Eddie Royal to be named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month

by John Bena on Oct 28, 2009 4:29 PM MDT in Broncos Injury News Comment 20 comments

Denver Broncos wide receiver Eddie Royal will be named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for October, the National Football League informed the Broncos on Wednesday

Royal's selection as AFC Special Teams Player of the Month is the first such award of his two-year NFL career. It marks the first time in club history that the Broncos have had multiple AFC Special Teams Player of the Month winners in the same year with kicker Matt Prater also earning that award in September.

During three October games, Royal returned eight punts for 134 yards (16.8 avg.) with one touchdown (71 yds.) and five kickoffs for 158 yards (31.6 avg.) with one score (93 yds.) to total 292 return yards and two return touchdowns. He was the only player in the NFL to rank among the league's top-four players in both kickoff return average (3rd) and punt return average (4th) for the month, and his two special-teams return scores led the league in October.

On Monday Night Football at San Diego (10/19), Royal became only the 11th player in NFL history (2nd Bronco) to score a touchdown on both a kickoff (93 yds.) and punt (71 yds.) return in the same game.

A former standout at Virginia Tech University, Royal is Denver's fifth AFC Special Teams Player of the Month, which was initiated by the NFL in 1993. He joins Prater (September 2009), punter Todd Sauerbrun (October 2005), running back Reuben Droughns (September 2004) and kicker Jason Elam (November 2001) in receiving that honor.

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Way to go Eddie!

Much props to the kickoff return team for getting him some lanes open!

"Precipitation, which side are you on?
Are you on the rise? Are you falling down?
Let me know, Come on let's go, yeah
Got some if you need it!" -EV

by sadaraine on Oct 28, 2009 4:32 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

"All by their heads, he places crowns."

by Tempestuous Binary on Oct 28, 2009 6:36 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Way to go Fast Eddie Royal.

I don’t think there was any doubt on this one. Who would have thought he was going to be big in that MNF game and not get one catch. Now a few more of those would be cool.

2009 NBA Champions L.A Lakers
2009 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant

by weazel on Oct 28, 2009 4:32 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I forsee Berger winning the November award

And then Prater/Royal in December. Total sweep of the ST POM award for the Broncos!

by OrangeTorpedo on Oct 28, 2009 4:41 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Nicely done Mr. Royal.

Kudos to you……..not for the game, but for dealing with Stuart Scott’s backhanded comments in that post-game interview. “How’s it feel to have two return touchdowns but ZERO receptions?” Ignore them, Eddie. You rock.

If Taylor Swift were to try and tackle me, I'd let her.

by kentuckybronco on Oct 28, 2009 4:44 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs

Todd is on the list?

Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.

The guy formerly known as ZAPPA

by Tim Lynch on Oct 28, 2009 4:46 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

The Royal Burn Unit

strikes again!

First team to three consecutive SB wins!!!! and then some, right? I think four and we oughtta let someone else have a fair shot : )

by PearlJamBroncoGFunk on Oct 28, 2009 4:51 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Right on Eddie

How about an encore this week.

Character may be manifested in the great moments but it is made in the small ones -- Philip Brooks

by KaptainKirk on Oct 28, 2009 5:10 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

And here was me hoping we went after Cribbs before the trade dead line....

MMMMMM….that humble pie tastes good.
Great job Eddie!

Those that cant coach, compete!
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
All I want is 53 Rod Smiths. Is that asking too much????
"Peyton Hillis didn’t rip the sleeves off his jersey, they flew off out of fear."
Calijoefornia.

by boydy2669 on Oct 28, 2009 5:10 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Is Eddie going to be the full time returner?

Is coach going to let him stay in that role full time?

by Broncoholic_07 on Oct 28, 2009 5:14 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I hope not. He seems like a valuable checkdown receiver, as well as a savvy tool in helping get other receivers open.

by Orange Rush on Oct 28, 2009 5:35 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

But...

The field position battle is huge, and if he becomes like a Hester/Cribbs and teams kick away from him, it could really help our field position without him having to use the energy and take the hits he normally would. Just a thought. I don’t know what would be best, but I know he was HUGE against SD.

by Broncoholic_07 on Oct 28, 2009 5:41 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I really hope he doesn't.

His route-running, hands, and football intelligence are way to good/high to waste. Difference between Eddie and Hester/Cribbs is that he actually has skills as a receiver.

"All by their heads, he places crowns."

by Tempestuous Binary on Oct 28, 2009 6:35 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tremendous honor for a well deserving player.

What a versatile weapon to have in our arsenal.

Imagination is more important than knowledge. A. Einstein

by Ponderosa on Oct 28, 2009 5:27 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Good for Royal. Glad he’s getting the use he should be getting.

by Orange Rush on Oct 28, 2009 5:33 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

That’s kinda funny considering most of us were asking when the hell our return teams were going to actually do something positive prior to the SD game. Not that he doesn’t deserve it…his performance against SD was epic.

"C" is for Championship...that's good enough for meeeee!!!

by PosterNutbag on Oct 28, 2009 5:58 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

still glad we got him instead of jackson

"never in my life have i been hit like that" - DJ victim

by chikndnnr on Oct 28, 2009 6:32 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice work Eddie, you deserve it.

by bchiper on Oct 28, 2009 7:47 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Eddie's AFC Royalty

It became pretty obvious last year, during Eddie’s rookie season, that he was something special. Those two run backs during the Charger game not only cemented that win, but showcased his speed, mobility, and field awareness to the entire nation. He’s this years NFL runback poster dude, and well deserved. Congratulations Denver Bronco Eddie Royal!!!

by deepwater on Oct 28, 2009 8:30 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Those returns brought his average up alot

I must admit I was surprised that one good game could get him that award considering we were all a bit down on the return game prior – then I saw the numbers and thought wow.

Great stuff, don’t get me wrong and I hate to be too negative. But a monthly award for one game’s performance is a bit funny to me and seems based on stats rather than consistent good play.

"Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind- bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space."

"It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes" Douglas Adams

by orange&blue_aussie on Oct 29, 2009 7:35 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs