Each week of the greatest time of the year including Christmas sorry Jesus football season, Le Cup takes time to gander at how our alumni fared in the NFL.
Patrick Willis has been completely dominating this season so far, capturing two Rebel Alumni of the Week honors. Did he go on a spree for number threeeeeee?(omg clever rimes)
Derrick Burgess, DE, New England Patriots: defeated by the Denver Broncos, 20-17; made one tackle bringing his season total to nine. This is obviously a down year for Burgess who averaged nearly six sacks per season in his first eight years in the pros.
Ken Lucas, CB, Seattle Seahawks: victorious over the Jacksonville Jaguars, 41-0; notched six tackles bringing his season total to 20. Lucas was put in the position to make more plays due to the Jags trying to pass their way back into the game. He answered that call to arms.
Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants: victorious over the Provine, oh, wait, THAT was the Raiders? sheesh, 44-7; 8-10, 173 yds, 2 TD. Manning was taken out due to his inflammatory heel. He looked sharp in his first TD pass to Mario Manningham. Just teardropped the ball into the back of the endzone.
Ashlee Palmer, LB, Buffalo Bills: defeated by the Cleveland Browns, 6-3; made three tackles equaling his effort in the three previous games combined. Palmer could be playing his way into the Bills' good graces. They've been one of the worst teams in the AFC this year. I mean, for God's sake, they lost to the BROWNS.
Jamarca Sanford, S, Minnesota Vikings: victorious over the St. Louis Rams, 38-10; grabbed his first two professional tackles of his career. Congrats to the former South Panola hard hitter.
Mike Wallace, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers: victorious over the Detroit Lions, 28-20; snatched his first TD of his professional career as part of a two reception, 52 yard game. Big Ben Roethlisberger seems to be looking Wallace's way solidifying his place on this team. Wallace is on pace for nearly 800 yards this season.
Patrick Willis, LB, San Francisco 49ers: defeated by the Atlanta Falcons, 45-10; well, he did his part. Willis racked up 12 tackles and forced two fumbles in a game that was not close. More mind-boggling are the numbers he has accumulated in his short, 37-game career: 364 total tackles, 279 solo tackles, 7.5 sacks and 3 INT. Just so we're clear, that's nearly 10 tackles per game. The NFL might start new statistical categories for Willis...including: fatalities, head shots and babies conceived due to spectacular play.
The old balls Rebel Alumni of the Week goes to Mike Wallace who has proved to be more than just a flash in the pan. He's playing up and his TD catch made a big difference in an eight point win for the Steelers.