New York, NY (Sports Network) - New York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks,
Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell and Green Bay Packers punter
Tim Masthay have been selected the NFC's top players for Week 2 of the NFL
season.
Nicks had 10 catches for 199 yards and a touchdown in the Giants' 41-34 come-
from-behind win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He and Victor Cruz, who caught
11 balls for 179 yards, became the first set of teammates to tally at least 10
catches and 175 yards receiving in the same game. It's Nicks' first player of
the week award.
Campbell registered 10 tackles and two sacks in the Cardinals' 20-18 upset win
over the New England Patriots. Campbell led a defensive unit that limited New
England to fewer than 20 points for the first time in 26 home games. It's
Campbell's second career weekly award, but first as a defensive player. He was
previously honored as a special teams player in Week 2, 2009.
Masthay threw his first career touchdown pass and averaged 47.6 yards per punt
in Green Bay's 23-10 victory over the Chicago Bears. With the Packers trailing
3-0 in the second quarter and facing a 4th-and-26, Green Bay lined up for a
field goal, but executed a fake as Masthay found tight end Tom Crabtree for a
27-yard score. He's the first punter to be named special teams player of the
week in each of his first three NFL seasons.
Other nominees for the offensive honor included St. Louis wide receiver Danny
Amendola, who caught 15 passes for 160 yards in the Rams' 31-28 victory over
the Washington Redskins; Philadelphia tight end Brent Celek, who posted eight
receptions for 157 yards in the Eagles' 24-23 triumph over the Baltimore
Ravens; and Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who threw for 510 yards and three
touchdowns against Tampa Bay.
Defensive nominees included Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews, who tallied 3
1/2 sacks and seven tackles; Carolina safety Charles Godfrey, who had 11
tackles and a nine-yard interception return for touchdown in the Panthers'
35-27 win over the New Orleans Saints; and Philadelphia linebacker DeMeco
Ryans, who had seven tackles, a sack and an interception.
Also nominated for the special teams award was Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes,
who converted all four of his field-goal attempts and three PATs.
The Sports Network