PFWA End of Year Awards

[DC_fan]

Green Bay’s Rodgers PFWA NFL MVP; Dallas’ Murray OPOY; Houston’s Watt DPOY

by PFWA on January 14, 2015 1:18 pm in PFWA Awards
Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who led a prolific Packers offense with 38 touchdown passes and 4,381 passing yards, was selected as the 2014 NFL Most Valuable Player, chosen in voting conducted by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).

Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray, who led the league in rushing yards with 1,845, was selected as the 2014 Offensive Player of the Year, and Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, who had 20.5 sacks and led the league in tackles for loss, quarterback hits and fumble recoveries, was named the 2014 Defensive Player of the Year.

Rodgers, in his 10th NFL season, is the 40th MVP honored by the PFWA. This the second MVP award for Rodgers, who also was selected in 2011. This is the fourth PFWA MVP award for the Packers franchise (Rodgers 2011 and 2014 and QB Brett Favre in 1995 and 1996). Rodgers is the seventh player in NFL history to earn two or more MVP honors by the PFWA, joining Tom Brady, Earl Campbell, Marshall Faulk, Favre, Peyton Manning and Steve Young.

Rodgers started all 16 games in 2014 and completed 340 of 520 passes (65.6 completion percentage) for 4,381 yards, 38 touchdowns and a 112.2 passer rating with a career-low five interceptions as the Packers went 12-4 in the regular season. He tied the NFL record for most three-TD/zero-interception games in a single season in NFL history with eight (including a streak of four straight games at one point), and tied a franchise record with eight 300-yard passing games. He led the league in interception percentage (1.0), was second in passer rating (112.2) and touchdown percentage (7.3) and third in TD passes. Rodgers tied a NFL record for most touchdown passes in one half when he tossed six TDs in the first half against Chicago in Week 10. He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week four times and the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Month in November.

Murray, in his fourth season, led the NFL and broke Emmitt Smith’s franchise record (1,773 in 1995) for rushing yards with 1,845 on a club-record 392 carries, tied for the NFL lead with 13 touchdowns and averaged 115.3 yards per game. He had 12 100-yard rushing games to set a Cowboys record, including a NFL-record eight straight games of 100 yards or more to start a season. He was also a major factor in the Dallas passing game with career highs in receptions (57) and receiving yards (416). His 2,261 scrimmage yards led the NFL and were the most in franchise history. He rushed for a season-high 179 yards against Chicago in Week 14 and had a pair of games with two rushing TDs. He earned back-to-back NFC Offensive Player of the Month awards for September and October.

Watt, in his fourth season, had 78 total tackles and 20.5 sacks. He led the NFL with 50 quarterback hits, 29 tackles for loss and five fumble recoveries. He ranked second in the league in sacks, tied for second in defensive touchdowns (two) and tied for third in forced fumbles (four). He posted a sack in 12 games, including each of the Texans’ final five contests and had a pair of three-sack games. Watt also had one of the most-unique seasons in NFL history as he scored 32 points on three receiving touchdowns, a fumble return touchdown, an interception return touchdown and a safety. Watt was the first defensive lineman since Chicago Bears DE Connie Mack Berry in 1944 to have at least five touchdowns in a season and the first player since Chicago Bears DB J.C. Caroline in 1956 to score multiple touchdowns on offense and defense in the same season. Watt was the AFC Defensive Player of the Month in September and December and was the AFC Defensive Player of the Week in Weeks 4 and 11.

This is the second PFWA Defensive Player of the Year award for Watt, who was also selected in 2012.

http://www.profootballwriters.org/2...fl-mvp-dallas-murray-opoy-houstons-watt-dpoy/

No surprises here

 

[DC_fan]

Giants’ Beckham Jr. PFWA Rookie/Offensive Rookie of the Year, St. Louis’ Donald Defensive Rookie of the Year; All-Rookie Team named

by PFWA on January 13, 2015 1:00 pm in PFWA Awards
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who led all NFL rookies and set a club rookie record for receiving yards, was selected as the 2014 Rookie of the Year and 2014 Offensive Rookie of the Year, chosen in voting conducted by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).

St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who led all NFL rookies in sacks, was selected as the 2014 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Beckham Jr., a first-round pick (No. 12 overall) out of LSU, had 91 receptions for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns in only 12 games. His 108.8 yards per game average was the highest figure by a rookie in NFL history. He led the league in game receiving yards in each of his last six contests, the longest streak ever by a NFL rookie. Beckham had 130, 143, 148 and 185 yards in his last four games to become the first NFL rookie to have four consecutive 100-yard games since Pittsburgh’s Jimmy Orr in 1958. He also had 10 or more receptions in a game four times, the first rookie in NFL history to accomplish the feat.

Donald, a first-round pick (No. 13 overall) out of Pittsburgh, led all NFL rookies, set a Rams rookie record and was second among all NFL defensive tackles with nine sacks for minus-68 yards. He also led St. Louis with 17 tackles for loss. Donald was credited with 47 total tackles, 12 quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.

Beckham Jr. is the first Giants player to be selected Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Donald is the second Rams player to receive the Defensive Rookie of the Year honor since linebacker Isiah Robertson in 1971.

The Rams led all clubs with three All-Rookie selections – Donald, cornerback E.J. Gaines and running back Tre Mason. Six clubs – Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders each had two players on the squad. In all, 19 clubs are represented among the 27 players honored.

The All-Rookie offense includes Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, Cincinnati’s Jeremy Hill and Mason at running back, Beckham and Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans at wide receiver, New York Jets tight end Jace Amaro, Green Bay center Corey Linsley, Cleveland’s Joel Bitonio and Dallas’ Zack Martin at guard and Tennessee’s Taylor Lewan and Miami’s Ja’Wuan James at tackle.

The All-Rookie defense includes Donald, Baltimore’s Timmy Jernigan, Carolina’s Kony Ealy and Oakland’s Justin Ellis on the defensive line, Alonso, San Francisco’s Chris Borland, Oakland’s Khalil Mack and Baltimore’s C.J. Mosley at linebacker, Chicago’s Kyle Fuller and Gaines at cornerback and Arizona’s Deone Bucannon and Green Bay’s Ha Ha Clinton-Dix at safety.

The All-Rookie special teams is Philadelphia placekicker Cody Parkey, Chicago punter Pat O’Donnell, Miami kickoff returner Jarvis Landry, Kansas City punt returner De’Anthony Thomas and Philadelphia special teamer Trey Burton.

2014 PFWA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: WR Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants
2014 PFWA OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: WR Odell Beckham, Jr., New York Giants
2014 PFWA DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: DT Aaron Donald, St. Louis Rams

2014 PFWA ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Offense
QB – Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings
RB – Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals; Tre Mason, St. Louis Rams
WR – Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants; Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TE – Jace Amaro, New York Jets
C – Corey Linsley, Green Bay Packers
G – Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns; Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys
T – Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Titans; Ja’Wuan James, Miami Dolphins
Defense
DL – Aaron Donald, St. Louis Rams; Timmy Jernigan, Baltimore Ravens; Kony Ealy, Carolina Panthers; Justin Ellis, Oakland Raiders
LB – Chris Borland, San Francisco 49ers; Khalil Mack, Oakland Raiders; C.J. Mosley, Baltimore Ravens
CB – Kyle Fuller, Chicago Bears; E.J. Gaines, St. Louis Rams
S – Deone Bucannon, Arizona Cardinals; Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Green Bay Packers
Special Teams
PK – Cody Parkey, Philadelphia Eagles
P – Pat O’Donnell, Chicago Bears
KR – Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins
PR – De’Anthony Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs
ST – Trey Burton, Philadelphia Eagle

http://www.profootballwriters.org/2...nald-defensive-rookie-year-rookie-team-named/

 

[DC_fan]

PFWA 2014 All-NFL, All-AFC and All-NFC teams announced

by PFWA on January 12, 2015 1:12 pm in PFWA Awards
The Dallas Cowboys placed a league-high four players – wide receiver Dez Bryant, center Travis Frederick, running back DeMarco Murray and tackle Tyron Smith – on the 2014 All-NFL team, chosen in voting conducted by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).

Six players repeated from the PFWA’s 2013 All-NFL team: Cleveland Browns tackle Joe Thomas, Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly and two from the Seattle Seahawks, cornerback Richard Sherman and safety Earl Thomas. Sherman, Thomas and Watt are members of the PFWA’s All-NFL team for the third consecutive season, the longest current streak among active players.

Thomas was voted All-NFL by the PFWA for the fifth time in his career, while New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis was selected All-NFL for the fourth time. Indianapolis Colts placekicker Adam Vinatieri made the All-NFL team for the first time since the 2004 season to join New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, Sherman, New England special teamer Matthew Slater, Thomas, Watt and San Diego Chargers safety Eric Weddle as three-time honorees. A total of 14 players were first-time All-NFL selections.

The New England Patriots were second with three All-NFL selections, and five clubs – the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle – each had two players on the All-NFL team. In all, 17 clubs are represented among the 27 players honored by the PFWA.

The All-NFL offense includes Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Le’Veon Bell and Murray at running back, Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown and Bryant at wide receiver, Gronkowski at tight end, Frederick at center, Green Bay’s Josh Sitton and the Baltimore Ravens’ Marshal Yanda at guard and Smith and Thomas at tackle.

The All-NFL defense includes Buffalo’s Mario Williams and Watt at defensive end, Buffalo’s Marcell Dareus and Suh at defensive tackle, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Justin Houston and the Denver Broncos’ Von Miller at outside linebacker, Kuechly at middle linebacker, Revis and Sherman at cornerback and Thomas and Weddle at safety.

The All-NFL special teams includes Vinatieri at placekicker, Indianapolis punter Pat McAfee, Cincinnati Bengals kickoff returner Adam Jones, Philadelphia Eagles punt returner Darren Sproles and Slater at special teamer.

The PFWA also announced the All-AFC and All-NFC teams. The Patriots led all AFC teams with five All-AFC selections, while Baltimore, Buffalo and Denver had three each. The Cowboys led all NFC clubs with six All-NFC selections, while the Eagles had four All-NFC honorees.

2014 PFWA ALL-NFL TEAM
Offense
QB – Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
RB – Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers; DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys
WR – Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers ; Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys
TE – Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots
C – Travis Frederick, Dallas Cowboys
G – Josh Sitton, Green Bay Packers; Marshal Yanda, Baltimore Ravens
T – Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys; Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns*
Defense
DE – Mario Williams, Buffalo Bills; J.J. Watt, Houston Texans#
DT – Marcell Dareus, Buffalo Bills; Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions*
OLB – Justin Houston, Kansas City Chiefs; Von Miller, Denver Broncos
MLB – Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers*
CB – Darrelle Revis, New England Patriots; Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks#
S –Earl Thomas, Seattle Seahawks#: Eric Weddle, San Diego Chargers
Special Teams
PK – Adam Vinatieri, Indianapolis Colts
P – Pat McAfee, Indianapolis Colts
KR – Adam Jones, Cincinnati Bengals
PR – Darren Sproles, Philadelphia Eagles
ST – Matthew Slater, New England Patriots

* – repeat selection from 2013
# – consecutive selections in 2012, 2013 and 2014

http://www.profootballwriters.org/2015/01/12/pfwa-2014-nfl-afc-nfc-teams-announced/

 

[nick87]

I think the NFL awards will mirror them exactly

Rodgers MVP
Murray OPOTY
Watt DPOTY
OBJ and Donald rookies of the year

Probably Rolando McClain for comeback player

 

[zombie jesus]

Antonio Brown

#6 all time single season receiving yards
#2 all time single season receptions
13 receiving TD's.
Threw for 1 TD.
Returned a punt for a TD.
Extended his minimum 5 for 50 per game to 33 games.
Dances like a demon.

Just saying.

 

[abpanther]

T ? Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Titans; Ja?Wuan James, Miami Dolphins

I remember experts thinking that both of these were reaches at the time, just goes to show that you need to wait before you can assess a draft class

 

[DC_fan]

I remember experts thinking that both of these were reaches at the time, just goes to show that you need to wait before you can assess a draft class

Agree. Bill Parcells believes it takes 5 years to do so.

 

[Eddie Rattlehead]

Kinda disappointed to see Bridgewater beat out Carr for the rookie team.

 

[kurt faulk]

.

Great draft for the rams this year. Three players made it into the rookie team. And that doesn't include grob. Not sure how because Lewan, by all reports, wasn't that crash hot in his six starts.

.

 

[DC_fan]

Arizona’s Arians PFWA Coach of the Year; Dallas’ Jerry Jones Executive of the Year; Bowles Assistant Coach of the Year

by PFWA on January 15, 2015 1:00 pm in PFWA Awards
Arizona’s Bruce Arians, who led the Cardinals to a 11-5 record and the club’s first NFC playoff berth since 2009, was selected as the 2014 NFL Coach of the Year, chosen in voting conducted by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).

Dallas owner/president/general manager Jerry Jones, whose moves helped the Cowboys to their first NFC East division title since 2009, was selected as the 2014 NFL Executive of the Year.

Former Arizona defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, who led the Cardinals defense to success despite injuries to key members of his corps, was selected as the 2014 NFL Assistant Coach of the Year.

The Cardinals tied the club record for victories, despite dealing with injuries that hampered the production of many of their most-prolific offensive players. Arizona got out to a 9-1 start, but lost starting quarterback Carson Palmer after Week 10 and primary backup QB Drew Stanton after Week 15. In all, 21 different players lost a total of 109 games to injuries. Arians steered the Cardinals to the playoffs despite not having a QB with 2,000 passing yards, a wide receiver with 900 receiving yards or a running back with 700 rushing yards.

This is the second PFWA Coach of the Year for Arians in three years. He was selected as the Coach and Assistant Coach of the Year in 2012 for his work as in leading the Indianapolis Colts to the playoffs as interim head coach while head coach Chuck Pagano was battling leukemia. Arians is the first Cardinals head coach to earn the PFWA’s Coach of the Year award since Don Coryell earned the 1974 NFC honor (the PFWA selected one coach from each conference from 1970-89).

After three straight years of 8-8 records, the Cowboys finally broke through in 2014 to capture the club’s first division title since 2009. Jones made several successful personnel moves that helped Dallas reach the playoffs. The Cowboys drafted guard Zack Martin in the first round, and Martin was selected to the PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team and the All-NFC Team. DE Jeremy Mincey was signed in free agency and had a team-leading six sacks. Dallas traded for LB Rolando McClain, who was on the Reserved/Retired list, from Baltimore, and McClain became the team’s second-leading tackler. In all, a league-leading four Cowboys were selected to the PFWA’s All-NFL Team – wide receiver Dez Bryant, center Travis Frederick, running back DeMarco Murray and tackle Tyron Smith. Jones also made several other free-agent moves that helped the Cowboys to a 6-1 start and a 4-0 finish to the regular season.

Jones is the first Cowboys staffer to earn the PFWA’s Executive of the Year award, which began in 1993.

In his second season in Arizona, Bowles kept the Cardinals defense among the league leaders in a number of key statistical categories to put the club in the playoffs for the first time since 2009. The Arizona defense was led by CB Patrick Peterson, S Rashad Johnson, LB Larry Foote, PFWA All-Rookie Team selection S Deone Bucannon and PFWA All-NFC Team pick DE Calais Campbell.

Bowles’ defensive unit finished fifth in the NFL in points allowed per game at 18.7, tied for second in first downs allowed per game at 18.8 and third in red zone percentage at 43.9 percent despite losing DT Darnell Dockett and LB John Abraham to injury for the season and a total of 61 overall lost games to injury by defensive players. Bowles was hired as the New York Jets head coach January 14 after serving two seasons as the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator.

Bowles is the first Cardinals assistant to receive the PFWA’s Assistant Coach of the Year award, which began in 1993.

http://www.profootballwriters.org/2...s-executive-year-bowles-assistant-coach-year/

 

[DC_fan]

New England’s Gronkowski PFWA Comeback Player of the Year; Pittsburgh’s Bell Most Improved Player of the Year

New England tight end Rob Gronkowski, who rebounded from an injury-plagued 2013 season to lead all NFL tight ends in receiving yards in 2014, was selected as the 2014 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, chosen in voting conducted by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).

Pittsburgh running back Le’Veon Bell, who was second in the NFL in rushing yards and led the league in receiving yards by a running back, was selected as the 2014 NFL Most Improved Player of the Year.

Gronkowski missed all of training camp and the first six games of the 2013 season with a back injury. He also suffered a knee injury in Week 15 and was placed on Reserve/Injured prior to the final game of the regular season. Gronkowski’s 39 catches for 592 yards and four touchdowns in 2013 was the lowest output of his career. Back to full health in 2014, he caught 82 passes for 1,124 yards and 12 TDs in 15 games to earn All-Pro honors from the PFWA.

Gronkowski reached 1,000 receiving yards for the second time in his career. He led all NFL tight ends in receiving yards, receiving yards per game at 74.9 and tied for first with 12 TDs. He also paced all NFL TEs with 60 receiving first downs and 10 receptions of 25 yards or more. Gronkowski had three 100-yard receiving games, including a career-high-tying nine catches for a season-high 149 yards and tied a career high with three TDs against Chicago in a 51-23 victory in Week 8. The following week, he had nine receptions again for 105 yards in a 43-21 victory against Denver. He scored a receiving touchdown in 10 of his 15 games.

Gronkowski is the third member of the Patriots organization to receive Comeback Player of the Year honors joining wide receiver Randy Moss (2007) and quarterback Tom Brady (2009).

Bell had a solid rookie season in 2013 with 244 rushes for 860 yards (3.5 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns to go with 45 receptions for 399 yards out of the backfield for a total of 1,259 scrimmage yards, a Steelers rookie record. He hit his stride in 2014 as he finished second in the league in rushing yards with 1,361 on 290 carries (4.7 yards per rush) and eight TDs on the way to PFWA All-NFL honors. He also led the NFL in running back receiving yards as he more than doubled his output to 854 yards on 83 receptions (10.3 yards per catch) with three touchdowns. His 2,215 total scrimmage yards was a franchise record and second in the NFL, and he led the league in total first downs with 114.

Bell tied for first in the NFL with 13 games of 100 or more yards from scrimmage, and he tied a NFL mark with three straight games of 200 or more scrimmage yards held by Walter Payton in 1977. His top rushing game came in Week 11 at Tennessee with 204 yards on 33 carries in a 27-24 victory. His best receiving game was against New Orleans in Week 13, when he caught eight passes for 159 yards.

Bell is the second member of the Steelers’ organization to receive Most Improved Player of the Year honors. Quarterback Kordell Stewart was selected in 2001.

http://www.profootballwriters.org/2...r-year-pittsburghs-bell-improved-player-year/

Comeback player of the year should have been Rolando McClain. But I suppose they needed to give one of this years awards to a Patriot player

 

[zombie jesus]

McClain made a comeback from laziness and stupidity, certainly not worth a reward.

 

[AusKnightRKO]

AP got the same thing after an injury, so it's basically consistency.

 

[DC_fan]

McClain made a comeback from laziness and stupidity, certainly not worth a reward.

But look at the effort he has put in this season. That should really count for something.

 

[AusKnightRKO]

Maybe Def Comeback and Off Comeback players of the year award would be better.

 

[Cockadoodledoo]

I would have gone with Justin Forsett as most improved.