Post by MizzouTiger on Jan 10, 2008 17:05:56 GMT -5
sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-nfloffensiveplayer&prov=ap&type=lgns
Tom Brady adds AP Offensive Player of Year to MVP
By HOWARD ULMAN, AP Sports Writer
January 9, 2008
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -- Two honors in four days is pretty impressive even for Tom Brady. After all, he only wins one game every week.
The latest award came Tuesday when the Patriots quarterback was chosen The Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year just three days after being chosen as the NFL's MVP.
Too bad New England coach Bill Belichick doesn't like his players talking about individual accomplishments.
"I don't know if I'm allowed to talk about awards," wide receiver Donte' Stallworth said with a sheepish look. "If there's any questions about Jacksonville, I'll be more than happy to answer any questions about Jacksonville, but Tom is a great player. You guys know that."
Then Stallworth answered reporters' questions about Saturday night's divisional playoff game at home against the Jaguars.
In his last playoff game, Brady and the Patriots wasted an 18-point lead and lost 38-34 in the AFC championship game to Indianapolis last season. So he's very busy preparing to keep their perfect season going.
"Individual awards haven't been as important to me as the team goals, and I've said that for a long time," Brady said. "While I'm very flattered to be honored in that way, I understand that my greatest satisfaction comes from winning games and being the leader of this football team. I take that job very seriously and I hope that translates into a win this week."
Of the four players who received votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL, three were Patriots. Brady, of course, led the way, just as he did through the first 16-0 regular season in league history.
Brady was the first New England player to be named MVP. He ran away with the Offensive Player award with 35 1/2 votes. Next came two Patriots wide receivers -- Randy Moss with 12 1/2 votes and Wes Welker with one. Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre received the other vote.
Brady, an eight-year veteran who's already won three Super Bowls and two Super Bowl MVP awards, threw for 50 touchdowns, beating Peyton Manning's league mark by one. He also threw 23 of those TD passes to Moss, lifting the receiver past Jerry Rice's record of 22.
New England scored 589 points and 75 TDs, both records. Brady had a 68.9 completion percentage, 117.2 passer rating, just eight interceptions and a league high 4,806 yards passing.
Since Favre won Offensive Player in 1995, only two quarterbacks have taken the award: Manning with his record-setting 2004 season, and now Brady.
Last year's winner was running back LaDainian Tomlinson of San Diego.
Brady is the fourth straight double winner, joining Manning, running back Shaun Alexander of Seattle, and Tomlinson.
"We set out a bunch of goals early in the season," Brady said, "and I think I said the best part about playing quarterback here is I just have to do my job, show up every day and work hard just like everybody else. I think my job description is just a bit different than everybody else's, but there's a lot of satisfaction knowing that I can just come out there and worry about myself and expect that everybody else is going to do their job.
"It's been a fun season. There's no doubt about it."
Tom Brady adds AP Offensive Player of Year to MVP
By HOWARD ULMAN, AP Sports Writer
January 9, 2008
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -- Two honors in four days is pretty impressive even for Tom Brady. After all, he only wins one game every week.
The latest award came Tuesday when the Patriots quarterback was chosen The Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year just three days after being chosen as the NFL's MVP.
Too bad New England coach Bill Belichick doesn't like his players talking about individual accomplishments.
"I don't know if I'm allowed to talk about awards," wide receiver Donte' Stallworth said with a sheepish look. "If there's any questions about Jacksonville, I'll be more than happy to answer any questions about Jacksonville, but Tom is a great player. You guys know that."
Then Stallworth answered reporters' questions about Saturday night's divisional playoff game at home against the Jaguars.
In his last playoff game, Brady and the Patriots wasted an 18-point lead and lost 38-34 in the AFC championship game to Indianapolis last season. So he's very busy preparing to keep their perfect season going.
"Individual awards haven't been as important to me as the team goals, and I've said that for a long time," Brady said. "While I'm very flattered to be honored in that way, I understand that my greatest satisfaction comes from winning games and being the leader of this football team. I take that job very seriously and I hope that translates into a win this week."
Of the four players who received votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL, three were Patriots. Brady, of course, led the way, just as he did through the first 16-0 regular season in league history.
Brady was the first New England player to be named MVP. He ran away with the Offensive Player award with 35 1/2 votes. Next came two Patriots wide receivers -- Randy Moss with 12 1/2 votes and Wes Welker with one. Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre received the other vote.
Brady, an eight-year veteran who's already won three Super Bowls and two Super Bowl MVP awards, threw for 50 touchdowns, beating Peyton Manning's league mark by one. He also threw 23 of those TD passes to Moss, lifting the receiver past Jerry Rice's record of 22.
New England scored 589 points and 75 TDs, both records. Brady had a 68.9 completion percentage, 117.2 passer rating, just eight interceptions and a league high 4,806 yards passing.
Since Favre won Offensive Player in 1995, only two quarterbacks have taken the award: Manning with his record-setting 2004 season, and now Brady.
Last year's winner was running back LaDainian Tomlinson of San Diego.
Brady is the fourth straight double winner, joining Manning, running back Shaun Alexander of Seattle, and Tomlinson.
"We set out a bunch of goals early in the season," Brady said, "and I think I said the best part about playing quarterback here is I just have to do my job, show up every day and work hard just like everybody else. I think my job description is just a bit different than everybody else's, but there's a lot of satisfaction knowing that I can just come out there and worry about myself and expect that everybody else is going to do their job.
"It's been a fun season. There's no doubt about it."