Quarterbacks BRETT FAVRE of the Green Bay Packers, A.J. FEELEY of the Philadelphia Eagles and JON KITNA of the Detroit Lions are the finalists for FedEx Express NFL Player of the Week honors for games played on December 30-31, while running backs TIKI BARBER of the New York Giants, STEVEN JACKSON of the St. Louis Rams and LARRY JOHNSON of the Kansas City Chiefs are the finalists for FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week honors, the NFL announced Tuesday.
Fans can vote for one player in each category on NFL.com from 9am EST on Tuesday through 6pm EST on Thursday to determine the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week. The winners will be announced Thursday afternoon on NFL.com.
In addition, NFL fans may cast their votes for the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week using Sprint or Nextel wireless service - an opportunity available only to Sprint customers. This fast, convenient voting method involves texting the word FEDEX to short code 7777. Sprint customers will then receive an interactive text message that links fans to the ballot with the six finalists each week. Data and text messaging rates may apply.
Fans will be voting for more than their favorite player. For the third season in a row, the weekly FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week Awards are a win for the local community. Along with the award, FedEx will donate $5,000 every week to the local children's hospital in each winning market. The children's hospitals in the two season-long winner's markets, announced at this year's Super Bowl, will be awarded $25,000 each. That means that FedEx will deliver nearly $250,000 to local children's hospitals around the country in recognition of the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week Award winners.
A closer look at the FedEx Express NFL Player of the Week finalists:
- Green Bay's BRETT FAVRE threw for 285 yards, completing 21 of 42 attempts with one touchdown pass in the Packers' 26-7 victory over the Chicago Bears. Playing in what could have been his final NFL game, Favre threw a nine-yard TD pass to Donald Driver to open the scoring and led the Packers to a win over their division rival.
- Philadelphia's A.J. FEELEY completed 22 of 33 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns for a 128.5 passer rating in the Eagles' 24-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Feeley threw touchdown passes of five, 14 and 89 yards. He completed seven passes for 177 yards and one touchdown, the game-winner, to WR Hank Baskett.
- Detroit's JON KITNA threw for 306 yards and four touchdowns, completing 28 of 42 attempts for a passer rating of 109.8 in the Lions' 39-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Kitna threw touchdown passes of 13, 15, 20 and 21 yards. He also carried five times for 25 yards.
{sportsad300}A closer look at the FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week finalists:
- The New York Giants' TIKI BARBER rushed for 234 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries in the Giants' 34-28 victory over the Washington Redskins. Barber scored on touchdown runs of 15, 50 and 55 yards.
- St. Louis' STEVEN JACKSON carried 25 times for 142 yards and three touchdowns in the Rams' 41-21 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Jackson, who also caught a TD pass, scored on runs of two, four and 59 yards.
- Kansas City's LARRY JOHNSON carried 33 times for 138 yards and three touchdowns in the Chiefs' 35-30 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Johnson scored on touchdown runs of one, two and 12 yards.
FedEx, the premier global provider of transportation, e-commerce and supply-chain management services, is the Official Delivery Service Sponsor of the NFL, Super Bowl and Pro Bowl. Through the weekly FedEx Air & Ground Awards, FedEx recognizes those NFL players who represent the same speed, precision and teamwork that their customers have come to expect from the full range of FedEx air, ground, freight and international shipping services.
