Harris Named AFC Defensive Player of Week
Published: Wed, September 16, 2009 - 2:55pm ET
By Randy Lange
File Under: Thomas Jones, David Harris, Rex Ryan, FedEx Ground Player of the Week, Mark Sanchez, Pepsi Rookie of the Week
09/16 — It's not November, Jets fans, but it's never too early for some election results and some September polls.
The NFL and the team announced this afternoon that middle linebacker David Harris has been named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his 12-tackle, one-sack, one-PD performance in the 24-7 win over the Texans.
It is the first such award of an anticipated many for the Rex Ryan/Mike Pettine defense and for the Jets as a whole. It is also Harris' second in-season league award, following up on his AFC Rookie of the Month honor for December 2007.
As for the NFL's partnership awards, the Jets have two players eligible for fans to vote on from now through Friday.
QB Mark Sanchez is one of five nominees for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week. And RB Thomas Jones is one of the three nominees for FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week.
Sanchez recorded the third-most passing yards in NFL history for a rookie in Week 1 with 272 yards as he completed 18 of 31 passes with one touchdown and one interception for a passer rating of 84.3 in the Jets' 24-7 win at Houston. Sanchez also directed a Green & White offense that gained 462 yards and controlled the ball for almost 39 minutes.
His competitors for the honor include Titans WR Kenny Britt, Vikings WR Percy Harvin, Raiders WR Louis Murphy and Ravens tackle Michael Oher.
You can vote for Sanchez (or the rookie of your choice, of course) by clicking here.
Jones carried the ball 20 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns in the season-opening win. You can vote for him here.
T.J. is in an interesting FedEx ballot because one of the other two names on the ballot is Julius Jones, his brother on the Seahawks. Fans can also vote for Vikings RB Adrian Peterson for the "ground" half of the weekly FedEx award. Sanchez was not among the three "Air NFL Player of the Week" nominees in this area.
To vote for T.J., J.J. or A.P., click here.
We'll have more on Coach Ryan's and Sanchez's news conference comments shortly.
Ray Said:
Fri, September 18, 2009 - 4:14am ET"You guys do realize Pats Fan, Texans Fan, next week Titans Fan, the week after Saints Fan...are all just the same guy - Fish Fan, stirring up his usual garbage, right?"
Harv Said:
Fri, September 18, 2009 - 9:16pm ET"Yo, #1patsfan. BEAT IT!!!! What the hell you even doin over here. Lets gets this win felles. J E T S."
Ira Said:
Wed, September 16, 2009 - 3:16pm ET"Congrats to Harris. It was well deseved and he is on his way of having an All- Pro season. Sanchez should be a no brainer."
Offensive Comment?