JONES-DREW NOMINATED FOR DIET PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF
THE YEAR HONORS
Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew has been nominated for Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year. Fan voting began today and continues through noon on January 29th at NFL.com to determine the 2006 Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year.
During the 2006 campaign, Jones-Drew led all rookies and tied for third in the NFL with 16 touchdowns, which ranked fifth all-time for rookies since 1990. Jones-Drew also led all rookies in all-purpose yards with 2,250, good for third best in the NFL. Jones-Drew had at least one rushing touchdown in eight consecutive games, breaking the NFL rookie record set by former Baltimore Colt Curtis Dickey in 1980, and tying the franchise record set by Fred Taylor.
He finished second on the team with 941 rushing yards on 166 carries (5.7 avg.) and led the Jaguars with 13 rushing touchdowns. He was also second on the squad with 46 receptions for 436 yards and two scores.
Jones-Drew, who was nominated for NFL Rookie of the Week honors five times during the regular season, is one of five finalists for the award. The five finalists are: Jones-Drew, Indianapolis Colts running back Joseph Addai, New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush, Chicago Bears kick returner Devin Hester, and Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young.
The winner will be presented the 2006 Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year award during a press conference in South Florida, the site of Super Bowl XLI, on Thursday, February 1, 2007.
