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 Tuesday, January 4
Ricky is just fine
 
ESPN.com

 While most of the attention on this year's rookie class has been focused on Edgerrin James -- and rightfully so -- Ricky Williams is having a very good inaugural season. Williams spent the first part of the year battling a variety of injuries, and it affected his play. But since getting healthy, the Heisman winner from Texas has been everything that Mike Ditka and the Saints were expecting.

Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams scored his first two NFL touchdowns in Sunday's loss to the Jaguars.
Williams carried the ball 19 times for 94 yards in Sunday's loss to the Jaguars. He also scored two rushing touchdowns against a defense that hadn't allowed a rushing touchdown all year. "Ricky's going to be one of the best around before too long," Jaguars linebacker Kevin Hardy told the Florida Times-Union. "He's a good back, big and strong."

Even more than what Williams did on the field, his reaction in the locker room after the game showed the kind of character that the rookie has. When asked about his first NFL touchdowns, Williams responded, "Who cares. We lost. It doesn't matter. Touchdowns in a loss don't mean anything. I'm not here to score touchdowns. I'm here to win football games."

Williams now has 816 yards rushing on 216 carries (3.8 per carry). Over the Saints last five games, he has 524 yards (104 yards per game) on 127 carries (4.1 yards per carry).

While James was obviously the right choice for the Colts, Williams is showing that he's not that far behind his fellow rookie running back.

Here's a look at how some of the league's most intriguing rookies fared in Week 11. Each Tuesday during the regular season, ESPN.com offers its report cards for the Class of '99.

PLAYER, STATS THE SKINNY
Ricky Williams, RB,
Saints

at Jaguars
19 att., 94 yds., 2 TDs
2 rec., 27 yds.

The lone bright spot in the Saints' loss to the Jaguars was the play of Williams. The rookie from Texas scored his first NFL touchdown in the second quarter, and found the end zone again in the fourth quarter. Williams is now fourth in the NFC in rushing with 816 yards. Look for Williams, who had a nose for the end zone in college, to start finding his way there with more regularity.
Edgerrin James, RB, Colts

at Eagles
22 att., 152 yds., 2 TDs
5 rec., 47 yds., 1 TD

James' play over the last month has moved him firmly to the head of the rookie class and probably into the MVP race. The rookie back ran for 117 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter alone, putting Sunday's game at Philly away early. He finished the game with 152 yards rushing, 47 yards receiving and three touchdowns. He also eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark in rushing (1,006) and has 1,420 total yards.
Tim Couch, QB,
Browns

vs. Panthers
29-for-46
259 yds., 1 TD, 2 INTs
5 att., 27 yds.

Couch went 29-for-46 for 259 yards with one TD and two interceptions in Sunday's loss to the Panthers. However, most of it came late against Carolina's defensive backups. The Browns continue to struggle at home, dropping to 0-4 under Couch and 0-5 overall. "I'm not sure why we don't play well at home," Couch said. "It just doesn't happen for some reason, and we're not giving our fans anything to cheer about."
Martin Gramatica, K,
Buccaneers

vs. Falcons
4-for-4 FGs
13 pts.

The rookie from Kansas State lived up to his college nickname of "Automatica", connecting on four field goals and accounting for all of the points scored by the Bucs offense in a victory over the Falcons. Gramatica kicked two 50-yard field goals in the fourth quarter, the last a 53-yarder that put Tampa Bay ahead for good.
Donovan McNabb, QB,
Eagles

vs. Colts
19-for-36
165 yds., 1 TD, 2 INTs
3 att., 13 yds.

One week after winning his first NFL start, McNabb was sacked four times, threw two interceptions and fumbled three times in the Eagles' 44-17 loss to the Colts. He was 19-for-36 for 165 yards and a touchdown.
Jevon Kearse, DE,
Titans

vs. Steelers
3 tackles
1 sack

The Titans had only 30 sacks all of last season. After 10 games this year they already have 34 sacks, and Kearse is one of the big reasons why. The rookie from Florida recorded one sack on Sunday, increasing his team-leading total to 7½.
J.J. Johnson, RB, Dolphins

vs. Patriots
31 att., 106 yds., 1 TD
1 rec., 6 yds

Johnson, starting in place of the injured Cecil Collins, carried the ball 31 times for 106 yards and a touchdown. He became the first Dolphins running back to reach the 100-yard mark this season and also broke a team record for most carries in a game by a rookie.
Kevin Johnson, WR,
Browns

vs. Panthers
5 rec., 55 yds.

Johnson had one of his worst performances as a pro in Sunday's loss to the Panthers. Despite catching five passes for 55 yards, Johnson dropped a number of passes. "I'm taking full responsibility; don't blame it on nobody," Johnson told the Akron Beacon Journal. "Kevin Johnson, No. 85, dropped the balls. I let this team down today." However, don't look for Couch to stop throwing the ball Johnson's way.
Olandis Gary, RB,
Broncos

vs. Raiders
22 att. 95 yds., 1 TD
1 rec., 6 yds.

The rookie from Georgia saved his best for last in the Broncos' overtime victory over the Raiders on Monday night. Gary had 24 of his 95 yards rushing on an overtime touchdown run that gave the Broncos the win. He has 625 yards rushing in seven games.
Jon Jansen, OT,
Redskins

vs. Giants

Jansen had a good day against one of the NFL's best defensive lineman. For the second time this year, the rookie from Michigan held Michael Strahan without a sack.
Kevin Faulk, RB,
Patriots

at Dolphins
5 att., 61 yds.
2 rec., 6 yds.

Faulk continues to make the most of his opportunities with the Patriots. In Sunday's loss to the Dolphins, Faulk carried the ball five times for 61 yards and caught two passes for six yards.

 


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