Well deserved for Eddie Lacy and Kiko Alonso
Packers RB Lacy named NFL Rookie of the Year
In a refreshing break from the 24/7/365 chatter about quarterbacks, the Professional Football Writers of America selected Green Bay running back Eddie Lacy as NFL's 2013 Rookie of the Year.
The PFWA named San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen as Offensive Rookie of the Year and Buffalo Bills linebacker Kiko Alonso as Defensive Rookie of the Year.
In an interesting turn following the celebrated glut of rookie quarterbacks in 2012 - a class that produced at least nine quarterbacks who already started at least one game - the PFWA's No. 1 quarterback on the All-Rookie team is Mike Glennon, who moved into the starting job almost by default during chaos in Tampa Bay and, following a theme, earned his All-Rookie by default more than any dramatic heroics.
And, in yet another reason why it is interesting that Ken Whisenhunt's signed as head coach with Tennessee instead of Detroit, the Lions led all teams with three All-Rookie selections -- defensive lineman Ziggy Ansah, punter Sam Martin and guard Larry Warford. Carolina, St. Louis, Miami and San Diego each had two players on the squad. In all, 21 clubs are represented among the 27 players honored.
Lacy, a second-round pick out of Alabama, had 284 rushes and 11 touchdowns, both Green Bay rookie records, while rushing for 1,178 yads in the regular season
Lacy was named the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Month for October after posting 395 yards on 97 attempts in the month. and was the league's Offensive Player of the Week after a 141-yard effort at Dallas in Week 15. He had four 100-yard rushing efforts, which tied for the most among NFL rookies and tied for fifth among all players. Lacy's 11 rushing TDs were third overall in the NFL.
Allen, a third-round selection out of California, set team rookie receiving records in catches and yards as the league's first 1,000-yard rookie since 2011 and the fifth NFL rookie since 2000 to go over the 1,000-yard mark. He had back-to-back 100-yard games twice, the first Chargers rookie to accomplish that since 1960, and his five total 100-yard games was also a San Diego rookie record. He had nine receptions in two games, and a 128-yard effort at Washington in Week Nine.
Alonso, a second-round pick out of Oregon, had four interceptions on the season, including a streak of three consecutive games, the first three-game interception streak by an NFL rookie linebacker since 1980, and the first by a Bills rookie linebacker in team history. He had a season-high 22 tackles (13 solo) in Week Six vs. Cincinnati, the most by a Bills LB since 1997. Alonso also had two sacks, a forced fumble and a pair of fumble recoveries.
• 2013 PFWA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: RB Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers
• 2013 PFWA OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: WR Keenan Allen, San Diego Chargers
• 2013 PFWA DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: LB Kiko Alonso, Buffalo Bills
2013 PFWA ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Offense
QB - Mike Glennon, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
RB - Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals; Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers
WR - Keenan Allen, San Diego Chargers; DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans
TE - Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins
C - Travis Frederick, Dallas Cowboys
G - Kyle Long, Chicago Bears; Larry Warford, Detroit Lions
T - D.J. Fluker, San Diego Chargers; Justin Pugh, New York Giants
Defense
DL - Ziggy Ansah, Detroit Lions; Star Lotulelei, Carolina Panthers; Sheldon Richardson, New York Jets; Kawaan Short, Carolina Panthers
LB - Kiko Alonso, Buffalo Bills; Sio Moore, Oakland Raiders; Alec Ogletree, St. Louis Rams
CB - Tyrann Mathieu, Arizona Cardinals; Desmond Trufant, Atlanta Falcons
S - Eric Reid, San Francisco 49ers; Kenny Vaccaro, New Orleans Saints
Special Teams
PK - Caleb Sturgis, Miami Dolphins
P - Sam Martin, Detroit Lions
KR - Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota Vikings
PR - Tavon Austin, St. Louis Rams
ST - Don Jones, Miami Dolphins
The Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) is the official voice of pro football writers, promoting and fighting for access to NFL personnel to best serve the public. The PFWA is made up of accredited writers who cover the NFL and the 32 teams on a daily basis.
In a refreshing break from the 24/7/365 chatter about quarterbacks, the Professional Football Writers of America selected Green Bay running back Eddie Lacy as NFL's 2013 Rookie of the Year.
The PFWA named San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen as Offensive Rookie of the Year and Buffalo Bills linebacker Kiko Alonso as Defensive Rookie of the Year.
In an interesting turn following the celebrated glut of rookie quarterbacks in 2012 - a class that produced at least nine quarterbacks who already started at least one game - the PFWA's No. 1 quarterback on the All-Rookie team is Mike Glennon, who moved into the starting job almost by default during chaos in Tampa Bay and, following a theme, earned his All-Rookie by default more than any dramatic heroics.
And, in yet another reason why it is interesting that Ken Whisenhunt's signed as head coach with Tennessee instead of Detroit, the Lions led all teams with three All-Rookie selections -- defensive lineman Ziggy Ansah, punter Sam Martin and guard Larry Warford. Carolina, St. Louis, Miami and San Diego each had two players on the squad. In all, 21 clubs are represented among the 27 players honored.
Lacy, a second-round pick out of Alabama, had 284 rushes and 11 touchdowns, both Green Bay rookie records, while rushing for 1,178 yads in the regular season
Lacy was named the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Month for October after posting 395 yards on 97 attempts in the month. and was the league's Offensive Player of the Week after a 141-yard effort at Dallas in Week 15. He had four 100-yard rushing efforts, which tied for the most among NFL rookies and tied for fifth among all players. Lacy's 11 rushing TDs were third overall in the NFL.
Allen, a third-round selection out of California, set team rookie receiving records in catches and yards as the league's first 1,000-yard rookie since 2011 and the fifth NFL rookie since 2000 to go over the 1,000-yard mark. He had back-to-back 100-yard games twice, the first Chargers rookie to accomplish that since 1960, and his five total 100-yard games was also a San Diego rookie record. He had nine receptions in two games, and a 128-yard effort at Washington in Week Nine.
Alonso, a second-round pick out of Oregon, had four interceptions on the season, including a streak of three consecutive games, the first three-game interception streak by an NFL rookie linebacker since 1980, and the first by a Bills rookie linebacker in team history. He had a season-high 22 tackles (13 solo) in Week Six vs. Cincinnati, the most by a Bills LB since 1997. Alonso also had two sacks, a forced fumble and a pair of fumble recoveries.
• 2013 PFWA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: RB Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers
• 2013 PFWA OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: WR Keenan Allen, San Diego Chargers
• 2013 PFWA DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: LB Kiko Alonso, Buffalo Bills
2013 PFWA ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Offense
QB - Mike Glennon, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
RB - Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals; Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers
WR - Keenan Allen, San Diego Chargers; DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans
TE - Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins
C - Travis Frederick, Dallas Cowboys
G - Kyle Long, Chicago Bears; Larry Warford, Detroit Lions
T - D.J. Fluker, San Diego Chargers; Justin Pugh, New York Giants
Defense
DL - Ziggy Ansah, Detroit Lions; Star Lotulelei, Carolina Panthers; Sheldon Richardson, New York Jets; Kawaan Short, Carolina Panthers
LB - Kiko Alonso, Buffalo Bills; Sio Moore, Oakland Raiders; Alec Ogletree, St. Louis Rams
CB - Tyrann Mathieu, Arizona Cardinals; Desmond Trufant, Atlanta Falcons
S - Eric Reid, San Francisco 49ers; Kenny Vaccaro, New Orleans Saints
Special Teams
PK - Caleb Sturgis, Miami Dolphins
P - Sam Martin, Detroit Lions
KR - Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota Vikings
PR - Tavon Austin, St. Louis Rams
ST - Don Jones, Miami Dolphins
The Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) is the official voice of pro football writers, promoting and fighting for access to NFL personnel to best serve the public. The PFWA is made up of accredited writers who cover the NFL and the 32 teams on a daily basis.
Comment