CrazyCowboy
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ZONERS: Take a look at the below "embarassing" list of NFL Rookie of the Year nominees and EXPLAIN to me what is wrong with this list?The top nominees
1. Saints WR Marques Colston
Season stats: 44 catches, 700 yards, seven TDs
Week Nine stats: 11 catches, 123 yards, one TD
Last week’s ranking: 1
Stock: RISING
At this point, Colston is threatening to run away with the hardware. It’s time to begin exploring where his first season will rank among the most productive of all time. He’s currently on pace to fall short of Anquan Boldin’s 101 catches and Randy Moss’ 17 TDs, but Bill Groman’s 1,473 yards are definitely within reach.
2. Patriots RB Laurence Maroney
Season stats: 107 rushes, 458 yards, three TDs; 10 receptions, 109 yards
Week Nine stats: 13 rushes, 63 yards; one catch, minus-1 yard
Last week’s ranking: 2
Stock: STEADY
In a meeting between the league’s top rookie runners, Maroney outgained Joseph Addai by 20 yards, but he still trails the Colt for the season. Still, the Patriot has been a major contributor in the return game, where he brought back five kickoffs for 139 yards vs. Indy to consistently put the Pats in prime scoring position. He’s tied for tops in the NFL with the Jets’ Justin Miller with a 29.7-yard average on kick returns.
3. Colts RB Joseph Addai
Season stats: 105 rushes, 490 yards, two TDs; 19 catches, 144 yards, one TD
Week Nine stats: 18 rushes, 43 yards, one TD
Last week’s ranking: 5
Stock: RISING
Not only does Addai edge Maroney for the season, but he got the TD and the all-important “W.” While Maroney may have turned more heads, Addai appears to have distanced himself from a backfield timeshare with Dominic Rhodes and will likely see more carries down the stretch as a result. He’s played a critical role in consecutive road wins over Denver and New England.
4. Bears DE Mark Anderson
Season stats: 14 tackles, 7½ sacks, one pass defended, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery
Week Nine stats: one tackle
Last week’s ranking: 3
Stock: STEADY
Anderson didn’t do much in the shocking loss to Miami, but what Bear did? When it comes down to it, if voting ended today, Anderson has the big-play résumé and highlight reel to carry the day for Defensive Rookie of the Year. He earned Rookie of the Month honors for October.
5. Texans LB DeMeco Ryans
Season stats: 73 tackles (58 solo, 15 assists), 2½ sacks, one pass defended
Week Nine stats: 10 tackles (eight solo, two assists), one sack
Last week’s ranking: 8
Stock: RISING
Ryans’ candidacy was lacking those signature big plays, but suddenly, the second-rounder has added 2½ sacks in his last five outings. Perhaps just as important to his chances is the quiet improvement the Texans have made on the defensive side of the ball. In two of the last three weeks, they have effectively slowed down the Jags and the Giants.
6. Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew
Season stats: 70 rushes, 320 yards, three TDs; 21 catches, 198 yards, two TDs
Week Nine stats: eight rushes, 56 yards; two catches, 29 yards
Last week’s ranking: Honorable mention
Stock: RISING
Jones-Drew is one of those guys who do everything well, yet no one thing great. Among the rookies, the diminutive back is fifth in rushing, fifth in receptions, tied for first in rushing TDs, tied for second in total TDs, fifth in receiving TDs and second in kick-return average.
7. Colts SS Antoine Bethea
Season stats: 50 tackles (34 solo, 16 assists), one INT, five passes defended
Week Nine stats: nine tackles (five solo, four assist), one INT, two passes defended
Last week’s ranking: Honorable mention
Stock: RISING
It was another strong effort from Bethea, who has helped the Colts survive a banged-up secondary by starting every game this season. Bethea was on the receiving end of one of four Tom Brady picks and helped in run support as well, as his nine tackles indicate.
8. Packers WR Greg Jennings
Season stats: 26 catches, 447 yards, three TDs
Week Nine stats: five catches, 69 yards
Last week’s ranking: 9
Stock: STEADY
Jennings looked strong in his return from a one-game absence with an ankle injury, until he tweaked it and was limited to three-WR sets. This is beginning to look like an injury that he’ll play through, yet suffer from, for much of the season, which may have a significant impact on his bottom-line totals.
9. Cardinals QB Matt Leinart
Season stats: 79-of-153, 899 yards, five TDs, five INTs
Week Nine stats: On bye
Last week’s ranking: 6
Stock: FALLING
It’s been a precipitous fall from the top spot that Leinart climbed into after poised efforts vs. Kansas City and Chicago. Of course, he’s looked anything but composed in consecutive losses to the Raiders and Packers. It says here that the Cardinals’ golden boy rebounds out of the bye week and finishes his rookie season strong.
10. Saints RB Reggie Bush
Season stats: 81 rushes, 207 yards; 46 catches, 312 yards; one punt-return TD
Week Nine stats: 11 rushes, minus-5 yards; four catches, 22 yards
Last week’s ranking: 10
Stock: FALLING
Another week, another remarkably inefficient outing by Bush. The explosive No. 2 overall pick is gaining a measly 2.6 yards per carry and, simply stated, went backward in the ground game. As a matter of reference, consider that Bush averaged more than 12 yards per carry as a senior at USC. Welcome to the NFL, Reggie. Bush is another quiet Sunday away from falling out of the top 10 altogether.
Honorable mention (in no particular order)
Buccaneers QB Bruce Gradkowski: It would take major digits to earn the vote over Leinart, Young.
Titans QB Vince Young: Four turnovers at Jacksonville last week.
Lions LB Ernie Sims: No. 1 on the list, if you ask Rod Marinelli.
Jets RB Leon Washington: Left to carry the torch for C-Mart.
Broncos DL Elvis Dumervil: Six sacks, all in the last four games.
Bears PR Devin Hester: The ultimate risk-reward trade-off right now.
Chargers OLT Marcus McNeill: Bolts haven’t missed a beat with the rook on the edge.
Chiefs DE Tamba Hali: Off day with just two tackles.
Texans DE Mario Williams: 4½ sacks in his last five games.
Browns DE Kamerion Wimbley: Beat McNeill to drop Philip Rivers on Sunday.
Jets C Nick Mangold: Quietly outperforming D’Brickashaw Ferguson.
Texans TE Owen Daniels: Tied for second among rookies in TDs.
Ravens S Dawan Landry: Leads all first-years in picks.
Packers LB A.J. Hawk: Coming on strong after slow start.
Raiders LB Thomas Howard: Follows Kirk Morrison as impact rookie tackler.
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Features/Rookie+of+the+Year+Meter/2006/roy110806.htm
