Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton added NFL Most Valuable Player to his expansive trophy case at the NFL Honors on Saturday night at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.
The quarterback joins the short list of players (Paul Hornung, O.J. Simpson, Earl Campbell, Marcus Allen and Barry Sanders) who have won a Heisman Trophy and the Associated Press NFL MVP award.
Newton, who also won Offensive Player of the Year, finished the 2015 regular season with a league-leading 45 total touchdowns.
Rivera is only one of two Panthers coaches to win the award, the other being Dom Capers back in 1996.
The awards are nice and Newton must be enjoying the moment, but the only thing on his mind is defeating the Broncos in Super Bowl 50 on Sunday at 6:30 PM ET.
It was one of the best seasons a quarterback could ask for, as Newton completed 59.8 percent of his passes for 3,837 yards and 35 touchdowns.
There was also a poignant confirmation for late Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler, who died of colon cancer last July. “It took years of hard work and dedication”.
“After all this, it feels like a dream”, Berry said.
Berry missed 10 games the previous season battling lymphoma, then returned to the Chiefs to become an All-Pro. “I’m truly honored, truly blessed, truly thankful to be standing here before you all….” In 2011, he was the league’s top offensive rookie.
“I just want to say something to the St. Louis fans: I know you all might be disappointed that we might be leaving but, you know, it’s out of our control”, Gurley said.
Joining Favre into the Canton, Ohio, shrine are coach Tony Dungy, wide receiver Marvin Harrison, pass-rusher Kevin Greene, tackle Orlando Pace, quarterback Ken Stabler, guard Dick Stanfel and former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo, Jr.
Denver defensive coordinator Wade Phillips was named Assistant Coach of the Year.