FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      CONTACT:
NFL-162                   12/9/03                                                      BRENDAN MOYNIHAN, NFL, 212-450-2246
                                                                                                Moynihanb@nfl.com

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

CARDINALS WR ANQUAN BOLDIN, BEARS LB LANCE BRIGGS,

COLTS S MICHAEL DOSS, JAGUARS QB BYRON LEFTWICH

& RAVENS LB TERRELL SUGGS

CANDIDATES FOR PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF WEEK HONORS

Fans To Vote For Winner On NFL.com

Wide receiver ANQUAN BOLDIN of the Arizona Cardinals, linebacker LANCE BRIGGS of the Chicago Bears, safety MICHAEL DOSS of the Indianapolis Colts, quarterback BYRON LEFTWICH of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and linebacker TERRELL SUGGS of the Baltimore Ravens are the finalists for PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK honors for games played on December 7-8, the NFL announced today. 

Fans can vote for one of these five players on NFL.com from Tuesday morning until 9:00 AM ET Thursday 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 caught nine passes for 123 yards and a touchdown in the Cardinals’ 50-14 loss to San Francisco.  Boldin leads all rookies with 79 receptions and 1,155 receiving yards.
   
• Chicago’s Lance Briggs recorded nine tackles, defensed two passes and returned his first career interception 45 yards for his first career touchdown in the Bears’ 34-21 loss to Green Bay.    
   
• Indianapolis’ Michael Doss recorded eight tackles, defensed a pass and forced a fumble on special teams in the Colts’ 29-27 win over Tennessee.  Doss’ forced fumble on a punt gave Indianapolis the ball at the Titans’ 29-yard line with just over a minute remaining in the first half.  The Colts kicked a field goal on the ensuing drive, taking a 12-10 lead they would not relinquish.
   
• Jacksonville’s Byron Leftwich completed 18 of 29 attempts for 194 yards and a touchdown for a 93.2 passer rating in the Jaguars’ 27-0 win over Houston.    
   
• Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs recorded two tackles, 2.0 sacks, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble in the Ravens’ 31-13 win over Cincinnati.  With 6:34 remaining in the third quarter, Suggs recorded his second sack of the game forcing and recovering a fumble on the Cincinnati 17 yard line.  Baltimore scored on a Jamal Lewis three-yard touchdown run three plays later to extend its lead to 24-13. 

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