Voters on NFL.com have made their choice. Punt returner Bryan McCann of the Dallas Cowboys is the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week for games played on Nov. 18-22.
McCann returned a punt 97 yards for a touchdown and had one tackle in the Cowboys' 35-19 win over the Detroit Lions.
McCann was selected from among five finalists through fan votes on NFL.com/rookies. The other finalists were running back Chris Ivory of the New Orleans Saints, kick returner Marc Mariani of the Tennessee Titans, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and defensive back T.J. Ward of the Cleveland Browns.
After the regular season, five players will be nominated for 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 XLV in North Texas.
This is Pepsi's ninth year as the official soft-drink sponsor of the NFL and the ninth year that Pepsi will present the NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL Rookie of the Year awards.
A closer look at the finalists:
Ivory had 23 rushes for 99 yards and one touchdown in the Saints' 34-19 win over the Seattle Seahawks.
Mariani returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown and returned three kickoffs for an average of 27.3 yards in the Titans' 19-16 loss to the Washington Redskins.
McCann returned a punt 97 yards for a touchdown and had one tackle in the Cowboys' 35-19 win over the Detroit Lions.
McCoy had three tackles, took part in two sacks, had two quarterback pressures and a pass defensed in the Buccaneers' 21-0 win over the 49ers.
Ward recorded five tackles and two interceptions in the Browns' 24-20 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
