Some believed Adrian Peterson would never be the same again after he tore his MCL and ACL in the final game of the 2011 NFL regular season as the Washington Redskins hosted the Minnesota Vikings. Not only did A.D. (Peterson) prove doctors and NFL expects wrong he rushed for over 2,000 yards nearly breaking Eric Dickerson’s single season rushing record leading his team to the post sesaon and now he is the NFL MVP. Peterson finished the season with 12 touchdowns and 2,097 rushing yards. Adrian Peterson wasn’t the only award winner last night. Check out the other winners below.
Defensive Player of the Year
Houston Texans end J.J. Watt
The NFL’s sacks leader with 20½ and a pass-blocking fiend, Watt earned 49 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league. Denver linebacker Von Miller received the other vote.
Coach of the Year
Bruce Arians has become the first interim coach to win the top NFL award from The Associated Press, taking the honors for his work with the Indianapolis Colts.
Arians took charge of the Colts in late September after head coach Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia. The Colts, 2-14 the previous season, went 9-3 under Arians and made the playoffs.
Comeback Player of the Year
Peyton Manning’s stunning return from four neck surgeries netted him The Associated Press 2012 NFL Comeback Player of the Year award, though not the season’s MVP honor.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Robert Griffin III of the Washington Redskins has won The Associated Press 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award, beating out two other sensational first-year quarterbacks.
RG III earned 29 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league. Luck was next with 11 and Wilson got 10.
All three led their teams to the playoffs.
Griffin, who severely injured his right knee in a wild-card loss to the Seahawks, set the NFL record for best passer rating by a rookie QB.
Griffin, who underwent knee surgery last month, says, “It’s truly a blessing to be up there — to be able to stand, first and foremost.”
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Linebacker Luke Kuechly, Carolina’s tackling machine, has won the Associated Press 2012 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Kuechly, a first-round pick from Boston College, led the league with 164 tackles. He began the season on the outside but moved to middle linebacker five games into the season and the Panthers went from 24th in the league in overall defense to 10th.
Award List Via ESPN.com
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