Log In


Reset Password
Sports Youth Sports Professional Sports More Sports College Sports High School Sports

MVP Newton big winner of NFL awards

Rivera

SAN FRANCISCO – Cam Newton is now a Super Bowl quarterback with an MVP award.

Offensive Player of the Year, too.

And his coach, Ron Rivera, owns a second NFL honor as well.

Newton, the Carolina Panthers star, won The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year awards Saturday night.

Newton was not on hand at NFL Honors to accept the award; he is kind of busy preparing for a little game on Sunday against Denver. But just as he has for much of the week – for most of the season, really – Newton still was a dominant figure.

Wade Phillips’ work in turning the Denver defense into the stingiest in the NFL got him the Assistant Coach of the Year award. Denver ranked first and against the pass, third versus the run.

Phillips, who has been a head coach for three franchises and interim for three more, received 16 votes, twice that of Hue Jackson, the Bengals’ offensive coordinator in 2015 and now Cleveland’s coach.

Newton was a landslide choice for MVP with 48 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who regularly cover the NFL. Fellow quarterbacks Tom Brady and Carson Palmer each received one vote.

Houston end J.J. Watt won his third Defensive Player of the Award in five pro seasons. He also won it in 2012 and last year, when he was a unanimous choice.

This time, in tying Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor as the only players to take the award three times, Watt earned 37 votes.

Kansas City safety Eric Berry gave an emotionally charged speech while accepting Comeback Player of the Year. At one point, his eyes welled with tears and he paused before accepting the award.

Berry missed 10 games the previous season battling lymphoma, then returned to the Chiefs to become an All-Pro. His inspirational story and superb performance on the field earned him 38 votes.

And now, a rewarding night.

His teammate, cornerback Marcus Peters, took Defensive Rookie of the Year. Peters tied for the league lead with eight interceptions in helping the Chiefs make the playoffs. He received 45 votes.

Rams running back Todd Gurley took Offensive Rookie with 27 votes, well ahead of the 17 for Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston, the first overall pick in last year’s draft.

Gurley missed the first two games of 2015, then went on a tear that included four straight 100-yard rushing performances: 146, 159, 128 and 133 yards. He finished the season third in league rushing and scored 10 touchdowns.

His voice cracked with emotion as he mentioned coming back from his ACL injury. And at the end of his speech, he referenced the Rams’ impending move from St. Louis to Los Angeles.

“I just want to say something to the St. Louis fans: I know you all might be disappointed that we might be leaving but, you know, it’s out of our control,” Gurley said.

Feb 6, 2016
Brett Favre among many elected into Pro Football Hall of Fame
Feb 6, 2016
Super Bowl 50 Preview: Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers


Reader Comments