October 03, 2002
Wide receiver Deion Branch of the New England Patriots and defensive tackle Rocky Bernard of the Seattle Seahawks are the NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Month for September, the NFL announced today.
Bernard, a fifth-round draft choice from Texas A&M, is tied for the NFL lead and ranks first in the NFC among rookies with four sacks. He helped the Seahawks to a 48-23 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night with two sacks of Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper and has added 18 tackles this season.
Bernard has had sacks in three consecutive games and is on pace to break the Seahawks rookie sack record, held by defensive end Steve Niehaus who had 9.5 sacks in 1976. Bernard's total is already the most for a Seattle rookie since Sam Adams finished the 1994 season with four.
"We liked Rocky coming out of college because we though he was naturally strong, but he has even more than strength," said Seattle defensive coordinator Steve Sidwell. "He seems to have a good feel for the game, against both the run and the pass."
Branch, a second-round choice draft choice from Louisville, leads all rookies in receptions (28) and receiving yards (309) with two touchdowns. The rookie's contributions toward New England's successful offense (No. 2 in NFL) have helped the Patriots (3-1) seize a share of first-place in the AFC East after four weeks. His 28 catches rank him 11th among all NFL pass receivers. The 5-9 wideout is on pace to break the NFL's single-season rookie reception record of 90, set by former Patriot and current Green Bay Packers receiver Terry Glenn in 1996.
Branch also leads all NFL rookies in total scrimmage yards (313) and leads his first-year peers in kickoff return average with the AFC's third-best mark of 26.9 yards.
Starting for the injured Troy Brown this past Sunday in San Diego, Branch responded with 13 receptions for 128 yards. His 13 catches tied him for the second-most by an NFL rookie in one game with Sid Blanks (Houston, 1964) and La Dainian Tomlinson (San Diego, 2001). The rookie record is held by former Philadelphia Eagles end Don Looney, who caught 14 passes against the Redskins in 1940.
"We knew coming in that Troy was questionable, and when they made that decision, I knew that I had to step my game up," said Branch.