Everybody gripes about end of the year awards…this guy shoulda won, that guy shouldn’t have even been nominated…
This year, thanks to PepsiNEXT, you can not only agree or disagree with who wins the 2013 NFL Rookie of the Year award, you can actually cast your vote for the most deserving newcomer in the league.
So which first-year stud made the biggest impact on the NFL this season? Five standout offensive and defensive rookies were nominated for the honor — and you can cast your vote at NFL.com for the 2013 best of the best.
Voting continues until Tuesday, Jan. 28. The winner will be announced at the third annual “NFL Honors” awards show, a two-hour prime-time special airing on Fox Feb. 1, the night before Super Bowl XLVIII.
Check out the five candidates — then head over to the PepsiNEXT Rookie of the Year voting to make your voice heard!
2013 NFL Rookie of the Year Candidates
-
Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay
1,178 yards, 11 TDs; Alabama
Who'da thought the suddenly Aaron Rodgers-less Packers would turn to a first-year running back for salvation? Lacy gave the injury-riddled Pack everything they hoped for and more in his rookie campaign, racking up the most rushing yards and touchdowns for a first-year player this season.
Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
-
Kennan Allen, WR, San Diego
1,046 yards, 8 TDs; California
The rookie from Cal not only quickly became one of Phillip Rivers' favorite targets, he helped lead San Diego's amazing late season charge to the playoffs. The first rookie reciever to collect more than 1,000 yards since A.J. Green in 2011, Allen also broke the Chargers' rookie receiving record as well, breaking John Jefferson's 36-year-old mark of 1,001.
Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post
-
Kiko Alonso, LB, Buffalo
159 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 INTs; Oregon
The second-round draftee immediately made an impact on the much-improved Bills defense, playing every defensive snap this season en route to 159 tackles, third-most among all players this season. Alonso was the fan-voted selection at LB for this year's Pro Bowl.
Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
-
Giovani Bernard, RB, Cincinnati
1,209 yards (rushing and receiving), 8 TDs; North Carolina
Bernard was a key factor in the suddenly ferocious Bengals ascent to an AFC North division title and a perfect 8-0 record at home. An equally adept rusher and pass-catcher for Cincinnati, Bernard proved to be a multi-purpose threat out of the Bengal backfield, collecting 695 yards and 5 TDs on the ground as well as 514 yards and 3 scores through the air.
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
-
Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Minnesota
855 all-purpose yards, 9 TDs; Tennessee
A Pro Bowl selection as a return specialist in his rookie campaign, Patterson ably filled the void left in the Vikings receiving corps following the departure of Percy Harvin. Patterson became the first player in NFL history to collect four receiving TDs, three rushing scores and two kickoff return TDs in the same season.
Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
