Quarterback DREW BREES of the New Orleans Saints, cornerback CHARLES WOODSON of the Green Bay Packers and punter SAV ROCCA of the Philadelphia Eagles are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Month for September, the NFL announced Thursday.
OFFENSE: QB DREW BREES, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
For the month, Brees led the NFC in attempts (148), completions (107), completion percentage (72.3 percent), yards (1,343), average gain (9.07), passer rating (106.9) and tied for first in touchdowns (8). During September, Brees averaged 335.7 passing yards per game, putting him on pace to set the single-season NFL record. The eight-year veteran posted a passer rating of 100.0 in three of the month's four games and recorded three 300-yard games. He had 11 completions of at least 25 yards, including four of more than 50 yards. Since joining the Saints in 2006, Brees has passed for 10,184 yards, the most in the NFL.
In his eighth season from Purdue, this is Brees' first career Player of the Month Award. He joins BOBBY HEBERT (October 1989) as the only quarterbacks in franchise history to be honored. The last Saint to win offensive honors was running back DEUCE MC ALLISTER (October 2002).
DEFENSE: CB CHARLES WOODSON, GREEN BAY PACKERS
Woodson tied for the NFC lead with three interceptions and had an NFL-best two interception-return touchdowns during September. All three of his interceptions came in the fourth quarter and each one resulted in a Packers' touchdown. Against Detroit in Week 2, Woodson sealed the victory with a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions, including one he returned 41 yards for a score. In Week 4, the 11-year veteran had a 62-yard interception-return touchdown against Tampa Bay to give the Packers a fourth-quarter lead.
In his 11th year from Michigan, this is Woodson's first career Player of the Month Award. He is the second consecutive Packer to be honored on defense (ATARI BIGBY, December 2007) and the first cornerback in franchise history to win the award. Bigby and Woodson are the only Packers defensive backs to be honored.
SPECIAL TEAMS: P SAV ROCCA, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
In his second season with the Eagles after a career in the Australian Football League, Rocca led the NFL in September with a 44.1 yards per punt net average, including punts of 65, 64 and 61 yards. Rocca placed seven of his 18 punts inside the 20-yard line and limited opponents to nine returns for 15 yards (1.7 average). In all four of Philadelphia's games during the month, Rocca posted a net average of at least 42.0 yards per punt, including a 48.0 mark in Week 2 versus Dallas.
In his second season, this is Rocca's first career Player of the Month Award. He is the first Eagles punter to win the award and joins kicker DAVID AKERS as the only players in franchise history to be honored on special teams. The last punter to win Special Teams Player of the Month was Buffalo's BRIAN MOORMAN (November 2006).
