Tag: nfl defensive rookie of the month

Patriots rookie awarded NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month honors

This could be the first of many NFL honors for this Patriots rookie

New England Patriots rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez has been awarded NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month honors, following an incredible three-game stretch to start the season.

Being thrown into the deep end of the pool before learning to swim isn’t even a good enough comparison to describe the start to Gonzalez’s rookie season. A better comparison would be getting dumped off in the middle of an ocean full of sharks.

Gonzalez was forced to learn on the job with one-on-one matchups against the likes of Tyreek Hill, A.J. Brown, Garrett Wilson, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle right out of the gates.

And so far, he has won a high percentage of those matchups.

Hill came out after the Dolphins game and praised the rookie cornerback after their first head-to-head meeting.

“I was able to go against their rookie. He’s real good,” Hill said on an episode of the “It Needed To Be Said” podcast, via the Vocal Podcast Network. “Very lengthy corner, had some real good technique and speed about him. So they’ve got some real good pieces over there in New England, man. So shout out to New England.”

It’s scary to think Gonzalez is just getting started with no knowledge of how high the ceiling could go.

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Sauce Gardner or Tariq Woolen: Who should have won Defensive Rookie of the Month?

Tariq Woolen of the Seahawks won October’s Defensive Rookie of the Month award. Sauce Gardner of the Jets has a legit argument for robbery.

On Thursday, the Seattle Seahawks made NFL history with a draft class that has already been established as one of the best in franchise history. Head coach/shotcaller Pete Carroll, general manager John Schneider, and Seattle’s personnel staff hit on five early impact starters in offensive tackles Charles Cross and Abe Lucas, running back Kenneth Walker, and cornerbacks Coby Bryant and Tariq Woolen. As rookie pass-rusher Boye Mafe is starting to announce his presence with authority, you could argue that the Seahawks will have six indispensable players in one draft class by season’s end.

That is a historic haul, to say the least. So, this week, it wasn’t a huge surprise when the Seahawks became the first team in league history to have an Offensive Rookie of the Month in Walker, and a Defensive Rookie of the Month in Woolen.

In Woolen’s case, the fifth-rounder from the University of Texas at San Antonio had 19 tackles, five passes defensed, three interceptions (including a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown) and two fumble recoveries across five games (Weeks 4-8) in October. He was the only player in the league with multiple interceptions and multiple fumble recoveries during the month.

Woolen has become a true lockdown cornerback sooner than just about anybody could have expected, but was he the best defensive rookie in October, Was he even the best rookie cornerback in October? There is an equivalent case to be made for Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner of the New York Jets. The fourth overall pick out of Cincinnati obviously cost the Jets a lot more than Woolen cost the Seahawks in terms of draft capital and actual money, but he’s playing to or beyond the level expected.

So, who should have been the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month: Sauce Gardner or Tariq Woolen? Let’s get into the tape and the metrics.

Panthers rookie Jeremy Chinn fined for dunk during touchdown celebration

According to a report by Tom Pelissero at NFL Network, the league has fined Chinn $5,606 for dunking on the goal post.

It’s been a busy week for Panthers rookie Jeremy Chinn. He made NFL history by scoring defensive touchdowns against the Vikings on back to back plays on Sunday. Later, he was named the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Month for the second time.

Chinn’s celebration against Minnesota will cost him, though. According to a report by Tom Pelissero at NFL Network, the league has fined Chinn $5,606 for dunking on the goal post.

Stupid rule.

In any case, Chinn has some strong competition but right now it’s hard to consider anyone else the favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.

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