FOR USE AS DESIRED
RM-4                   1/3/03

GIANTS TE JEREMY SHOCKEY & COLTS DE DWIGHT FREENEY

NAMED NFL ROOKIES OF MONTH FOR DECEMBER

Tight end JEREMY SHOCKEY of the New York Giants and defensive end DWIGHT FREENEY of the Indianapolis Colts are the NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Month for December, the NFL announced today.

Shockey, the Giants’ first-round draft choice from Miami and the No. 14 overall selection, has become a consistent threat in the team’s passing game.  Frequently the focus of opposing defenses, Shockey helped the Giants to a 4-1 record in December, totaling 32 receptions for 402 yards and one touchdown.

The Giants’ tight end was the leader among all NFL rookies with 74 receptions and 894 receiving yards this season.  Those totals were also the second highest in NFL history for a rookie tight end, trailing only KEITH JACKSON (81 receptions, 1988) and MIKE DITKA (1,076 receiving yards, 1961) in league annals.

With the club’s season on the line last week, Shockey delivered a clutch 10-catch, 98-yard, one-touchdown performance in a 10-7 overtime win over the NFC East-rival Philadelphia Eagles.

Shockey had his second 100-yard receiving game of 2002 in a December 22 win over Indianapolis (44-27), finishing with seven receptions for 116 yards.  Against Washington on December 8, Shockey was again a pivotal player, finishing with five catches for 89 yards in the Giants’ 27-21 win.

On December 19 he was named an NFL-All Star and will be the lone rookie making the trip to Hawaii for the 2003 Pro Bowl.  Shockey is the first rookie tight end so honored since Philadelphia’s Jackson in 1988.  Shockey was also named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month in November.

“Jeremy is having a great year and he’s a very important weapon for us,” said Giants quarterback KERRY COLLINS.  Added defensive end MICHAEL STRAHAN, “Jeremy has had a phenomenal year.  He absolutely deserves to be in the Pro Bowl and I’m very happy for him.”    

Freeney, the Colts’ first-round draft selection from Syracuse and the No. 11 overall pick, has earned the NFL’s top rookie defensive honor for the second consecutive month and has contributed toward Indianapolis’ AFC Wild Card playoff berth.  In addition, Freeney helped the Colts post the NFL’s No. 8 ranking in total yards allowed, an improvement from its No. 29 standing of one year ago.

In five December games, Freeney registered 23 tackles (20 solo) with 6.0 sacks and four forced fumbles.  Utilizing his strength and speed in getting past offensive tackles, Freeney had at least 1.0 sack in four of five games during the month as the Colts won three of those five.

Despite only starting in the last eight games of the season, Freeney finished the year with the AFC’s second-highest sack total (13.0) to lead all NFL rookies.  The Colts’ top pass rusher amassed the second-most sacks ever by a rookie, coming within 1.5 sacks of the rookie record of 14.5, set by JEVON KEARSE of the Tennessee Titans in 1999.  When he was not sacking quarterbacks, Freeney was making his presence felt in other ways, including his nine forced fumbles on the season.

Freeney’s 13.0 sacks are the most by a Colts player in a single season, besting the previous mark of 12.0 established by CHAD BRATZKE in 1999. 

“Dwight has had a great year and now he’s like all of the other rookies,” said Colts head coach TONY DUNGY.  “He’s got to understand that you’ve got to crank it up even more in the ‘new’ season.  (The playoffs) bring a new intensity and everything you’ve done so far sets the stage for what’s to come.

“When you look at the sacks, the forced fumbles, the impact plays, he has been great the second half of the year.”

Shockey and Freeney are the NFL’s only rookies to earn multiple NFL Rookie of the Month awards in 2002.

Other nominees for the December NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month were: 

• Green Bay running back TONY FISHER, who rushed for 204 yards, including two touchdowns, and averaged 4.3 yards per carry in December.
• Cleveland running back WILLIAM GREEN, who gained 516 rushing yards (4.3 average) and posted four touchdowns for the month.  Green averaged 103.7 yards per game and played a key role in earning the Browns their first playoff berth since returning to the NFL in 1999.
• Denver running back CLINTON PORTIS, who averaged 134.4 rushing yards per game (6.5 avg.) with nine total touchdowns (eight rushing) in the Broncos’ five December games.  Portis added 12 receptions for 154 yards (12.8 avg.) for 826 yards from scrimmage for the month.
• Pittsburgh wide receiver-kickoff and punt returner ANTWAAN RANDLE EL, who compiled 482 total yards.  During December, Randle El gained yards returning kickoffs (11 for 245) and punts (12 for 73), receiving (13 for 138), and rushing (six for 26).  He also was 3-for-3 passing for 15 yards.

The other nominee for the December NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month was: 

• Dallas safety ROY WILLIAMS, who had 42 tackles and three interceptions, including two returned for a touchdown, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
   

2002 NFL ROOKIES OF THE MONTH