2003 Postseason Awards
Most Valuable Player
Peyton Manning and Steve McNair shared The Associated Press Most Valuable Player award. After all, their teams finished with the same record and tied atop the AFC South. In just the third tie since the award began in 1957, the premier passers each received 16 votes.
Offensive Player of the Year
Jamal Lewis rushed past the 2,000-yard mark, took the Baltimore Ravens to their first division title and won The Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year award. The powerful-yet-speedy running back who rushed for 2,066 yards and 14 touchdowns, set an NFL single-game mark with 295 yards rushing against Cleveland in the second game of the season, then ran for 205 against the Browns in Game 15.
Defensive Player of the Year
Ray Lewis is as fearsome and dependable as anyone in football, and that earned him his second Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year award. Lewis is the fifth player to win the award more than once. Only Lawrence Taylor won it three times, and one Hall of Famer, Ronnie Lott, believes Lewis is on course to be the best linebacker ever.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Anquan Boldin was so dominant as an NFL newcomer that he unanimously won The Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year award. The sensational wide receiver of the Arizona Cardinals opened the season with the greatest debut in league history, catching 10 passes for 217 yards and two TDs in a loss at Detroit. He never slowed down.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Although he didn't start until the season finale, Terrell Suggs was so impressive for the Baltimore Ravens that he earned The Associated Press' Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Suggs, an outside linebacker with a pass-rushing burst reminiscent of Lawrence Taylor, had 12 sacks out of a 3-4 alignment in which he often served as an end.
Comeback Player of the Year
Jon Kitna whole career has been about comebacks. Written off in college, he made it to the NFL as an undrafted free agent. He led the Seattle Seahawks to the playoffs, only to lose his job. He came to the Cincinnati Bengals as a starter and lost his job again. Now, he has pulled off the most unexpected comeback of all.
Coach of the Year
Bill Belichick owns three Super Bowl titles and, after his best coaching job, he won The Associated Press Coach of the Year. In a year of masterful coaching throughout the league, Belichick led the New England Patriots to the NFL's best record, 14-2. The Patriots, fighting off injuries almost from the outset of the schedule, won their final 12 games, setting franchise records for winning streak and victories in one year.
Pro Bowl Starters
Postseason award winners Steve McNair, Jamal Lewis and Ray Lewis will start for the AFC.
All-Pro Team
• Co-MVP Peyton Manning kept the quarterback spot on The Associated Press All-Pro Team all to himself, easily beating out the league's other Most Valuable Player, Steve McNair, to make the squad for the first time. Kansas City had the most All-Pros with five: running back Priest Holmes , tight end Tony Gonzalez , guard Will Shields , tackle Willie Roaf and kick returner Dante Hall .
NFL 2002-2003 STAT LEADERS
AFC Leaders
QB Rich Gannon Oakland Raiders
Nfl MVP
4689 Yards 618 attempts 418 completions
26 touchdowns 97.3 rating
RB Ricky Williams Miami Dolphins
1667 yards 352 rushes 4.7 average 14 touchdowns
WR Marvin Harrison Indianapolis Colts
1694 yards 137 receptions 12.4 average 11 touchdowns
Kicker Sebastin Janikowslo Oakland Raiders
26 field goals 50 extra point 128 total points
NFC Leaders
QB Terry Collins New York Giants
4073 yards 545 attempts 312 completions
16 touchdowns 85.4 rating
RB Tiki Barber New York Giants
1357 yards 304 rushes 4.6 average 11 touchdowns
WR Amani Toomer New York Giants
1382 yards 82 receptions 16.4 average 8 touchdowns
Kicker David Akers Philadelphia Eagles
30 field goals 43 extra points 133 total points
MVP: Rich Gannon, quarterback, Oakland.
Honorable mentions: Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair, Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre, Miami running back Ricky Williams, Tampa Bay quarterback Brad Johnson, Kansas City running back Priest Holmes.
Offensive Player of the Year:
Priest Holmes , running back, Kansas City.
Honorable mentions: Harrison, Williams, San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson.
Defensive Player of the Year:
Derrick Brooks , linebacker, Tampa Bay.
Honorable mentions: Taylor, Tampa Bay end Simeon Rice.
Offensive Rookie of the Year:
Jeremy Shockey , tight end, New York Giants.
Honorable mention: Portis.
Defensive Rookie of the Year:
Julius Peppers , defensive end, Carolina.
Honorable mentions: Indianapolis end Dwight Freeney, Baltimore safety Ed Reed, Dallas safety Roy Williams.
Coach of the Year:
Andy Reid, Philadelphia.
Honorable mentions: Bill Callahan, Oakland; Herman Edwards, New York Jets; Jeff Fisher, Tennessee; Jon Gruden, Tampa Bay; Jim Fassel, New York Giants.
Comeback Player of the Year: Tommy Maddox , Pittsburgh.
Honorable mentions: Buffalo quarterback Drew Bledsoe, Miami running back Robert Edwards.
Story of the Year:
Michael Vick, quarterback, Atlanta.
Honorable mentions: New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington.
THE 2002 Best
Offense
Wide receivers Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis; Terrell Owens, San Francisco
Tight end Jeremy Shockey, New York Giants
Tackles Lincoln Kennedy, Oakland; Tra Thomas, Philadelphia
Guards Alan Faneca, Pittsburgh; Will Shields, Kansas City
Center Barrett Robbins, Oakland
Quarterback Rich Gannon, Oakland
Running backs Ricky Williams, Miami; Priest Holmes, Kansas City
Defense
Ends Jason Taylor, Miami; Simeon Rice, Tampa Bay
Tackles Warren Sapp, Tampa Bay; Tim Bowens, Miami
Outside linebackers Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay; Joey Porter, Pittsburgh
Inside linebackers Brian Urlacher; Zach Thomas, Miami
Cornerbacks Patrick Surtain, Miami; Troy Vincent, Philadelphia
Safeties Brian Dawkins, Philadelphia; Rod Woodson, Oakland
Specialists
Placekicker Adam Vinatieri, New England
Punter Todd Sauerbrun, Carolina
Kickoff returner Brian Mitchell, Philadelphia
Punt returner Michael Lewis, New Orleans
|
