St. Louis Rams QB Sam Bradford named top offensive rookie (More AP NFL Award winners inside)

DALLAS -- Top draft choice, top rookie.

St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford won The Associated Press 2010 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award on Friday.

The first overall selection in last year's draft, Bradford guided the Rams from the embarrassment of a 1-15 record to a 7-9 mark. In the weak NFC West, that was good enough to contend for the division title; St. Louis lost out on a tiebreaker to Seattle.

Bradford

"I think the more I'm out there, the more comfortable I become," Bradford said. "It's been like that all year. There's been some ups, there's been some downs, but I feel like for the most part I've learned from my mistakes each week. I think the game's stating to slow down a little bit, but I really still have a long way to go before I'm as comfortable as I want to be."

The voters certainly were comfortable with Bradford's passing and leadership.

He earned 44 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league. Only two other rookies received votes: Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Williamsearned four, and Pittsburgh center Maurkice Pouncey had two.

Bradford is the fourth quarterback since 2004 to win the award. Before that, no quarterbacks had won it.

"If you asked me before the season, I probably wouldn't have said that we would have thrown the ball as much," Bradford said. "As a quarterback, you love to throw the football. So the fact that our coaching staff feels comfortable with the ball in my hands just gives me confidence. It makes me feel very good about going out there on Sundays."

Health was one of the major questions about Bradford when he came out of college.

Associated Press NFL Awards Schedule

Defensive Player of the Year: Troy Polamalu

Offensive Player of the Year: Tom Brady

Coach of the Year: Bill Belichick

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Sam Bradford

Defensive Rookie of the Year:Ndamukong Suh

Feb. 5: Comeback Player of the Year

Feb. 6: MVP

• AP All-Pro Team: Brady unanimous

He won the 2008 Heisman Trophy as a redshirt sophomore, when the Sooners lost to Florida for the national championship, then decided to stay at Oklahoma another season. It was cut short by an early shoulder injury and he barely played in 2009. Still, Bradford so impressed pro scouts in postseason workouts that he was a consensus No. 1 pick.

The questions about his durability remained, and he answered them by taking every snap this season. He threw 590 passes, completing 60 percent for 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

"I take a lot in that, especially coming off the shoulder injury last year and knowing that there were a lot of questions about my durability, about my ability to take hits in this league," Bradford said. "So the fact that I've been able to take every snap with this offense, I do take a lot of pride in that."

Bradford became the starter in training camp and never looked over that shoulder. Coach Steve Spagnuolo and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur placed their faith in him, and he came through like, well, a rookie of the year.

It didn't begin well -- Bradford threw three interceptions and was sacked twice in a 17-13 loss to Arizona. But he began to hit his stride in midseason, at one point going four straight games and five of six without being picked off.

His best performances came in a 36-33 win over Denver, when he had three TD passes and a season-best 308 yards through the air, and in a 20-10 win over Carolina that featured 25-of-32 passing and two touchdowns.

"He's obviously extremely talented, and I think he works his fanny off to make sure that he does the right things and masters the game plan," said Shurmur, now the head coach in Cleveland. "So to say I would be surprised, I would say no.

"To be thankful that he is what he is, I would say yes."

Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger was the first quarterback to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, in 2004, followed by Tennessee's Vince Young in 2006 and Atlanta's Matt Ryan in 2008.

Williams, a fourth-round pick (101 overall) from Syracuse, had 65 catches for 964 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. Pouncey, the rare offensive lineman to collect votes, was a standout in helping the Steelers win the AFC North title.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Patriots KO Favre, Vikings In 28-18 Win

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- A woozy Brett Favre sat on a cart headed to the locker room and wondered "what in the world am I doing?"

It was only a passing thought, but with a cut chin, two fractures in his left foot and tendinitis in his right elbow, the 41-year-old quarterback had reason to question himself and his surroundings.

“

Nobody knows my body like me. There were plenty of times I should've been knocked out and wasn't. I should be ready to play next week.

”-- Brett Favre

"Taking a seat at the end of the game is new for me," Favre said Sunday after Minnesota's 28-18 loss to New England that he finished in the locker room getting stitches. "Going into the tunnel on the cart, [that's what] I thought to myself for a few brief seconds."

Until he was hit by Patriots defensive tackleMyron Pryor while throwing a pass midway in the fourth quarter, Favre was doing what he usually does: playing hurt, trying to lead his team to victory in his NFL-record 292nd consecutive start. He stayed on the ground momentarily after Pryor's hit, then tried to get up while holding his face.

But Favre then sank to the ground as Vikings trainers rushed onto the field, and they helped him to the sideline. He spent a few minutes on a training table at the Vikings' sideline as staffers held a towel to his chin. He sat up after trainers applied a compress, then was carted from the field as a few fans booed.

"My chin is numb right now," Favre said after the Vikings fell to 2-5. "I don't want to make a big deal out of it."

Asked if he might have a concussion, Favre said, "I remember everything -- unfortunately. But I'll be fine."

"Nobody knows my body like me," Favre added when asked if he would be ready for next Sunday's game against Arizona. "There were plenty of times I should've been knocked out and wasn't. I should be ready to play next week."

So those thoughts while riding out of Gillette Stadium were fleeting?

"After 20 years, I still feel I can play at a high level," Favre said.

Vikings coach Brad Childress said Favre actually needed 10 stitches, and praised Favre's durability.

"He's got pretty good recuperative skills," Childress said. "He's a tough guy."

[+] Enlarge

AP Photo/Michael DwyerBrett Favre started Sunday despite ankle problems, but left late in the fourth after a hit opened a cut on his chin that required stitches.

Favre did not appear bothered by two fractures in his left foot that initially jeopardized his availability Sunday. He said it was "touch and go" before the game if he would play, but there he was, behind center as he always has been since 1992.

But not at the finish.

Tarvaris Jackson replaced Favre and immediately threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Naufahu Tahi. Jackson completed a 2-point conversion pass toPercy Harvin, bringing Minnesota within 21-18.

Favre has both a stress fracture and an avulsion fracture in the foot. The avulsion fracture in the heel bone is where a fragment has been torn away by a tendon or ligament.

He appeared to have no trouble with his foot, though. He injured his ankle and heel in last week's loss at Green Bay. But after a week of treatment and even some practice time Friday, he was in the starting lineup Sunday, a few days after Childress said he would consider starting Jackson if Favre was hobbled.

"My prayers were answered," Favre said. "I wanted a chance to play ... not play to just play, one play to get a start. To play well enough to give us a chance to win."

Favre played well in the first half, but an interception in the third quarter catapulted the Patriots to victory.

The interception wasn't Favre's fault -- Harvin bobbled it directly into the arms of Patriots rookie Devin McCourty. Favre even gave chase, sort of, on the 37-yard runback, falling over two other players when McCourty was tackled. Favre slowly stood up and walked to the sideline, looking weary and every bit his age.

Of course, this is a guy who has had all kinds of drama accompanying many of those 292 starts. So seeing him behind center from the outset was anything but surprising.

Seeing him leave woozy and on a cart was stunning.

"I didn't think it was too bad until I saw him unbuckle his chinstraps and it was leaking pretty good," Vikings running back Adrian Petersonsaid.

Early in the second quarter, Favre handed off to Peterson for a 1-yard dive that capped a 76-yard touchdown drive. Favre, holder of virtually every significant passing record, looked spry while hitting Harvin for 21 yards on the drive.

Oddly, moments before the TD, Favre took a hit to the helmet by Patriots linebacker Gary Guyton that helped set up the score. He got up slowly, checking his head to see if there was any blood, then called the next play.

Favre completed his first four passes for 40 yards and was 11 for 13 for 121 yards through the first half. But the second half was ugly for Minnesota -- just as much of the season has been for the Vikings and their aged QB, who had taken every snap this year.

The Vikings couldn't afford to fall further behind in the NFC North, but with Green Bay (5-3) beating the Jets, they did. Favre, who nearly led the Vikings to the Super Bowl last season, finished 22 for 32 for 259 yards. He also was called twice for grounding.

There's more to Favre's headline-grabbing persona this season, too. The website Deadspin reported weeks ago that Favre sent lewd photos and inappropriate text messages to aNew York Jets game hostess in 2008 when Favre played for the team. The NFL is investigating and the woman, Jenn Sterger, has not yet spoken to league investigators, although her manager and her lawyer both have said she might do so soon.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press