CANDIDATES FOR PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF WEEK HONORS - Ingles

EAGLES S NATE ALLEN, JAGUARS DT TYSON ALUALU, LIONS RB JAHVID BEST, CHIEFS WR-PR DEXTER McCLUSTER & BUCCANEERS WR MIKE WILLIAMS

Fans To Vote For Winner On NFL.com

Safety NATE ALLEN of the Philadelphia Eagles, defensive tackle TYSON ALUALU of the Jacksonville Jaguars, running back JAHVID BEST of the Detroit Lions, wide receiver-punt returner DEXTER McCLUSTER of the Kansas City Chiefs and wide receiver MIKE WILLIAMS of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the finalists for PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK honors for games played on September 9 - 13, the NFL announced today.

Fans can vote for one of these five players on NFL.com/rookies beginning Tuesday at 9 am ET and ending on Friday at noon ET to determine the PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK. The PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK will be announced Friday evening on NFL.com/rookies.

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.

A closer look at the finalists:

* Philadelphia’s NATE ALLEN made five tackles and one interception returned for 11 yards in the Eagles’ 27 – 20 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

* Jacksonville’s TYSON ALUALU had three tackles and his first career sack in the Jaguars’ 24 – 17 win over the Denver Broncos.

* Detroit’s JAHVID BEST rushed for two touchdowns on 14 carries and added five receptions for 16 yards in the Lions’ 19 -14 loss to the Chicago Bears.

* Kansas City’s DEXTER McCLUSTER returned three punts, including one for 94 yards for what would end up being the winning touchdown in the Chiefs' 21-14 win over the San Diego Chargers.

* Tampa Bay’s MIKE WILLIAMS recorded five receptions for 30 yards and one touchdown in the Buccaneers’ 17-14 win over the Cleveland Browns.

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.