Luke Kuechly named DPOY

ByABC News
February 1, 2014, 7:18 PM

— -- Luke Kuechly has been voted The Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year, adding the honor to his top defensive rookie award of 2012.

Carolina's All-Pro linebacker received 19 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league in balloting announced Saturday night. He beat out Indianapolis All-Pro linebacker Robert Mathis, who earned 11½ votes.

Kuechly was credited with 96 tackles for a defense that allowed 241 points, fewer than any team except NFC champion Seattle. He also had four interceptions, two sacks, eight passes defensed, and was a presence from sideline to sideline on the NFL's No. 2 unit.

Two Seahawks All-Pros also drew support in the voting: safety Earl Thomas (7½ votes) and cornerback Richard Sherman (4).

Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy has won The Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award while New York Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson captured the honors as the league's top defensive rookie.

A second-round pick (61st overall) out of Alabama, Lacy was a key performer in the Packers' offense, particularly when star quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sidelined for seven games. He rushed for 1,178 yards on 284 carries (4.1 average), with 11 touchdowns. He also had 35 receptions.

The first Packer to win the award since John Brockington in 1971, Lacy beat out San Diego wide receiver Keenan Allen, who received 12 votes.

He is the first running back to take the offensive rookie honors since Adrian Peterson in 2007.

Richardson started every game for the Jets, finishing with 3.5 sacks and 77 tackles, third-most in the league among defensive linemen, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

He won a close race over Buffalo Bills linebacker Kiko Alonso for the honor. Richardson received 23 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members that regularly covers the league. Alonso, a second-round choice (46th overall), got 19 in balloting announced Saturday night.

Richardson became the first Jets player to win the award since linebacker Jonathan Vilma in 2004.

Philip Rivers' turnaround season has earned him the Comeback Player of the Year award.

Rivers led the San Diego Chargers to a wild-card playoff spot with four straight victories to close out the schedule, giving them a 9-7 record. He led the league with a 69.5 completion percentage and threw for 32 TDs against 11 interceptions.

Finishing behind Rivers were Denver running back Knowshon Moreno and Philadelphia left tackle Jason Peters with eight selections apiece. Tampa Bay cornerback Darrelle Revis got six votes.

Rivers is the second Chargers quarterback to win the award; the man he replaced, Drew Brees, won in 2004.

Ron Rivera took the Carolina Panthers from also-ran to division champion this season, earning him the Coach of the Year award.

Rivera's Panthers went 12-4 to take the NFC South and get a first-round playoff bye. They lost to San Francisco in the divisional round.

Rivera's fine work in his third season in charge in Carolina brought him 21½ votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league in balloting announced Saturday night. That outdistanced Kansas City's Andy Reid, who got 13½ votes after his first season with the Chiefs.

Information from ESPN.com Jets reporter Rich Cimini and the Associated Press contributed to this report.