL EUROPE

• Hamdan, Strong & Kinoshita win NFL Europe weekly honors

  (Courtesy of NFL Europe)

  New York, NY (Sports Network) - Seattle Seahawks quarterback GIBRAN HAMDAN, Rhein defensive end DERRICK STRONG and Amsterdam wide receiver NORIAKI KINOSHITA are the NFL Europe League Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the fifth week of the season (April 15 and 17), the league announced today.

  Hamdan earned his second Offensive Player of the Week Award of the season after completing 15 of 22 passes for 244 yards and three touchdowns in Amsterdams thrilling 35-31 victory over the Rhein Fire. Trailing by three points with just over six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the former Indiana star threw a 42-yard strike to wide receiver SKYLER FULTON (Seattle) to seal the victory for the Admirals. The win allowed the club to move into a first-place tie with the Fire (4-1) halfway through the NFL Europe season.

  "That was a heck of a ballgame," said Admirals head coach BART ANDRUS. "That was well played throughout, was an exciting game with a couple of lead changes and featured two good teams working very hard."

  Currently, Hamdan leads the league in passing yards (1,104), touchdown passes (10) and passer rating (114.7). The two teams will seek to break the tie atop the league as Amsterdam travels to Rhein this Saturday.

  In defeat, Strong registered four tackles, including 3.0 sacks for 18 yards, while Kinoshita ignited the Admirals offense by returning four kickoffs for 126 yards, including a 52-yarder.

  Berlin wide receiver ALEJANDRO GAMEZ was named National Player of the Week after notching three receptions for 74 yards and one touchdown. The native of Mexico caught a 49-yard touchdown pass with 6:58 remaining in the fourth quarter to seal the Thunders 24-13 over Cologne.

  04/19 09:51:22 ET