Faulk wins Player of the Year award

Marshall Faulk (center) is joined by NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and former running back Thurman Thomas as he accepts his award. AP

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk, who led the NFL touchdowns this season, won his second consecutive NFL Player of the Year award Wednesday.

Other finalists for the award, sponsored by Miller Lite, and worth $30,000 to the charity of the winning player's choice, were quarterbacks Kurt Warner of St. Louis, Brett Favre of Green Bay, Rich Gannon of Oakland, and Kordell Stewart of Pittsburgh and defensive end Michael Strahan of the New York Giants.

Faulk was selected the winner by more than 200 football journalists and broadcasters. Since the award's inception in 1989, Faulk is the third player to win in consecutive years, joining Joe Montana (1989-90) and Favre (1995-96).

"Who would have thought that not only would I get an opportunity to play here, but I'm winning this award again," Faulk said.

Faulk, who started a charitable foundation in his name that primarily helps children in the St. Louis area, scored 21 touchdowns as the Rams finished the regular season with a league-best record of 14-2.

He was second in the NFL to Kansas City's Priest Holmes in total yards with 2,147 during the regular season, 1,382 rushing and 765 receiving. Holmes had 2,169 total yards.

 

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