PHOENIX (AP) – NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray of Dallas won The Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year award for 2014, while the Arizona Cardinals swept coaching honors Saturday night.
Murray, who ran away with the rushing title with 1,845 yards – nearly 500 more than any other player – also topped the NFL with 2,261 yards from scrimmage. He scored 13 touchdowns in helping the Cowboys win the NFC East.
That overwhelming performance earned him 26 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. Murray easily outdistanced Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (15 votes).
”I want to say thank you to the Jones family for taking a chance on me four years ago out of Oklahoma,” Murray said. ”It’s been a privilege to play there. Hopefully we can continue that.”
Arians took his second Coach of the Year award in three seasons after leading his injury-ravaged Cardinals to an 11-5 record and a wild-card playoff berth. He was the top coach in 2012 as an interim, stepping in for the ill Chuck Pagano and leading the Colts to the postseason.
His defensive coordinator in Arizona, Todd Bowles, won the first Assistant Coach of the Year award. Bowles has parlayed his work with the Cardinals into a head coaching job with the Jets.
Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who made the play of the year against the Cowboys with a one-handed snag of a touchdown pass while falling backward, was voted top offensive rookie. Beckham tied Michael Irvin’s NFL mark with nine consecutive games of 90 yards receiving and finished with 91 receptions for 1,305 yards and 12 TDs.
The AP awards were given out during the NFL Honors TV program. Also during the show, Bears defensive end Jared Allen won the Salute to Service Award. USAA will contribute $25,000 in Allen’s honor to the official aid societies representing all five military branches.
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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL
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