BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns linebacker Tank Carder was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week on Wednesday for his efforts in last Sunday's 29-28 win over the Tennessee Titans at L.P. Field.
Carder blocked a punt out near the goal line and earned a safety when the ball rolled out of the back of the end zone in the midst of the Browns' historic 25-point comeback.
"I didn't even know until Coach Pet (Mike Pettine) put it up on the board, and when he said it, I was like, 'me?' Carder recalled. "It was awesome. It was a great feeling.
"It's huge. It's huge because I'm a back-up linebacker right now. I don't get many snaps on defense right now, so special teams is where I'm going to make my bread and butter. It's definitely something that's real important to me, and I try to do anything I can to help out coach (Chris) Tabor because I'm kind of a move-around guy on the special teams. If he needs something filled, I'll move around and help him, so I take a lot of pride in special teams."
Up by 15 points with 11:11 to play in the fourth quarter, the Titans faced a fourth-and-two from their own 12-yard line, and looked to turn field position in their favor with a long punt, but as the snap sailed back to Brett Kern, Carder broke through the line, passed the up-back and got his left hand on the football, sending it out of the back of the end zone.
"I think it kind of boosted the morale of the team, and also, it took away us having to go for two after one of the touchdowns, so it helped out huge, but it wasn't just that one play that helped us win the game," Carder said. "There were a lot. Travis Benjamin had two touchdowns. That was a big part of it. It was a full team win."
In addition to blocking the punt, Carder tackled Tennessee kick returner Leon Washington at the 11-yard line after Cleveland kicked off following a field goal on their first possession of the second half.
"We've got a good coverage team right now, and I think that kind of gets the defense started," Carder said. "When they go out there, they see a tackle inside the 10 (and) that kind of gives them a little fire."
