Patrick Willis gets NFL rookie defensive player of the year award

The Niners may have had another horrible season, but they did make a great choice in the draft last season when they picked up Ole Miss LB Patrick Willis. Willis was one of the best LB's in the league, and was finally recognized as such with this award. The rookie was quoted as saying: "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."