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Yates wasn't given the reins, nor even considered for them, when the season kicked off. Newton and Dalton, of course, were behind center from the beginning, a trend that developed in the last decade and has led to Ben Roethlisberger, Vince Young, Matt Ryan and Sam Bradford winning top offensive rookie honors. It never happened before Roethlisberger arrived in Pittsburgh in 2004.
Newton and Dalton might be the front-runners for the award this season, especially with Cowboys sensation RB DeMarco Murray gone with a broken right ankle. But nobody should ignore Washington RB Roy Helu; WRs A.J. Green of Cincinnati, Doug Baldwin of Seattle, and Julio Jones of Atlanta; Philadelphia center Jason Kelce; Oakland guard Stefan Wisniewski; Miami center Mike Pouncey; and tackles Orlando Franklin of Denver, Marcus Gilbert of Pittsburgh and Nate Solder of New England.
Arizona's Peterson has taken his spectacular efforts to special teams, where he has tied a league mark with four punt returns for TDs, one from 99 yards and another from 80.
"There's no secret there, he's an outstanding player for the reasons that he's had success this year," Browns coach Pat Shurmur said as he prepared to face Arizona this weekend. "When you have a guy that's scored four touchdowns, two of which won games at the end -- I know for a fact it was the Rams, he beat them twice on punt returns -- I'm going to remember that Sunday."
Other defensive players to remember along with Miller, who quickly has become the dynamic leader in Denver, and Peterson, include linebackers Ryan Kerrigan of Washington, KJ Wright of Seattle, Justin Houston of Kansas City, Jacquian Williams of the Giants, and two from Tennessee: Akeem Ayers and Colin McCarthy; linemen Aldon Smith of San Francisco, Adrian Clayborn of Tampa Bay, Marcell Dareus of Buffalo, Robert Quinn of St. Louis, Jabaal Sheard of Cleveland, Muhammad Wilkerson of the Jets, and two more from Tennessee: Jurrell Casey and Karl Klug; and backs Jimmy Wilson of Miami and Jimmy Smith of Baltimore.
One thing is certain: Any rookies who have played regularly for their teams in 2011 no longer can be considered untested. Indeed, Yates might go through the rest of his career without ever being challenged the way he is being now.
[Associated Press;
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