NFL Rookies of the Month

In addition to the Players of the Week & Month, here are the NFL's Rookies of the Monrh for November. 

VIKINGS WR-KR PERCY HARVIN & TEXANS LB BRIAN CUSHING

NAMED NFL ROOKIES OF MONTH FOR NOVEMBER

Wide receiver-kick returner PERCY HARVIN of the Minnesota Vikings and linebacker BRIAN CUSHING of the Houston Texans are the NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Month for November, the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: WR-KR PERCY HARVIN, MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• Harvin, a first-round draft pick (No. 22) out of Florida, had 19 receptions for 317 yards (16.7 average) with three touchdowns, four carries for 54 yards (13.5 average) and eight kick returns for 239 yards (29.9 average) as the Vikings went 4-0 in November. 
• He posted at least three catches in all four contests, including three games with five or more receptions. 
• His 317 receiving yards in November were the most by any rookie. 
• Harvin had a touchdown in three of the Vikings’ four games during the month.  His three receiving touchdowns in November were the most by a rookie. 
• For the season, he leads all NFL rookies in touchdowns (7), receiving touchdowns (5), receiving yards (602), first-down receptions (32) and 20-yard catches (11).  His 42 receptions tie for second among rookies. 
• Harvin is the first Vikings wide receiver to earn Offensive Rookie of the Month honors since RANDY MOSS collected the award in November 1998. 
• The last Vikings rookie to be honored was running back ADRIAN PETERSON, who was recognized in September and October 2007. 

DEFENSE: LB BRIAN CUSHING, HOUSTON TEXANS

• Cushing, a first-round selection (No. 15) out of Southern California, started all four games at linebacker and recorded 43 tackles, one sack and two interceptions in November. 
• In Week 8 against Buffalo (11/1), Cushing was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after posting a team-high 10 tackles, one sack, one tackle for a loss, one interception and one passed defensed in a 31-10 win over the Bills. 
• He has led the team in tackles in all four games in November and recorded double-digit tackles in every game in the month.
• He leads all NFL rookies with 99 tackles. 
• He is tied for first in the NFL among linebackers with three interceptions in 2009.
• Cushing joins defensive tackle AMOBI OKOYE (September 2007) and linebacker DE MECO RYANS (December 2006) as the third Texans player to earn Defensive Rookie of the Month honors.

2009 NFL ROOKIES OF THE MONTH

Other nominees for the November NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month Award were:

·         Tennessee wide receiver KENNY BRITT (first round, Rutgers), who had 14 receptions for 232 receiving yards (16.6 average) with two touchdowns as he helped the Titans post a 5-0 record in November.

·         Indianapolis wide receiver AUSTIN COLLIE (fourth round, BYU), who recorded 19 receptions for 219 yards (11.5 average) as the Colts posted a 5-0 record in November and an 11-0 mark for the season.

·         Philadelphia wide receiver JEREMY MACLIN (first round, Missouri), who had 24 catches for 294 yards and two touchdowns.

·         Philadelphia running back LE SEAN MC COY (second round, Pittsburgh), who rushed for 316 yards (4.9 average) and two touchdowns and had 14 receptions for 114 yards. 

·         Denver running back KNOWSHON MORENO (first round, Georgia), who gained 307 rushing yards (5.0 average) on 62 attempts with two touchdowns.  He also added seven receptions for 28 yards. 

·         Cincinnati running back BERNARD SCOTT (sixth round, Abilene Christian), who rushed for 239 yards (4.6 average) on 52 carries.  He added eight kick returns for 270 yards (33.8 average) with one kick return-touchdown.

·         Detroit quarterback MATTHEW STAFFORD (first round, Georgia), who started all five games and passed for 1,230 yards and nine touchdowns. 

·         Arizona kick returner LA ROD STEPHENS-HOWLING (seventh round, Pittsburgh), who averaged 29.2 yards per kick return, including a 99-yard touchdown.  He also added a 14-yard touchdown catch. 

·         Arizona running back BEANIE WELLS (first round, Ohio State), who rushed for 298 yards (5.1 average) and three touchdowns and had five receptions for 64 yards. 

Other nominees for the November NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month Award were:

·         Buffalo safety JAIRUS BYRD (second round, Oregon), who recorded 10 tackles, three passes defensed and three interceptions for the month.  Byrd is tied for first in the NFL with eight interceptions this season.

·         Miami cornerback VONTAE DAVIS (first round, Illinois), who started all five games in the month of November, finishing with 24 tackles, one interception and five passes defensed.

·         Detroit safety LOUIS DELMAS (second round, Western Michigan), who had 24 tackles, an interception, three passes defensed and a safety.  He is the only rookie in NFL history to record an interception, a safety and fumble-return touchdown in the same season. 

·         St. Louis linebacker JAMES LAURINAITIS (second round, Ohio State), who started all four games and had 36 tackles and one sack.

·         Green Bay linebacker CLAY MATTHEWS (first round, USC), who started all five games and had 14 tackles, two sacks and two fumble recoveries. 

·         Miami cornerback SEAN SMITH (second round, Utah), who started all five games and posted 20 tackles and three passes defensed in November. 

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