Quarterbacks BRETT FAVRE of the Green Bay Packers, PHILIP RIVERS of the San Diego Chargers and TONY ROMO of the Dallas Cowboys are the finalists for FedEx Express NFL Player of the Week honors for games played on November 12-13, while running backs FRANK GORE of the San Francisco 49ers, WILLIE PARKER of the Pittsburgh Steelers and LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON of the San Diego Chargers are the finalists for FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week honors, the NFL announced Tuesday.
Fans can vote for one player in each category on NFL.com from 9am EST on Tuesday through 6pm EST on Thursday to determine the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week. The winners will be announced Thursday evening on NFL.com.
In addition, NFL fans may cast their votes for the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week using Sprint or Nextel wireless service - an opportunity available only to Sprint customers. This fast, convenient voting method involves texting the word FEDEX to short code 7777. Sprint customers will then receive an interactive text message that links fans to the ballot with the six finalists each week. Data and text messaging rates may apply.
Fans will be voting for more than their favorite player. For the third season in a row, the weekly FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week Awards are a win for the local community. Along with the award, FedEx will donate $5,000 every week to the local children's hospital in each winning market. The children's hospitals in the two season-long winner's markets, announced at this year's Super Bowl, will be awarded $25,000 each. That means that FedEx will deliver nearly $250,000 to local children's hospitals around the country in recognition of the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week Award winners.
A closer look at the FedEx Express NFL Player of the Week finalists:
-Green Bay's BRETT FAVRE completed 24 of 42 passes for 347 yards, two touchdowns and a passer rating of 100.0 in the Packers' 23-17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Favre threw a five-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and followed that up with an 82-yard touchdown strike just before halftime.
-San Diego's PHILIP RIVERS threw three touchdown passes, completing 24 of 36 attempts for 337 yards and a 124.4 passer rating in the Chargers' 49-41 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Rivers helped lead the Chargers back from a 21-point halftime deficit, completing second-half touchdown passes of five, nine and 46 yards.
-Dallas' TONY ROMO threw for 308 yards, completing 20 of 29 attempts with two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 126.8 in the Cowboys' 27-10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Starting his third career game, Romo threw touchdown passes of 30 and 51 yards in the win.
A closer look at the FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week finalists:
-San Francisco's FRANK GORE rushed for 159 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries in the 49ers' 19-13 victory over the Detroit Lions. Gore set a franchise record with 148 first-half rushing yards and scored on a 61-yard run.
-Pittsburgh's WILLIE PARKER carried 22 times for 213 yards and two touchdowns in the Steelers' 38-31 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Parker had a 76-yard run and scored fourth-quarter TDs of three and four yards.
-San Diego's LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON carried 22 times for 104 yards and four touchdowns in the Chargers' 49-41 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Tomlinson scored on runs of two, four, nine and nine yards.
FedEx, the premier global provider of transportation, e-commerce and supply-chain management services, is the Official Delivery Service Sponsor of the NFL, Super Bowl and Pro Bowl. Through the weekly FedEx Air & Ground Awards, FedEx recognizes those NFL players who represent the same speed, precision and teamwork that their customers have come to expect from the full range of FedEx air, ground, freight and international shipping services.
