Extra Points is handing out its Patriots team awards this week. This is the fourth in a series. Today, we choose Patriots Special Teams Player of the Year.

KYLE ARRINGTON
When the Patriots promoted Arrington from their practice squad to their active roster in Week 9, they unleashed a kick-covering terror. Arrington played in only eight games for the Patriots, but he made 16 special teams tackle, which placed him among the team leaders for the entire season in tackles made on special teams. During the time Arrington played, no one came close.

In one game against the Jaguars alone, Arrington made five tackles covering kicks and punts. In the playoff loss to Baltimore, Arrington provided the only play that threatened to change the game. While tumbling out of bounds, he recovered a punt that bounced off of a returner’s back. Replays showed Arrington never controlled the ball, but the point is the same. When the Patriots kicked, Arrington was always around the ball.

Arrington is a classic underdog. For his high school in Maryland, his best award was second-team all-county. He went to Hofstra, a football program that disbanded this year, because that was the only school that offered him a scholarship. In 2008, he went undrafted and spent six days on the Eagles practice squad before they cut him. He spent the rest of 2008 with Tampa Bay, and he played in one game with the Bucs this year before they cut him, too.

The Patriots signed him in late September and placed him on their practice squad. Once they finally activated him in midseason, they realized they had found a uniquely talented player.

HONORABLE MENTION

LS JAKE INGRAM
No position is more anonymous than long snapper – until something goes wrong. The fact that Ingram’s name never surfaced says everything you need to know. In his rookie season, Ingram did not botch a single snap, a feat taken for granted but not unimportant.

The Patriots sacrificed a sixth-round pick to take Ingram out of Hawaii, an unusual step to land a snapper. But the Patriots needed to replace Lonnie Paxton, and Ingram proved in his rookie season he can do it. There were certainly players who stood out more, but Ingram deserves recognition for his flawless first season.

SAM AIKEN
There is a reason Aiken rubs shoulders with Randy Moss, Tom Brady, and Vince Wilfork as a team captain. Aiken plays a valuable role on nearly every special team, his size and speed making a versatile and reliable cog.

When he’s not there, his absence is felt. Aiken serves as the personal protector on the punt team, and when Aiken was out with an injury against the Jets, the Patriots allowed a blocked punt to be turned into a touchdown. At times this year, Aiken became a viable receiving option. His main value to the team, though, comes on special teams.

PATRIOTS AWARDS
January 18: Comeback Player (Tom Brady)
January 19: Most Improved (Mike Wright)
Yesterday: Rookie of the Year (Sebastian Vollmer)
Today: Special Teams Player
Tomorrow: Defensive Player
January 23: Offensive Player
January 24: MVP