FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      CONTACT:
NFL-53                     9/16/03                                                      BRENDAN MOYNIHAN, NFL, 212-450-2246
                                                                                                Moynihanb@nfl.com

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

PACKERS LB NICK BARNETT; SEAHAWKS S KEN HAMLIN;

JAGUARS QB BYRON LEFTWICH; COLTS DE ROBERT MATHIS &

RAMS LB PISA TINOISAMOA

CANDIDATES FOR PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF WEEK HONORS

Fans To Vote For Winner On NFL.com

Linebacker NICK BARNETT of the Green Bay Packers, safety KEN HAMLIN of the Seattle Seahawks, quarterback BYRON LEFTWICH of the Jacksonville Jaguars, defensive end ROBERT MATHIS of the Indianapolis Colts, and linebacker PISA TINOISAMOA of the St. Louis Rams are the finalists for PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK honors for games played on September 14-15, 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:

  • Green Bay’s Nick Barnett recorded a team-high 14 tackles, an interception and had one pass defensed in the Packers’ 31-6 win over Detroit.  Barnett’s interception, the first of his career, set up Green Bay’s third touchdown and extended the Packers’ lead to 24-6.
     
  • Seattle’s Ken Hamlin recorded eight tackles, an interception, forced a fumble and had one pass defensed in the Seahawks’ 38-0 win over Arizona.  Hamlin’s forced fumble on the first play from scrimmage set up Seattle’s first touchdown just 1:12 into the game.
     
  • Jacksonville’s Byron Leftwich completed seven of eight pass attempts for 92 yards and a touchdown in the Jaguars’ 38-17 loss to Buffalo.
     
  • Indianapolis’ Robert Mathis recorded two tackles, 2.0 sacks and forced a fumble in the Colts’ 33-7 win over Tennessee. 
     
  • St. Louis’ Pisa Tinoisamoa recorded eight tackles and had one pass defensed in the Rams’ 27-24 overtime win over San Francisco. 

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

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