Brees, Cutler earn monthly league honors

Oct 2, 2008 - 5:04 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) - Quarterbacks for two of the league's highest-scoring offenses were honored by the NFL on Thursday.

Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for September. Jay Cutler of the Denver Broncos won the monthly honor for the AFC.

The respective Defensive Players of the Month honors went to cornerback Charles Woodson of the Green Bay Packers and defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth of the Tennessee Titans.

The Special Teams awards went to punter Sav Rocca of the Philadelphia Eagles and kick returner-running back Darren Sproles of the San Diego Chargers.

Brees leads the league with 1,343 yards through four games for New Orleans (2-2), which is second to the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC with 111 points scored. He has completed 72 percent (107-of-148) of his passes with eight touchdowns and fourth interceptions.

It is the first career Player of the Month Award for Brees, who has flourished despite the absence of injured wide receiver Marques Colston and tight end Jeremy Shockey.

Cutler directs an offense that is second overall in the league with 133 points. He ranks second to Brees in passing yards (1,275) and has throwing nine touchdowns and four interceptions in guiding Denver to a 3-1 record.

In winning his first monthly award, Cutler is tied with Brees and Dallas' Tony Romo with three 300-yard passing games.

Woodson is tied for the NFC lead with three interceptions - all coming in the fourth quarter. He has returned two of them for touchdowns, including a 62-yarder in last week's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It is the first monthly award of his 11-year career.

Haynesworth has been the focal point of a Tennessee defense that has yielded a league-low 11.5 points per game. The massive 320-pound tackle already has five sacks in winning his first monthly honor.

Rocca, who is in his second season with the Eagles after a career in the Australian Football League, led the league with a net average of 44.1 yards per game. He is the first punter to win the monthly special teams award since Buffalo's Brian Moorman in November 2006.

Sproles, who also backs up LaDainian Tomlinson at running back, tied a team record with a 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown - just the second player in the league to bring back a kick for a score this season. It is his first monthly award.