FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFC-POW-17      1/2/03

GIANTS TE JEREMY SHOCKEY, PANTHERS CB TERRY COUSIN

& BUCCANEERS K MARTIN GRAMATICA

NAMED NFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 17

Tight end JEREMY SHOCKEY of the New York Giants, cornerback TERRY COUSIN of the Carolina Panthers and kicker MARTIN GRAMATICA of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the 17th week of the 2002 season (December 28-30), the NFL announced today.

Shockey played an instrumental role for the Giants in their playoff-clinching 10-7 overtime thriller over the NFC East-rival Philadelphia Eagles.

The rookie tight end finished with 10 receptions for 98 yards and one touchdown, exciting Giants’ fans with his passionate, hard-nosed style.  

With New York trailing 7-0 in the fourth quarter, Shockey helped tie the score with a leaping seven-yard touchdown catch.

“The touchdown was a great pass by Kerry (Collins),” said Shockey, the NFL’s lone rookie Pro Bowl selection.  “I was just lucky to come up with it.  Our redzone offense hasn’t been the greatest this year, but everybody has been sticking together.  When people count us out, we just keep coming back and trying even harder.”

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.

In his rookie season from Miami, this is Shockey’s first Player of the Week Award.  He was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month in November and December.

Cousin earned defensive honors for his play in the Panthers’ 10-6 win over the New Orleans Saints.

He totaled five tackles, one sack, two interceptions and a fumble recovery for Carolina, which closed the season on a high note, winning four of its last five games.

With the Saints driving early in the second quarter, Cousin recovered a fumble at the Panthers’ 11 yard-line and returned it 19 yards to end the threat.  Then, on New Orleans’ ensuing possession, the Miami native intercepted a pass deep in Carolina territory to fend off another Saints scoring bid.  Cousin helped seal the win on New Orleans’ final possession, when he intercepted a pass at the Panthers’ 33 yard-line with 35 seconds remaining.

“We had some hard-fought games throughout the season,” said Panthers head coach JOHN FOX.  “It was great to win this one and hopefully we moved up in our development today.”

In his sixth season from South Carolina, this is Cousin’s first Player of the Week Award.

Gramatica helped the Buccaneers clinch the NFC’s No. 2 playoff seed and a bye in the first round of the playoffs with a 15-0 road-win over Chicago Sunday night.

Gramatica connected on a career-high and franchise-record five field goals, converting from 30, 32, 33, 26 and 33 yards in the win, which provided the Bucs with their first victory in 22 tries when the temperature dipped below 40 degrees.  Gramatica has posted career-highs with 32 field goals and 128 points this season.

“I believe we have the best kicker in the league in Gramatica,” said Buccaneers head coach JON GRUDEN.  “He proved it again tonight.”

In his fourth season from Kansas State, this is Gramatica’s fifth Player of the Week Award and second this season (Week 8).

Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 17 were:

• New York running back TIKI BARBER, who rushed for a career-high 203 yards, averaging 6.3 yards per carry, and also added eight receptions for 73 yards.
• Dallas rookie wide receiver ANTONIO BRYANT, who had seven receptions for 170 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown catch in the Cowboys 20-14 loss to Washington.
• Minnesota quarterback DAUNTE CULPEPPER, who completed 21 of 29 attempts for 312 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for a 115.9 passer rating in the Vikings’ 38-36 win over Detroit.  He also added 34 yards rushing, including a two-yard touchdown run.
• Seattle quarterback MATT HASSELBECK, who completed 36 of 53 attempts for 449 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for a 90.8 passer rating in the Seahawks’ 31-28 overtime win over San Diego.  He also added 42 yards rushing and a one-yard touchdown run.
• St. Louis quarterback JAMIE MARTIN, who completed 22 of 35 attempts for 245 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions for an 88.4 passer rating in the Rams’ come-from-behind 31-20 win over San Francisco.
• Minnesota wide receiver RANDY MOSS, who had six receptions for 109 yards.
• Tampa Bay running back MICHAEL PITTMAN, who rushed for 90 yards on 21 carries.
• Detroit wide receiver BILL SCHROEDER, who had six receptions for 132 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown catch.

Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 17 were:

• Washington linebacker LA VAR ARRINGTON, who had four tackles, one sack and two fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown.
• St. Louis cornerback DRE’ BLY, who returned a fumble 20 yards for the go-ahead touchdown against San Francisco.  He also added four tackles and one forced fumble.
• Minnesota safety COREY CHAVOUS, who had four tackles and a 43-yard interception-return touchdown.
• Tampa Bay cornerback BRIAN KELLY, who had three tackles and two interceptions.
• Seattle defensive tackle JOHN RANDLE, who had three sacks for a loss of 26 yards.
• Dallas rookie safety ROY WILLIAMS, who had four tackles, an 85-yard interception-return touchdown and a fumble recovery.
• New York safety SHAUN WILLIAMS, who had four tackles and one interception, setting up the Giants’ winning points against Philadelphia.

Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 17 were:

• St. Louis punter MITCH BERGER, who averaged 48.3 yards on six punts, with a long of 64 yards.
• New York kicker MATT BRYANT, who connected on the game-winning 39-yard field goal in overtime.
• New Orleans return specialist MICHAEL LEWIS, who averaged 27.8 yards on five punt returns, with a long of 61 yards.
• Seattle kicker RIAN LINDELL, who connected on the game-winning 24-yard field goal in overtime.
• Detroit cornerback TODD LYGHT, who returned a blocked field goal 75 yards for a touchdown.
   

2002 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK