[Tuck4Bama]

NEW YORK (AP) -- One NFL scout called linebacker Patrick Willis "a beast." And that was before Willis won The Associated Press 2007 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

Willis' dominant performance could have been overlooked because his San Francisco 49ers went 5-11 in a mediocre division. Instead, his league-leading 174 tackles and presence all over the field made him a runaway winner and the fifth straight linebacker to take the honor.

Willis earned 48 votes Friday from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. Only Carolina linebacker Jon Beason, with two, also received votes.
"It's confirmation of what you've been doing as an individual," Willis said. " From an individual perspective, it would be good for people that doubted, or didn't know if you could be a No. 1 draft pick, or if you could come into the league and do well because of your size or where you might have played ball at ... and show them that if you put your mind to it, you're capable of anything."

49ers linebacker Patrick Willis is AP's top defensive rookie - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

[NASCAR Gnome]

Being a Niners fan, there wasn't much for me to trumpet this season but when a player on my team gets this type of recognition, it makes it a little easier to bear!

I like what Chad Johnson of the Bengals called Willis when preparing for the Niners game this season: "Bam Bam" because on tape, all he saw was Willis thumping people left and right!

[bears9]

Willis a tackling machine, he really is a special player.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by bears9

Willis a tackling machine, he really is a special player.

QFT. The guy's an absolute beast. Far and away the best defensive player to come out of the 2007 draft.

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

QFT. The guy's an absolute beast. Far and away the best defensive player to come out of the 2007 draft.

and the scary thing is hes only gonna get better

[Seahawker 562]

Originally Posted by NASCAR Gnome

Being a Niners fan, there wasn't much for me to trumpet this season but when a player on my team gets this type of recognition, it makes it a little easier to bear!

I like what Chad Johnson of the Bengals called Willis when preparing for the Niners game this season: "Bam Bam" because on tape, all he saw was Willis thumping people left and right!

i looked at ur location, is dublin in northern cal?