Panini America Partners with Pepsi for 2011 NFL Rookie of the Week Promotion

Want to know who gets more excited than Panini America and NFL collectors about NFL Rookie performances each week during the season?  Pepsi with its NFL Rookie of the Week initiative. So it comes as no surprise after months of behind-the-scenes work that Panini America and Pepsi would come together to help promote Pepsi Rookie of the Week voting and Panini America NFL Rookie trading cards!

The payoff for collectors and NFL fans everywhere are some pretty sweet virtual cards that will be highlighted on NFL.com each week in a special Pepsi Rookie of the Week gallery, across social media platforms and the NFL.com/Rookies voting page. Each week Panini will feature the five Pepsi Rookie of the Week Nominees in a different Panini football card design – stay tuned to the Knights Lance, our Panini Facebook page and hobby shops to find out about new Panini designs and what weeks they will be incorporated into Pepsi Rookie of the Week Nominees during the NFL regular season.

Now for the fun stuff!

Vote for the NFL Pepsi Rookie of the Week for the top rookie performance each week during the NFL regular season. Then share the image of the Pepsi Rookie of the Week Nominee you voted for on your Facebook page, on our Panini Facebook page and on Twitter and use the hashtag #PepsiROW and mention @PaniniAmerica to be eligible to win prizes throughout the season – oh yeah and there just might be a special payoff at the end of the season!

Now for your Pepsi Rookie of the Week 1 Nominees:  

Doug Baldwin, SEA – Four catches for 83 yards receiving and a touchdown

Randall Cobb, GB – Two catches for 35 yards receiving and a touchdown, 108-yard record –tying kickoff return

Ryan Kerrigan, WAS – Five tackles and an interception for a touchdown

Cam Newton, CAR- 422 yards passing and two touchdowns, rushed for 18 yards and a touchdown on his way to a 110.4 passer rating

Patrick Peterson, ARZ – Five tackles and returned a punt 89 yards for a touchdown

Other Rookie Notable Highlights from Week 1 to keep an eye on and collect their Panini cards:

Julio Jones, ATL – Five catches for 71 yards receiving yards

A.J. Green, CIN – 41-yard touchdown catch

Mark Ingram, NO – 40 yards rushing