Bucs RB Martin finalist again in Pepsi Max, Panini rookie of the week voting

Posted Nov 20, 2012 by Bob D'Angelo

Updated Mar 27, 2013 at 10:12 PM

For the fourth straight week, a Bucs player is a finalist for the Rookie of the Week honors sponsored by Pepsi Max (with a visual assist from Panini America). The last three weeks, the nominees were running back Doug Martin, who was a finalist in the Week 8 voting and the Week 9 winner; and cornerback Leonard Johnson, who was a finalist in Week 10.

Martin returns as a finalist for Week 11 after rushing for 138 yards on 24 carries in Tampa Bay’s 27-21 overtime win against Carolina.

This season, Pepsi Max and Panini have been asking fans to vote at the NFL’s website: http://www.nfl.com/voting/rookies/2012/REG/11.

Panini does its part by putting virtual cards of the nominees on the NFL’s Facebook page in a Pepsi Rookie of the Week gallery. Johnson’s card is a nice 2012 Limited Football version.

Here’s what Panini asks. Vote for one of the nominees, then share the image Panini has of that player on your Facebook, on the Panini America Facebook page and on Twitter. Remember to use this hash tag, #PepsiROW.

Here are the other four nominees:

Jacksonville receiver Justin Blackmon, who caught seven passes for 236 yards and one touchdown in the Jaguars’ 43-37 overtime loss to Houston.
New England cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, who had four tackles and returned an interception 87 yards for a score in the Patriots’ 59-24 win against  Indianapolis.

Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III, who completed 14 of 15 passes and threw four touchdowns, finishing his day with a 158.3 passer rating. Griffin also rushed for 84 yards as the Redskins beat Philadelphia 31-6.

Indianapolis receiver T.Y. Hilton, who caught six passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns in the Colts’ 59-24 loss to New England.

Can Martin win again? If I had to bet, I’d say Blackmon or Griffin, but the voters will decide. The winner will be announced Friday.