Cam Newton wins NFL Offensive Player award

Cam Newton was crowned the National Football League’s Most Valuable Player here Saturday as the Carolina Panthers quarterback warmed up for the Super Bowl with two honors on the sport’s annual awards night.

Newton accepted the MVP honour with a videotaped message, but his father, Cecil, went on stage to pick up the offensive player of the year award.

Newton, 26, will have a chance to add to his trophy case Sunday when the Panthers play the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.

Newton also was named the AP Offensive Player of the Year.

The Panthers won their first 14 games on their way to a 15-1 regular-season record, taking home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs. Fellow QBs Tom Brady, a two-time MVP, and Carson Palmer each got one vote. Steelers receiver Antonio Brown was next with 10 votes.

It was a clean sweep for the Panthers, with Carolina’s Ron Rivera named NFL Coach of the Year. “I know they’ve had a good defense”.

Before the season, Newton interrupted an Under Armour meeting with its interns and Kevin Plank, the company’s founder and CEO, proclaiming he will one day be a Super Bowl victor. He threw for 3,837 yards and ran for another 636 during the regular season, too. He received 36 1/2 votes, far in front of Kansas City’s Andy Reid with six votes.

Houston DE J.J. Watt was named Defensive Player of the Year for the third time in his career.

Watt also became just the second player to win the award in consecutive seasons since former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor, who is also the only other person to claim the award three times. The quarterback was also given this year’s Offensive Player of the Year Award. But I really feel like he’s carried their team.

Wide receiver Anquan Boldin of the hometown San Francisco 49ers won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.