DeMarco Murray set the Dallas Cowboys single game rushing record and will try to follow former teammate Adrian Peterson's career path to NFL superstardom. While Murray will split carries with Felix Jones when he returns from injury, he will get at least one more start this weekend against Philadelphia. Will he prove himself enough to earn more carries even with Jones' return and will it be enough to make ground in the Offensive Rookie of the Year race?
Right now there is one man vying for Rookie of the Year and everyone else is miles back. Newton started the season with back-to-back 400 yard passing games, almost unheard of for veterans, much less rookies. He has slowed down since but is still playing far beyond his years. Through seven games, Newton has 2,103 yards, eight touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also has 266 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. The argument against Newton is those interceptions and the fact he has only led Carolina to two wins.
A less heralded rookie so far this season has been Andy Dalton. Dalton came in and took over the starting position in Cincinnati after Carson Palmer refused to return. His numbers are far lower than Newton's, with 1,311 passing yards but he also has seven touchdown passes with one rushing and only five interceptions. He also has the Bengals at a winning mark with a 4-2 record.
Normally, it takes a wide receiver three years to reach their NFL potential. A.J. Green is proving to be a playmaker for the Bengals. While Dalton has been learning his trade on the field, Green is his main target. This could be the beginning of a long, healthy partnership. Green has 29 receptions for 453 yards and four touchdowns on the season and has at least four receptions in every game since the season opener.
Daniel Thomas has been up and down in 2011. He plays for one of the worst teams in the entire NFL and splits his carries with Reggie Bush. He also has been banged up a lot over the course of the season. Despite all that, Thomas has a 100-yard game and a 95-yard game. He sits at 302 yards rushing in the four contests he played but hasn't scored a touchdown yet.
Blaine Gabbert has not done as well as either Newton or Dalton so far this season but has less interceptions than either player. Gabbert has four touchdowns and two interceptions on the year but has only broke 200 yards passing once. He won his first game as a starter in Week 7 but only threw for 93 yards.
People are going to talk about Christian Ponder after his first start made things rough on Green Bay. However, he only completed 13-32 for 219 yards and threw as many interceptions and touchdowns (2). He did look better than Donovan McNabb though, so this is a start.
Author Shawn S. Lealos has followed the Dallas Cowboys since he was a child, his favorite players range from Roger Staubach and Tony Dorsett to the Triplets of the 90s. Through the great years of the '90s and the hard times of the '80s, Shawn never turned his back on America's Team.
Source: Yahoo! Sports
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