Bonner

Graziani

Nash

LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – Arizona Rattlers quarterback Sherdrick Bonner, Los Angeles Avengers quarterback Tony Graziani and Las Vegas Gladiators offensive specialist Marcus Nash are the three finalists for the AFLWA Player of the Year, the Arena Football League Writers Association announced Friday.

The board members of the AFLWA voted for the finalists, and the Player of the Year will be decided by the general membership. The winner will be announced June 21.

Bonner quarterbacked the Rattlers to a season-ending eight-game winning streak that landed them the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, which begin this weekend. He completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,833 yards with 77 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Graziani led the AFL with 99 touchdown passes and threw just five interceptions. He also completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 4,254 yards, and led the Avengers to the No. 8 playoff seed.

Nash set a league record with 154 receptions and tied another mark with 46 touchdown catches. He also led the AFL with 49 touchdowns overall and 300 points. Plus, Nash caught 1,771 yards in passes in helping the Gladiators win five of their final six games.

The AFLWA, founded at the start of the 2004 season, is a national organization made up of media members who cover the Arena Football League. Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal is the AFLWA's founder and executive director.