Last year, the five finalist for the Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Year included only quarterbacks and running backs: Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan, Steve Slaton, Matt Forte, and Chris Johnson.
This year, with the award being renamed for the sugar-sweetened version of the beverage, the candidates consist of guys who’d be less naturally inclined to worry about their girlish figures.
And not a single quarterback or running back.
The finalists are Packers linebacker Clay Matthews, Texans linebacker Brian Cushing, Ravens tackle Michael Oher, Bills safety Jairus Byrd, and Vikings receiver Percy Harvin, the only skill-position player of the five.
Votes can be cast right here from now through February 2 at 6:00 p.m. ET.
Given the extent to which Vikings fans loaded the ballot box for Pro Bowl candidates from Minnesota, Harvin is the early favorite to win the award.
Given that voting will be open through the end of the postseason, the players from the teams still alive in the playoffs will likely benefit, as Flacco did last year in overcoming the Associated Press offensive rookie of the year, Matt Ryan. Ryan’s Falcons were bumped in the wild-card round; Flacco’s Ravens made it to the AFC title game.