Byrd named NFL's top defensive rookie
Bills safety Jairus Byrd, whose five interceptions rank second in the NFL, has been named the league's defensive rookie of the month for October. The only other Bills players to receive this honor were cornerback Leodis McKelvin (November, 2008), safety Donte Whitner (September, 2006), middle linebacker Sam Cowart (October, 1998) and outside linebacker Gabe Northern (November, 1996).
It's easy to see why the NFL chose Byrd, whose five interceptions in the month are the most by a rookie since Chicago's Mark Carrier did it in 1990. Byrd has two interceptions in each of the last two games, making him the first rookie to do that Dallas cornerback Everson Walls all the way back in 1981.
The Bills were hoping Byrd would eventually become a starter when they drafted him in the second round out of Oregon, but it's safe to say they didn't expect this kind of production so soon. Now it looks like he'll be in the starting lineup for a very long time.
---Allen Wilson
