Quarterback RYAN FITZPATRICK of the St. Louis Rams, running back SAMKON GADO of the Green Bay Packers, defensive back REYNALDO HILL of the Tennessee Titans, defensive tackle C.J. MOSLEY of the Minnesota Vikings and defensive back CARLOS ROGERS of the Washington Redskins, are the finalists for DIET PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK honors for games played on November 27-28, the NFL announced today.
Fans can vote for one of these five players on NFL.com beginning Tuesday morning and ending on Thursday to determine the DIET PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK. The DIET PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK will be announced Thursday afternoon on NFL.com.
After the regular season, five players will be nominated for Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year honors. Fans can vote for the winner on NFL.com throughout the month of January. The winner will be announced at a press conference at Super Bowl XL in Detroit.
A closer look at the finalists:
-Green Bay's Samkon Gado carried 26 times for 111 yards and one touchdown in the Packers' 19-14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Gado, who also caught one pass for 11 yards, scored on a 33-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. This marked the second 100-yard rushing game by Gado in five appearances.
-St. Louis' Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 19 of 30 passes for 310 yards, three touchdowns and a passer rating of 117.4 in the Rams' 33-27 overtime victory over the Houston Texans. Fitzpatrick, a rookie making his first NFL appearance, threw a 56-yard game-winning touchdown pass in overtime to go along with his 19 and 43-yard TDs.
-Tennessee's Reynaldo Hill recorded seven tackles and one interception in the Titans' 33-22 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Hill intercepted a 49ers' pass in the fourth quarter and returned it 14 yards. He now leads the Titans with three interceptions this season.
-Minnesota's C.J. Mosley recorded seven tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble in the Vikings' 24-12 victory over the Cleveland Browns. Mosley's first sack, which was also the first of his NFL career, came in the first quarter and caused a fumble that was recovered by the Vikings, who scored a touchdown three plays later.
-Washington's Carlos Rogers tied for the team lead with eight tackles and had his first career interception in the Redskins' 23-17 overtime loss to the San Diego Chargers. Rogers' interception came early in the fourth quarter with the Chargers driving. He returned the ball 14 yards.
This is Pepsi's fourth year as the official soft drink sponsor of the NFL and the first year that Diet Pepsi will present the NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL Rookie of the Year awards.
