Rookie Meter: Byrd finally cracks top 10

I’ll admit it. The Meter dragged its feet before finally welcoming Bills rookie FS Jairus Byrd(notes) into the top 10 for the first time this week.

Byrd was seriously considered for last week’s Meter, but it was decided that picking off a rookie (Mark Sanchez(notes)) and the league’s interceptions leader (Jake Delhomme(notes)) in back-to-back weeks wasn’t enough to advance beyond “On the cusp” status.

However, after picking off one of the hottest quarterbacks in the league (Matt Schaub(notes)) twice on Sunday, Byrd can be denied no longer.

The rookie from Oregon’s two-pick day — one on a great diving catch, the other on a tipped ball that once again illustrated his nose for the ball — made him the second player since 1960, and the first rookie, with three straight games with two or more interceptions.

His seven picks not only have zoomed him to the top of the league in that category, tying him with the Saints’ Darren Sharper(notes), but they are the most by an NFL rookie since Anthony Henry(notes) had 10 in 2001 with the Browns.

Byrd still has a long way to go to break Dick “Night Train” Lane’s NFL rookie record of 14, set in 1952 (in just 12 games, I might add) when he was playing for the Los Angeles Rams. More reachable is the Bills’ rookie record of eight, held by Archie Matsos, who set the mark in 1960.

Luckily for Byrd and the Bills, the team is off next week on bye, giving Byrd, who left Sunday’s game in the fourth quarter with a groin injury, two weeks to heal before Buffalo resumes play at Tennessee on Nov. 15. If Byrd can pick off a Vince Young(notes) pass in that one, he will set the Bills’ record for consecutive games with an interception.

A quick note: Byrd wasn’t the only rookie to come away with two interceptions on Sunday. Panthers FS Sherrod Martin(notes) picked off Kurt Warner(notes) twice in his first career start in helping Carolina to an upset 34-21 victory at Arizona.

On to this week’s Rookie of the Year Meter:

1. OLB Brian Cushing(notes), Texans (First round, 15th overall)
It’s becoming a cliché when writing about him, but he was all over the field once again in the Texans’ 31-10 win at Buffalo. Collected a team-high 10 tackles, one of the team’s two sacks (for minus-8 yards) and one of the team’s two interceptions. Is a big reason why Houston has a franchise-best record (5-3) through eight games.

2. WR Percy Harvin(notes), Vikings (1, 22)
Set up the Vikings’ first TD with a 77-yard kickoff return. Got involved in the scoring himself early in the second half when he caught a perfect pass from Brett Favre(notes) over the middle and exploded into the endzone for a 51-yard TD catch-and-run. Led the Vikings with five catches for 84 yards and averaged 35 yards on five kickoff returns. He ranks second in the league in kickoff returns with a sparkling 30.7 yards per return.

3. QB Mark Sanchez, Jets (1, 5)
Didn’t turn the ball over for a second consecutive game after throwing 10 interceptions in the first six games. Completed 20-of-35 passes for 265 yards with two TD passes, zero interceptions and one rushing score and drove the Jets deep into Miami territory in the final minute before falling short on four attempts at winning the game in a 30-25 loss. Only dropped a spot due to Harvin’s brilliance.

4. OT Michael Oher(notes), Ravens (1, 23)
Was back starting at right tackle after filling in for injured OLT Jared Gaither(notes), who returned to action Sunday. Oher helped pave the way in the Ravens’ impressive 30-7 win over the previously unbeaten Broncos. QB Joe Flacco(notes) was sacked just two times and Baltimore ran for 125 yards against the league’s third-ranked rushing defense. To date, Oher has allowed only two sacks.

5. OLB Rey Maualuga(notes), Bengals (2, 38)
The Bengals were on bye last week, preparing to host the 4-3 Ravens in a key AFC North battle in Week Nine. Maualuga has started all seven games, totaling 30 tackles, one sack and two forced fumbles.

6. RB Knowshon Moreno(notes), Broncos (1, 12)
Rushed 10 times for 39 yards and scored the Broncos’ lone touchdown in a 30-7 loss at Baltimore. Also lost a fumble when drilled by Ed Reed(notes) — his third lost fumble of the season. As much as the Broncos love how hard he runs, they are growing concerned about his fumbling.

7. WR Austin Collie(notes), Colts (4, 127)
Caught six passes for 66 yards in helping the Colts rally past the 49ers, 18-14. Collie, who is still seeing the majority of snaps as the slot receiver while Anthony Gonzalez(notes) is sidelined, has caught 30-330-4 on the season.

8. WR Hakeem Nicks(notes), Giants (1, 29)
His consecutive games streak with a TD catch ended in the Giants’ 40-17 loss at Philadelphia. He caught four passes for 53 yards and now has 20 catches for 368 yards and four TDs on the season. Fellow rookie Jeremy Maclin(notes) caught 4-47-1 in the game and is starting to emerge as a key weapon in the Eagles’ passing attack.

9. CB Jairus Byrd, Bills (2, 42)
Made five tackles and intercepted two more passes in a 31-10 loss to the Texans. His second interception led to a Terrell Owens(notes) end-around TD run. Four of Byrd’s seven interceptions have led to Bills’ touchdowns.

10. MLB James Laurinaitis(notes), Rams (2, 35)
Made a team-high seven tackles and added a pass defensed in helping the Rams to their first win of the season, breaking a 17-game losing streak. Laurinaitis is averaging seven tackles in starting all eight games.

On the cusp (listed alphabetically)

OLB Aaron Curry(notes), Seahawks (1, 4)

S Louis Delmas(notes), Lions (2, 33)

CB Jacob Lacey(notes), Colts (not drafted)

WR Jeremy Maclin, Eagles (1, 19)

OLB Clay Matthews(notes), Packers (1, 26)

WR Johnny Knox(notes), Bears (5, 140)

OLB Brian Orakpo(notes), Redskins (1, 13)

PK Ryan Succop(notes), Chiefs (7, 256)

OG Max Unger(notes), Seahawks (2, 49)

WR Mike Wallace(notes), Steelers (3, 84)