Collins leads Players of the Month

Jan 3, 2008 - 10:09 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Washington Redskins quarterback Todd Collins was recognized as NFC Offensive Player of the Month for December for rallying his team to the postseason.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor won the corresponding honor in the AFC.

Green Bay Packers safety Atari Bigby and San Diego Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie were named Defensive Players of the Month for the NFC and AFC, respectively.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Matt Bryant won NFC Special Teams Players of the Month, and Houston Texans wide receiver/punt returner Andre Davis took home the AFC honors.

Collins led Washington to four consecutive wins, helping the Redskins secure a playoff berth on the last day of the regular season. The veteran signal caller had an NFC-best 106.4 passer rating during the month, completing 67-of-105 attempts for 888 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions.

Collins, who hadn't started a game since 1997, came off the bench in Week 14 to beat the Chicago Bears, 24-17. He then started the next three games, including a 224-yard, one-touchdown performance against Dallas to get the Redskins into the playoffs.

In his 13th season from Michigan, this is Collins' first career Player of the Month Award.

Taylor gained 494 rushing yards on 64 carries - an average of 7.7 yards per carry - with three touchdowns as the Jaguars posted a 4-1 record in December. The 10-year veteran, who averaged a league-high 123.5 yards-per-game for the month, posted four consecutive 100-yard rushing games, including a season-best 147 rushing yards on 25 carries and a touchdown in a 29-22 win at Pittsburgh.

Taylor, who earned his first career Player of the Month Award, again leads the Jaguars against the Steelers in the first round of the NFL playoffs on Saturday.

Bigby tied for the NFL lead with four interceptions as the Packers posted a 3-1 record in December, clinching the NFC North, while locking up the No. 2 seed in the conference. In his second year out of Central Florida, Bigby, who posted an interception in three of Green Bay's four December games, recorded a career-high two picks in Week 15 vs. St. Louis.

This is Bigby's first career Player of the Month Award.

Cromartie collected four interceptions in December as the Chargers posted a 5-0 record for the month. In Week 13 against Kansas City, the first-time Pro Bowler recorded multiple interceptions in a game for the third time this season.

In his second year from Florida State, this is Cromartie's first Player of the Month Award.

Bryant ranked second in the NFC during December with 42 points and connected on 10-of-11 field goals to help the Buccaneers clinched the NFC South.

In his sixth season from Baylor, this is Bryant's first Player of the Month Award.

Davis led the NFL in December with a 34.9 kickoff return average and an NFL-best three kickoff returns for scores as the Texans finished December with a 3-2 record and a franchise-high eight wins this season.

In his sixth year from Virginia Tech, this is Davis' first career Player of the Month Award.