---

FOXBORO - The Patriots' steady performance despite a rash of significant injuries has resulted in a few personal honors for players who have helped to keep the ship afloat.

Kicker Stephen Gostkowski has been named the AFC's special teams player of the month, while linebacker Jerod Mayo was named the NFL defensive rookie of the month. Both awards were announced Thursday.

Gostkowski made nine of 10 field goals in the month of October and has totaled 38 points to lead the Patriots in scoring. Thus far this year, he has made 16 of 17 field goals (94.1 percent), including a perfect 10-for-10 from under 40 yards. He has made 23 of his last 24 field goal attempts dating back to last season, and his current career field goal accuracy rate of 85.1 percent (57 of 67) is the best in Patriots' history.

He follows his predecessor, current Colts' kicker Adam Vinatieri, as a recipient of the player of the month award from the Patriots.

Mayo, a first-round selection (No. 10 overall) from Tennessee, led the team with 24 tackles in the month. The first linebacker selected by the Patriots in the first-round in the NFL Draft under coach Bill Belichick since 2000, Mayo has started all seven games at inside linebacker. The rookie leads the team with 55 tackles and has also added one fumble recovery.

Mayo posted his best performance of the month in his first appearance on Monday Night Football against Denver, registering 11 tackles. He's the first Patriot to earn rookie of the month honors since wide receiver Deion Branch won the offensive award in September 2002. He's also the first New England player to the defensive award since its inception in 1996.

Wilfork's hit

According to published reports, nose tackle Vince Wilfork has received a $35,000 fine from the league for his play against Denver two Mondays ago.

Reportedly, the assessment is not specifically for an elbow he delivered to Denver quarterback Jay Cutler, but instead for a general level of aggressive play that could have negative repercussions for other players. That was supposedly the topic of Wilfork's meeting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Tuesday in New York.