RAVENS QB JOE FLACCO,
BEARS RB MATT FORTÉ,
TITANS RB CHRIS JOHNSON,
BRONCOS WR EDDIE ROYAL
FALCONS QB MATT RYAN

CANDIDATES FOR DIET PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF WEEK HONORS

Fans To Vote For Winner On NFL.com and Via Sprint Wireless Service

Quarterback JOE FLACCO of the Baltimore Ravens, running back MATT FORTÉ of the Chicago Bears, running back CHRIS JOHNSON of the Tennessee Titans, wide receiver EDDIE ROYAL of the Denver Broncos and quarterback MATT RYAN of the Atlanta Falcons are the finalists for DIET PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK honors for games played on September 4 - 8, the NFL announced today.

Fans can vote for one of these five players on NFL.com/rookies beginning Tuesday at 8am ET and ending on Friday at noon ET to determine the DIET PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK. The DIET PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK will be announced Friday evening on NFL.com/rookies.

In addition, for the fourth year, NFL fans may cast their votes for the DIET PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK using phones with Sprint wireless service - an opportunity available only to Sprint customers. This fast, convenient voting method involves texting the word PEPSI to short code 7777. Sprint customers will then receive an interactive text message that links fans to the ballot with the five finalists each week. Data and text messaging rates may apply.

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/rookies throughout the month of January. The winner will be announced at a press conference at Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa Bay.

A closer look at the finalists:

• Denver's EDDIE ROYAL completed nine catches for 146 yards and one touchdown in the Broncos' 41 - 14 win over the Oakland Raiders. Royal also rushed for nine yards, recovered a fumble and returned three kicks for 30 yards to help secure the Broncos' win. A few notes on Royal:

* - Royal posted the most receiving yards (146) in the NFL and the third-most receptions (9, 4th in NFL) among all AFC players for Week 1.

* - Royal's 146 receiving yards marked the sixth-highest total by a player making his NFL debut since 1960 and were the most in five seasons (Arizona's Anquan Boldin in 2003). They also were the second most by a Broncos rookie making his NFL debut in club history.

* - Royal led all AFC players (3rd in NFL) for Week 1 with 185 combined yards at Oakland (146 receiving, 9 rushing, 11 KR, 19 PR).

* - Royal, who added two rushes for nine yards at Oakland, finished with the most yards from scrimmage (155) among all AFC players (3rd in NFL, first among league WRs).

* - Royal's nine catches were the most ever by a Denver rookie in his first career game.


• Baltimore's JOE FLACCO led the Ravens to a 17-10 win over the division rival Cincinnati Bengals. Flacco completed 15 of 29 passes, threw for 129 yards, had no turnovers and ran for a 38-yard third-quarter touchdown to secure the Ravens' win.

• Chicago's MATT FORTÉ rushed for 123 yards over 23 carries and scored one 50-yard touchdown in the Bears' 29 - 13 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Forté also made three catches for 18 yards to contribute to the Bears' total 319 yards.

• Tennessee's CHRIS JOHNSON rushed for 93 yards and completed three receptions for 34 yards and one touchdown in the Titans' 17 - 10 win over the AFC South rival Jacksonville Jaguars.

• Atlanta's MATT RYAN recorded his first NFL touchdown and victory in the Falcons' 34 - 21 win over the Detroit Lions. Ryan threw for 161 yards, directed the Falcons in gaining 474 total yards and became the first NFL quarterback in eight years to throw for a touchdown with his first pass.

This is Pepsi's seventh year as the official soft drink sponsor of the NFL and the fourth year that Diet Pepsi will present the NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL Rookie of the Year awards.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR EDDIE ROYAL!!