But, as a Patriots' fan, I don't mean to mention it to you this way, but one of my recommendations for standout rookie in the AFC East, specifically that of the Miami Dolphins, would be rookie cornerback Vontae Davis. He still might be raw, but he does make some incredible plays, most recently that of last week which allowed the Dolphins to rally back to comeback victory.
(Oh, it didn't merge.)
---------- Post added at 11:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:53 AM ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Jazz
I think that it's pretty much Percy Harvin's to lose. I honestly have a hard time imagining any other rookie even being close. For sure he's the best one in the NFC North (with cudo's to Stafford in Detroit for being a distant second and probably the better player longterm) and I don't see anyone else even in the NFC that would be close if the season ended today.
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Well, I agree with you in some ways, yet can still find arguments for others.
For sure, I think that Percy Harvin is top-3 in ballot votes at this time for 'Offensive Rookie of the Year'.
But, I still am gonna name some other lesser-known rookie contributors that have absolutely transformed how its team's offense or defense operates.
I am hearing a fair amount of 'experts' saying how DE pass-rushers are all but dead in the NFL, but that's just an anomaly for this one year. It is partially due to the spectacular play of quarterbacks this year, where there are at least 10 or 11 superbly-playing QBs in the league, so much so that they should arguably be in the conversation for MVP along with Peyton, Favre, and Brees. Rodgers is having a lights-out season, despite having been sacked 35+ times in the first half of the season; Rivers has helped his team rattle off a win streak of 6+, and a little-known fact about Philip Rivers is that he is 15-0 all-time as a starter in the month of December. Warner, Schaub, Roethlisberger, Palmer, etc. they are all getting rid of the ball quickly and somewhat making the argument for the decline of pass-rushers.
But, as you may have witnessed on Monday Night, rookie defensive lineman, Clay Matthews of the Green Bay Packers, is having an absolutely great rookie season. He, along with Washington Redskins rookie LB/DE Brian Orakpo are two of the league's top ten in terms of sacks and QB pressures, and to reiterate, they are both only first-year players.
I'll finalize my rookie overview sometime this afternoon.