FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                       CONTACT:
NFL-44                     9/9/02                                                        BRENDAN MOYNIHAN, NFL, 212-450-2246
                                                                                                 M oynihanb@NFL.com

DAVE DECECCO, PEPSI-COLA, 914-253-2655
David.DeCecco@Pepsi.com

CARDINALS WR ANQUAN BOLDIN; RAVENS QB KYLE BOLLER;

COLTS S MICHAEL DOSS; TEXANS WR ANDRE JOHNSON &

LIONS WR CHARLES ROGERS

CANDIDATES FOR PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF WEEK HONORS

Fans To Vote For Winner On NFL.com

Wide receiver ANQUAN BOLDIN of the Arizona Cardinals, quarterback KYLE BOLLER of the Baltimore Ravens, safety MICHAEL DOSS of the Indianapolis Colts, wide receiver ANDRE JOHNSON of the Houston Texans, and wide receiver CHARLES ROGERS of the Detroit Lions are the finalists for PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK honors for games played on NFL Kickoff Weekend (September 4, 7-8) the NFL announced today.

Fans can vote for one of these five players on NFL.com from Tuesday morning through Wednesday afternoon to determine the PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK. The PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK will be announced Thursday on NFL.com.

After the regular season, five players will be nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year honors. Fans can vote for the winner on NFL.com throughout the month of January. The winner will be announced at a press conference at Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston.

A closer look at the finalists:

Arizona’s Anquan Boldin had ten receptions for 217 yards and two touchdowns in the Cardinals’ 42-24 loss to Detroit. Boldin’s 217 yards receiving are the most ever by a rookie in his first NFL game. Boldin also leads all NFL players in receptions and receiving yards.

· Baltimore’s Kyle Boller passed for 152 yards and a touchdown in the Ravens’ 34-15 loss to Pittsburgh. Boller also rushed for 14 yards on 5 carries.

· Indianapolis’ Michael Doss recorded a team-high 10 tackles in the Colts’ 9-6 win over Cleveland.

Houston’s Andre Johnson caught a team-high six passes for 76 yards in the Texans’ 21-20 win over Miami. Johnson became Texans quarterback David Carr’s favorite receiver as the Texans came-from-behind to win their second consecutive season opener.
Detroit’s Charles Rogers caught four passes for 38 yards and two touchdowns in the Lions’ 42-24 win over Arizona. Rogers also rushed for 12 yards on one carry, while his first two catches were both touchdowns.

This is Pepsi’s second year as the official soft drink sponsor of the NFL.

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