(AP) — Terrell Davis, the backbone of Denver’s defending NFL champions, was selected Tuesday as The Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year for the second time in three seasons.
Davis, the fourth player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season, succeeds another 2,000-yard rusher, Detroit’s Barry Sanders, in taking the award. He received 19 votes from a nationwide panel of 47 sports writers and broadcasters, beating Minnesota quarterback Randall Cunningham, who got 15 votes.
“It feels great to receive stuff like that,” said Davis, the 1998 Super Bowl MVP who helped the Broncos to a 14-2 record this year. “With me, I don’t go on the field striving to shoot for goals like that. But it’s something that’s definitely rewarding, when you go out there and you work hard and people recognize the hard work and effort you’ve put forth.”
The effort Davis put forth was memorable. He rushed for 2,008 yards and 21 touchdowns, both league highs. He had two more scores on receptions.
Davis’ work sparked the Broncos to the AFC’s most prolific offense, scoring 501 points. Denver also was 13-0 before losing two of its final three games, but finished with the conference’s top record.
“For me, it’s always an offensive goal or a team goal,” the four-year pro said. “When I receive something, I think everybody else should receive the same kind of accolades.”
Fullback Howard Griffith, who does much of the blocking for Davis, also saw Davis’ yardage as a team accomplishment.
“I think it’s really a tribute to the things he’s done in the offseason to prepare himself for a stretch run,” Griffith said of Davis’ diligent offseason training. “It’s also a credit for the team to have played as hard as it played. It’s not very often a team can go 14-2 and have a 2,000-yard rusher. Generally when there’s a 2,000-yard rusher, you’re right around the .500 mark.”
None of the players receiving votes were on teams close to a break-even record. Cunningham, the All-Pro quarterback, led the NFL in passing while guiding the Vikings to a league-best 15-1 mark. Teammate Randy Moss, the Offensive Rookie of the Year and the most dangerous receiver in the game this season, drew six votes.
San Francisco quarterback Steve Young, the 1992 top offensive player, received two votes, as did Atlanta running back Jamal Anderson. New York Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde got one.
The only player from a losing team to earn votes was running back Marshall Faulk of the Indianapolis Colts (3-13), who got two.