Parker, Reid nominated for weekly honors

Philadelphia Eagles DE Juqua Parker was one of five finalists nominated today for the GMC Sierra Defensive Player of the Week honors, while head coach Andy Reid was nominated for Motorola NFL Coach of the Week honors following their performances vs. the Steelers on Sunday.

Parker joins defensive end JOHN ABRAHAM of the Atlanta Falcons, linebacker JOEY PORTER of the Miami Dolphins, linebacker D.J. WILLIAMS of the Denver Broncos and cornerback ANTOINE WINFIELD of the Minnesota Vikings as the finalists for GMC SIERRA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK honors for games played on September 21 - 22, the NFL announced today.

Fans can vote for one of these five players on NFL.com/gmc beginning immediately following Monday Night Football and ending on Thursday at 4:00 pm EST to determine the GMC SIERRA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK. The winner will be announced Thursday evening on NFL.com.

After the regular season, five players will be nominated for GMC Sierra Defensive Player of the Year honors. Fans can vote for the winner on NFL.com/gmc throughout the month of January.

A closer look at the finalists:

* Atlanta’s JOHN ABRAHAM notched two sacks in the Falcons’ 38-14 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs bringing his season total to six. Abraham finished with three tackles and one forced fumble.


* Philadelphia’s JUQUA PARKER had 2.5 sacks, five tackles (two of them for loss), a forced fumble, a pass batted down and four quarterback hits in the Eagles’ 15 - 6 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.


* Miami’s JOEY PORTER recorded three sacks, a forced fumble, and six tackles (three for a loss) in the Dolphins’ 38 – 13 win over the New England Patriots.


* Denver’s D.J. WILLIAMS posted a game-high 16 tackles in the Broncos’ 34 - 32 win against the New Orleans Saints. After Williams tackled Saints RB Pierre Thomas for a loss of one yard on a third-and-1 from the Denver 24 with 2:19 left to play, New Orleans missed a 43-yard field goal attempt, sealing Denver’s win.

* Minnesota’s ANTOINE WINFIELD energized a Minnesota defense in the Vikings’ 20 – 10 win over the Carolina Panthers. Just before halftime, Winfield blitzed Panthers QB Jake Delhomme, notched his first sack of the season, forced a fumble, recovered the ball and ran it back 19 yards for a touchdown that tied the game.