UNDATED (TSN-WSAU) Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers was selected as the 2014 NFL Most Valuable Player, chosen in voting conducted by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).
The PFWA also announced that Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray was selected as the 2014 Offensive Player of the Year, and Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt was named the 2014 Defensive Player of the Year.
Rodgers, 10-year veteran who led a prolific Packers offense with 38 touchdown passes and 4,381 passing yards, is the 40th MVP honored by the PFWA. This the second MVP award for Rodgers, who also was selected in 2011.
Rodgers started all 16 games in 2014 and completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 4,381 yards, 38 touchdowns and a 112.2 passer rating with a career-low five interceptions as the Packers went 12-4 in the regular season.
Murray, in his fourth season, led the NFL and broke Emmitt Smith’s franchise record (1,773 in 1995) for rushing yards with 1,845 on a club-record 392 carries, tied for the NFL lead with 13 touchdowns and averaged 115.3 yards per game. He had 12 100-yard rushing games to set a Cowboys record, including a NFL-record eight straight games of 100 yards or more to start a season.
Watt, in his fourth season, had 78 total tackles and 20.5 sacks. He led the NFL with 50 quarterback hits, 29 tackles for loss and five fumble recoveries. He ranked second in the league in sacks, tied for second in defensive touchdowns (two) and tied for third in forced fumbles (four).
Watt also had one of the most-unique seasons in NFL history as he scored 32 points on three receiving touchdowns, a fumble return touchdown, an interception return touchdown and a safety.
