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2007 NFC POM -- September
10/04/2007

NFC-POM-1 10/4/07

COWBOYS QB TONY ROMO, BUCCANEERS LB BARRETT RUUD &
BEARS KR-PR DEVIN HESTER
NAMED NFC PLAYERS OF MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER

Quarterback TONY ROMO of the Dallas Cowboys, linebacker BARRETT RUUD of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and kick returner-punt returner DEVIN HESTER of the Chicago Bears are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Month for September, the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: QB TONY ROMO, DALLAS COWBOYS

· The Cowboys went 4-0 in September as Romo completed 72 of 121 passes (59.5 percent) for 1,199 yards with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions for an NFC-best 112.9 passer rating. Romo, who also rushed for two touchdowns, has led an offense that has scored 151 points, on pace for an NFL-record 604. He passed for at least 300 yards in three of the team’s four games, including a career-best 345 yards in Week 1 vs. the Giants (9/9), and passed for at least two touchdowns in all four games. Romo had five touchdowns in Week 1 (four passing, one rushing) and was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week. He had two touchdowns each in Weeks 2 and 3, and finished the month with a four-touchdown performance (three passing, one rushing) against St. Louis (9/30).

In his fifth season from Eastern Illinois, this is Romo’s second Player of the Month Award (November, 2006).


DEFENSE: LB BARRETT RUUD, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

· Ruud had 51 tackles, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, an interception and two passes defensed as the Buccaneers led the NFC in defense (291.8 yards per game) and went 3-1 during the month. Ruud’s 51 tackles led the team and his three forced fumbles tied for the most in the NFL during September. On Kickoff Weekend (9/9), Ruud had 12 tackles and recovered a fumble. In Week 2 (9/16), Ruud was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after recording a career-best 16 tackles, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in a 31-14 win over New Orleans. The next week, against St. Louis (9/23), Ruud had 15 tackles and recorded the first interception of his career. He finished the month with eight tackles and a forced fumble in the win over Carolina (9/30).

In his third season from Nebraska, this is Ruud’s first Player of the Month Award.


SPECIAL TEAMS: KR-PR DEVIN HESTER, CHICAGO BEARS

Chicago’s return specialist led the NFL with 602 combined kick-return yards and scored two touchdowns in September. Hester, who posted a league-best total of 239 punt return yards and a 19.9-yard average, returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown versus Kansas City (9/16) and was named the NFC Special Teams Player of Week 2. In the Bears’ Week 4 contest against Detroit (9/30), Hester returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown and finished the day with 314 combined kick-return yards, the second-highest total in NFL history (TYRONE HUGHES, 347). Hester is averaging 150.5 kick-return yards per game this season and is on pace for the second-best average in league annals (MICHAEL LEWIS, 152.0).

In his second season from Miami, this is Hester’ second Player of the Month Award (December, 2006).

2007 NFC PLAYERS OF THE MONTH

Offense
Defense
Special Teams

September
QB Tony Romo, Dallas
LB Barrett Ruud, Tampa Bay
KR-PR Devin Hester, Chicago


2007 AFC POM -- September
10/04/2007

AFC-POM-1 10/4/07


PATRIOTS QB TOM BRADY, RAIDERS LB KIRK MORRISON & BROWNS KR-PR JOSHUA CRIBBS
NAMED AFC PLAYERS OF MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER

Quarterback TOM BRADY of the New England Patriots, linebacker KIRK MORRISON of the Oakland Raiders, and kick returner-wide receiver JOSHUA CRIBBS of the Cleveland Browns are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Month for September, the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: QB TOM BRADY NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

· As the Patriots posted a 3-0 record in September, Brady led the NFL with a 79.5 completion percentage and a 141.8 quarterback rating. Brady completed 70 of 88 passes for 887 yards with 10 touchdowns. In Week 3 against Buffalo (9/23), Brady set a new career-high with a 150.9 passer rating and tied a career-high with four touchdown passes. The veteran signal caller tossed three or more touchdowns in three consecutive games (9/9-9/23) and his 10 touchdown passes are the highest three-game total of his career. With Brady at the helm, New England was the league’s number ranked offense in September as the team scored 38 points in all three games.

In his eighth season from Michigan, this is Brady’s first career Player of the Month Award.

DEFENSE: LB KIRK MORRISON, OAKLAND RAIDERS

· Morrison, the man in the middle of the Raiders defense, has been a force as Oakland closed out September winning two consecutive games. The Raiders’ defense has posted eight interceptions, which rank first in the AFC and third in the NFL. The third-year linebacker had an interception in each of the first three games and is tied for first in the AFC and is tied for second in the league with three interceptions. All three interceptions took place in Oakland territory, thwarting potential scoring drives. The Raiders’ leading tackler last season (238), Morrison leads the team with 35 tackles, including four tackles for a loss. Morrison has also contributed a team-high six passes defensed.

In his third year from San Diego State, this is Morrison’s first Player of the Month Award.


SPECIAL TEAMS: KR-WR JOSHUA CRIBBS, CLEVELAND BROWNS

· Entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2005, Cribbs has established himself as a key contributor on the Browns’ special teams units. Cribbs leads all NFL kickoff returners with 549 kickoff return yards and a 34.3 kickoff return average for the month. Cribbs posted five kickoff returns over 30 yards in September. In Week 3 against Oakland (9/23), Cribbs returned four kickoffs for 174 yards (43.5 average), including a career long 99-yard return for a touchdown (third of his career). Cribbs is tied for first in Browns history with BOBBY MITCHELL (3) for the most career kickoff return touchdowns and needs 49 yards to pass DINO HALL (3,185) and become the franchise leader in kickoff-return yards. Cribbs also ranks second on the team with six special teams tackles.

In his third year from Kent State, this is Cribbs’ first Player of the Month Award.


2007 AFC PLAYERS OF THE MONTH

Offense
Defense
Special Teams

September
QB Tom Brady, New England
LB Kirk Morrison, Oakland
KR-PR Joshua Cribbs, Cleveland