Arvell Reese called his performance on Sunday "decent" by his standards.
That's a scary proposition for future opponents.
The linebacker was announced today as the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week after he led the Giants with nine solo tackles, three passes defensed, one tackle for loss and his first career interception.
Reese helped the Giants to a 36-24 victory over the Cardinals as they improved to 3-1 on the season and remained unbeaten at MetLife Stadium.
"One thing you look for is called 'no-hesitation tackling,'" coach John Harbaugh recalled this week about scouting Reese in the draft. "In other words, guys who get there quick and don't give the ball carrier much chance to make him miss, they aren't really too hesitant. But you've got to be good to do that because if you're going that way and the ball carrier is coming the other way, you can miss when you do that too. So, he's got that unique kind of just talent to get there quickly and still hit his target. And you see it. He's doing it now. He's doing a great job."
Reese's competition in the fan-decided award for Week 4 was Steelers safety Robert Spears-Jennings, Dolphins linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate, his former Ohio State teammate. After the regular season, four players will be nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year honors.
Reese leads the entire league, not just rookies, with 26 solo defensive tackles through four weeks.
The No. 5 overall pick became the fifth Giants rookie with at least three passes defensed and an interception in a game, and the only one since 1994 with nine tackles, three passes defensed and an interception in a single performance.
He did it on Sunday with Lawrence Taylor in attendance as the Giants celebrated the 40th anniversary of the 1986 championship season.
"Oh man, that means a lot," Reese said after the game. "With a guy like that in the building, him setting the standard for how that position is supposed to be played back in the day, it definitely means a lot to play a decent game like that."
View photos from the Giants' 40th anniversary halftime celebration honoring the 1986 championship team.



OLB Lawrence Taylor (56), ILB Harry Carson (53), DE George Martin (75)


QB Phil Simms (11)

DE Curtis McGriff (76)

QB Phil Simms (11)

OLB Lawrence Taylor (56)

NT Jim Burt (64)

OLB Carl Banks (58)

ILB Harry Carson (53)

OLB Carl Banks (58)

OG David Jordan (69)

QB Phil Simms (11)

S Terry Kinard (43)

S Tom Flynn (28)

WR Solomon Miller (87)

CB Elvis Patterson (34)

C Brian Johnston (59), CB Elvis Patterson (34)

NT Jerome Sally (78)

OG David Jordan (69)

Greg Lasker

OT Brad Benson (60)

P Sean Landeta (5)

K Raúl Allegre (2)

RB Lee Rouson (22)

RB Tony Galbreath (30)





OG Chris Godfrey (61)

TE Mark Bavaro (89)

CB Perry Williams (23)

OT Karl Nelson (63)

ILB Gary Reasons (55)

OLB Lawrence Taylor (56)

OG David Jordan (69)

QB Phil Simms (11)

OLB Andy Headen (54)

OT William Roberts (66)

S Herb Welch (27), QB Jeff Rutledge (17)

OG Billy Ard (67)

TE Mark Bavaro (89)

QB Phil Simms (11)

DE George Martin (75)

WR Bobby Johnson (88), WR Phil McConkey (80)

WR Phil McConkey (80), WR Lionel Manuel (86)

WR Phil McConkey (80), WR Lionel Manuel (86)

RB Ottis Anderson (24)

RB Ottis Anderson (24)

DE Leonard Marshall (70)

S Tom Flynn (28)

WR Solomon Miller (87)

WR Solomon Miller (87)

C Brian Johnston (59)

WR Lionel Manuel (86)

RB Lee Rouson (22)

RB Lee Rouson (22)

NT Jerome Sally (78)

NT Jerome Sally (78)

OG David Jordan (69)

S Tom Flynn (28)

OLB Byron Hunt (57)

OLB Lawrence Taylor (56), ILB Harry Carson (53)

OLB Lawrence Taylor (56), ILB Harry Carson (53)

K Raúl Allegre (2)

K Raúl Allegre (2)

P Sean Landeta (5)






