Voters on NFL.com have made their choice. Running back Samkon Gado of the Green Bay Packers is the Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie Of The Week for games played on November 13-14, the NFL announced today.
Gado ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries in the Packers' 33-25 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. He scored on touchdown runs of two and nine yards in his first NFL start. Gado also caught a one-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brett Favre.
More than 42,680 fans voted this week on NFL.com. Gado was selected from among five finalists. The other finalists were defensive back Ellis Hobbs of the New England Patriots, wide receiver Matt Jones of the Jacksonville Jaguars, linebacker Lofa Tatapu of the Seattle Seahawks and cornerback Darrent Williams of the Denver Broncos.
After the regular season, five players will be nominated for Diet 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 XL in Detroit.
This is Pepsi's fourth year as the official soft drink sponsor of the NFL and the first year that Diet Pepsi will present the NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL Rookie of the Year awards.
2005 DIET PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Wk 1
RB Carnell Williams (Auburn)
Wk 2
RB Carnell Williams (Auburn)
Wk 3
RB Carnell Williams (Auburn)
Wk 4
CB Domonique Foxworth (Maryland)
Wk 5
RB Tyson Thompson (San Jose State)
Wk 6
LB Odell Thurman (Georgia)
Wk 7
QB Kyle Orton (Purdue)
Wk 8
TE Heath Miller (Virginia)
Wk 9
WR Reggie Brown (Georgia)
Wk 10
RB Samkon Gado (Liberty)
