LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – Tampa Bay's decision to release Bobby Sippio was controversial at the time, and his performance for his new club showed it might have been a mistake.

Sippio, the offensive specialist for the Chicago Rush, set a team record with six touchdown catches and is the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA) Player of the Week.

He also caught eight passes for 168 yards in a 67-47 victory over the Las Vegas Gladiators.

Sippio was activated just a week ago after signing with Chicago. He was let go by the Storm about two weeks ago.

"It's a blessing, and I had my family here in town to witness it," Sippio told the Chicago Tribune. "Everybody knows what I can do in this league, but this is the first team that finally gave me an opportunity to display it."

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.