|
Brady named NFL MVP & NFL's top offensive
player
New England
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady added another
award to his collection for the 2007 season,
chosen as the NFL's Offensive Player of the
Year in voting by the Associated Press.
Brady was
honored as the league's MVP over the
weekend.
After being a
near unanimous choice as MVP when he
garnered 49 of 50 votes from a nationwide
media panel that regularly covers the NFL,
Brady was a solid winner of this award. He
earned 35 1/2 votes to easily outdistance
teammate Randy Moss, who notched 12 1/2. New
England's other wide receiver, Wes Welker,
picked up one vote, as did Green Bay
quarterback Brett Favre, who kept Brady from
being a unanimous MVP.
In leading the
Patriots to the NFL's first undefeated
regular season in 35 years, Brady was simply
magnificent. He led the NFL with a passer
rating of 117.2, a completion percentage of
68.9 and 4,806 yards, while also setting a
league record with 50 touchdown passes.
The Patriots
scored an NFL record 589 points and 75
touchdowns.
Brady became
the fourth straight player to win both MVP
and the top offensive player, following
Indianapolis' Peyton Manning in 2004,
Seattle running back Shaun Alexander in 2005
and San Diego running back LaDainian
Tomlinson last year.
Sanders is NFL Defensive Player of the Year
Indianapolis
Colts safety Bob Sanders has been named the
NFL's Defensive Player of the Year, as
selected by the Associated Press.
Sanders
received 31 of a possible 50 votes from a
nationwide media panel that regularly covers
the NFL. Seattle defensive end Patrick
Kerney and Tennessee defensive tackle Albert
Haynesworth both received four votes to
finish in second.
San Diego
defensive back Antonio Cromartie finished
with three votes, while linebackers Mike
Vrabel of New England and DeMarcus Ware of
Dallas each received two votes.
Cornerback
Ronde Barber of Tampa Bay, linebacker James
Harrison of Pittsburgh, linebacker Patrick
Willis of San Francisco, and defensive end
Mario Williams of Houston all recorded one
vote.
Sanders
finished the 2007 regular season with 132
tackles, 3 1/2 sacks, two interceptions and
six passes defended.
The former Iowa
star is the first Colts player to win the
award.
Moss, LT
unanimous picks for AP All-Pro team
New England
Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss and San
Diego Chargers running back LaDainian
Tomlinson were unanimous selections for The
Associated Press 2007 NFL All-Pro team,
announced on Wednesday.
Moss was joined
on the squad by the other end of his
record-setting tandem, quarterback Tom Brady
but, inexplicably, the passer who put
together one of, if not the greatest season
for a quarterback in the league's history
was not a unanimous selection. One writer
chose to split his vote between Brady, who
threw a record 50 touchdown passes this
season and earned both the Most Valuable
Player and Offensive Player of the Year
honors, and Green Bay quarterback Brett
Favre.
Tomlinson was
joined in the backfield by Chargers teammate
fullback Lorenzo Neal, and Philadelphia
Eagles running back Brian Westbrook. Cowboys
tight end Jason Witten and wide receiver
Terrell Owens filled out the offensive skill
positions.
The unbeaten
Pats led the league with five on the All-Pro
team, as tackle Matt Light, cornerback
Asante Samuel, and outside linebacker Mike
Vrabel also made the squad. Moss is a
four-time All-Pro, the rest are on the team
for the first time.
Chargers
cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who led the
league with 10 interceptions, gave San Diego
three players on the team. Also with three
All- Pro members were the Cowboys, who also
had linebacker DeMarcus Ware, and the
Seattle Seahawks, who had tackle Walter
Jones, defensive end Patrick Kerney, and
linebacker Lofa Tatupu. All told, 15 AFC
players made the team, compared to 12 NFC
players.
Filling out the
offensive line were Minnesota guard Steve
Hutchinson, Pittsburgh guard Alan Faneca,
and Indianapolis center Jeff Saturday.
Kansas City
Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen's 15
1/2-sack performance this season led the
NFL, and earned him All-Pro honors. He was
joined on the defensive line by Minnesota
tackle Kevin Williams and Tennessee tackle
Albert Haynesworth.
San Francisco
inside linebacker Patrick Willis was the
only rookie selected to the team.
Indianapolis safety Bob Sanders, the
Defensive Player of the Year, and Baltimore
safety Ed Reed filled out the defensive side
of the ball.
Tennessee
kicker Rob Bironas and 49ers punter Andy Lee
earned special teams slots. Kick returner
Devin Hester made the team for the second
time in his two seasons in the NFL.
|