The Redskins Blog

Morris Named NFL Rookie Of The Week

(AP photo)

Can we just go ahead and name the Pepsi Max NFL Rookie of the Week award the “Washington Redskins Rookie of the Week award” yet?

The league announced today that Redskins running back Alfred Morris had earned his first-career Pepsi Max NFL Rookie of the Week award. His quarterback teammate, Robert Griffin III, has already won the award three times this season.

So, by my math — and by “math,” I mean calculator — a Washington Redskins rookie has won the award about 57 percent of the time so far this season.

A huge credit goes to Redskins general manager Bruce Allen, head coach Mike Shanahan and their staff for making their 2012 draft class count to this point. Griffin III has been an absolute league-wide sensation, while Morris has simply been the best rookie running back in the NFL.

Speaking of the NFL Draft, Morris’ Rookie of the Week award puts him in elite company.

The only other winners of the Pepsi Max NFL Rookie of the Week award so far this season have been Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (twice), Griffin III (three times) and Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson.

Luck was the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft, Griffin III was the No. 2 overall pick and, you guessed it, Richardson was the No. 3 overall pick. Morris, meanwhile, was a sixth-round selection out of Florida Atlantic.

Morris has fit in very well with Shanahan’s one-cut-and-go running style, and is on pace for about 315 carries for 1,504 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. I’d say those are Pro Bowl numbers, wouldn’t you agree?

So congratulations to Alfred on the first of what we hope are many accolades for him this season.