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FOR USE AS DESIRED COWBOYS RB JULIUS JONES Running back JULIUS JONES of the Dallas Cowboys and linebacker JONATHAN VILMA of the New York Jets are the NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Month for November, the NFL announced today. OFFENSE: RB JULIUS JONES, DALLAS COWBOYS Jones returned to action for the Cowboys in November after missing the club’s last seven games due to a shoulder injury, immediately showing the promise and potential that made him a second-round draft choice (No. 43 overall) in April. A standout at Notre Dame, Jones returned to the field against the Baltimore Ravens on November 14, rushing for 81 yards against one of the league’s premier defenses. Jones followed that up with one of the best rookie performances in the rich history of the Cowboys franchise, rushing for 150 yards, including touchdown runs of 33 and four yards, in a 21-7 Thanksgiving Day win over Chicago. The 150-yard performance tied CALVIN HILL (November 16, 1969, vs. Washington) for the second-most in club annals by a rookie, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer TONY DORSETT, who rushed for 206 yards against the Eagles on December 4, 1977. Jones totaled 231 yards in November and displayed durability as well, rushing at least 30 times in each of his two games. Jones is the first Cowboys offensive player to earn Offensive Rookie of the Month honors since the award’s inception in 1996. DEFENSE: LB JONATHAN VILMA, NEW YORK JETS Vilma, New York’s starting middle linebacker and first-round selection from Miami (No. 12 overall), registered 48 tackles, an interception, and a fumble recovery in five November games to solidify the center of a Jets defense that allowed a stingy average of 13.2 points per game for the month. The Jets were 3-2 in November and climbed from the No. 11-ranked defense to the league’s No. 7-ranked unit. Vilma kicked the month off with a team-high nine tackles in a November 1 win against Miami and followed that performance with 14 tackles at Buffalo. Vilma would record eight, seven and 10 tackles respectively in the next three games. This past Sunday in Arizona, the 6-1, 230-pound finance major recorded a key interception on the Jets’ five-yard line to preserve a 13-3 lead with 12:53 remaining in regulation. Later in the quarter, with 6:35 remaining and the Jets holding on to a 13-3 lead, Vilma posted a fumble recovery which allowed New York to burn three minutes off the clock in the win. Vilma is the second Jets player to earn NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month honors this season as teammate and safety ERIK COLEMAN won the league award for September. 2004 NFL ROOKIES OF THE MONTH
Other nominees for the November NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month Award were: Tampa Bay wide receiver MICHAEL CLAYTON (first-round, Louisiana State), who totaled 23 receptions for 323 yards and one touchdown in four November games. Leads NFL rookie wide receivers with 60 receptions for 828 yards, the most receiving yards by a rookie in franchise history. Carolina wide receiver KEARY COLBERT (second-round, Southern California), who had 13 receptions for 189 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Panthers to a 3-1 record in November. Buffalo wide receiver LEE EVANS (first-round, Wisconsin), who caught 14 passes in four November games for 187 yards (13.4 average) and two touchdowns to help the team post a 3-1 record for the month. Evans also rushed for 15 yards on a reverse this past Sunday in the Bills’ victory at Seattle. St. Louis running back STEVEN JACKSON (first-round, Oregon State), who rushed for 117 yards on 28 carries, including one touchdown, and added four receptions for 47 yards. Pittsburgh quarterback BEN ROETHLISBERGER (first-round, Miami of Ohio), who posted a 92.4 passer rating in November on 45 of 75 (60.0 percent) passing for 586 yards with three touchdowns against one interception to help the Steelers post a perfect 4-0 month. Other nominees for the November NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month Award were: Washington safety SEAN TAYLOR (first-round, Miami), who totaled 34 tackles, including 22 solo, and two interceptions in the month, emerging as one of the NFL’s toughest tacklers for the league’s No.2 ranked defense, surrendering 267.6 yards per game. Chicago cornerback NATHAN VASHER (fourth-round, Texas), who leads the Bears and ties for the NFL rookie lead with four interceptions. Vasher had a hand in three turnovers in the month, picking off two passes and recovering one fumble. He added eight tackles and five passes defensed.
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