Pennington Turner honored by NFL

Dec 31, 2008 - 8:28 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington and Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner were named AFC and NFC Offensive Players of the Week, respectively, on Wednesday.

Pennington guided the Dolphins to the AFC East title, completing 22-of-30 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-17 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.

In beating his former team, which released him prior to the season, Penningon helped Miami cap a stunning turnaround from last season's 1-15 debacle. He finished the season with an NFL-best 67.4 completion percentage in winning his sixth career weekly honor.

Turner ended the regular season just as he started it - with a 200-yard performance as the Falcons sewed up the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoffs with a 31-27 victory over the St. Louis Rams.

In setting a franchise record with his 17th rushing touchdown, Turner rumbled for 208 yards on 25 carries as the Falcons finished 11-5 one season after a 4-12 mark in 2007. It was the third time he received a weekly award.

Safety Tyrone Carter of the Pittsburgh Steelers and defensive end Chris Clemons of the Philadelphia Eagles were named the respective AFC and NFC Defensive Players of the Week.

Making just his second start of the season, Carter had a pair of interceptions, including one he returned 32 yards for a touchdown, in a 31-0 victory over the Cleveland Browns. He helped the NFL's top-ranked defense register its first shutout since November 2007.

Clemons returned a fumble 73 yards for a touchdown as the Eagles bludgeoned the Dallas Cowboys, 44-6. He also tied a tied a career high with two sacks as Philadelphia wrapped up the sixth and final playoff berth in the NFC.

New England Patriots punter Chris Hanson and Minnesota Vikings placekicker Ryan Longwell were honored as Special Teams Players of the Week.

Hanson averaged 45.5 yards on three punts in winds that gusted up to 55 miles per hour in the Patriots 13-0 victory over the Buffalo Bills.

Longwell drilled a 50-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Vikings to a 20-19 victory over the New York Giants and the NFC North title.