FOR USE AS DESIRED
RM-4               12/31/03

JAGUARS QB BYRON LEFTWICH & VIKINGS DE KEVIN WILLIAMS

NAMED NFL ROOKIES OF MONTH FOR DECEMBER

Quarterback BYRON LEFTWICH of the Jacksonville Jaguars and defensive end KEVIN WILLIAMS of the Minnesota Vikings are the NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Month for December, the NFL announced today.

Taking the reins of perhaps the most challenging position in all of sports, Jacksonville’s Leftwich led his team to a 2-2 record in December with a touchdown pass in every game.  The seventh overall selection in the 2003 NFL Draft closed the book on his successful rookie season with a 56.8 completion percentage for December (67-for-118) and four touchdowns against four interceptions. 

The highest drafted quarterback in Jaguars history (No. 7) posted the AFC’s fourth-best fourth-quarter touchdown percentage as 5.0 percent of his passes resulted in Jacksonville scores in the final quarter.  The 6-5, 240-pound Washington, D.C. native was his conference’s sixth-highest rated fourth quarter passer (83.1).

His finest outing of the month came on December 7 at home against the Houston Texans in a 27-0 victory.   Leftwich completed 18 of 29 passes for a completion percentage of 62.1 with a touchdown and no interceptions for a lofty 93.2 passer rating.  Leftwich led his team to four consecutive home wins to end 2003, including two in December. 

The 23-year-old started Jacksonville’s final 13 games and accounted for a touchdown (passing or rushing) in 13 of his 15 games played.  One of the most prolific passers in college football history, Leftwich completed better than 50.0 percent of his passes in 11 of his final 12 games.

“Byron took very few sacks this season and was very decisive in his decision-making,” says Jacksonville head coach JACK DEL RIO.  “You see areas in which he will get better.”

“It’s been great to get a chance to play as many games as I played as a rookie,” says Leftwich.  “I know it'll help me in the future.  I couldn't ask for anything more.”

Williams, the Vikings’ first-round choice (No. 9 overall) from Oklahoma State, started all four of the club’s December games, and was one of Minnesota’s most productive defensive players, finishing the month with 11 tackles, five sacks, one interception and three passes defensed.

Williams started all 16 games for the Vikings in 2003, posting 8.5 sacks, which tied Pro Football Hall of Famer ALAN PAGE (8.5, 1967) for the second-most sacks by rookie in franchise history.  KEITH MILLARD holds the team record with 11.0 sacks during his 1985 rookie campaign.

With the Vikings fighting for a playoff berth throughout the month of December, Williams played perhaps his best football of the season.  He opened the month with one sack in a 34-7 win over Seattle, which came on third down and forced a Seahawks’ punt.  The following week against Chicago, Williams’ had a key sack on a second-and-goal play which resulted in a loss of 12 yards and forced the Bears to settle for a field goal.

Last week against the Arizona Cardinals, Williams set the club record for the most sacks by a rookie in a single game, dropping quarterback JOSH MC COWN three times in the Vikings 18-17 loss.  He also had a key fourth-quarter interception, which set up a field goal four plays later for a 17-6 Minnesota advantage.

A native of Fordyce, Arkansas, Williams was a tight end and defensive lineman at Fordyce High School, earning All-State honors in both football and basketball.

“Kevin Williams is not going to be a good player in this league, he’s going to be a great player,” says Vikings head coach MIKE TICE.

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

• Arizona wide receiver ANQUAN BOLDIN (second-round, Florida State), who had 31 receptions for 345 yards and two touchdowns.  He set the all-time rookie reception record in 2003, finishing with 101 catches.
• San Diego tight end ANTONIO GATES (free agent, Kent State), who caught 14 passes for 235 yards in December.  A rookie free agent who before this season had not played organized football since high school, recorded five catches for 117 yards on December 14 against Green Bay.
• Minnesota running back ONTERRIO SMITH (fourth-round, Oregon), who rushed for 362 yards, averaging 6.4 yards per carry, posting two 100-yard rushing games and scoring three touchdowns.  He also added nine receptions for 73 yards.

Other nominees for the December NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month: 

• Detroit linebacker BOSS BAILEY (second-round, Georgia), who had 31 tackles, one interception, one fumble return touchdown and one pass defensed.
• Pittsburgh safety TROY POLAMALU (first-round, USC) who recorded two passes defensed, six tackles, one forced fumble and one sack.
• St. Louis linebacker PISA TINOISAMOA (second-round, Hawaii), who totaled 31 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception and two passes defensed.
   

2003 NFL ROOKIES OF THE MONTH