Tomlinson named Sporting News player of the year

Tuesday, Jan 30, 2007 , NFL.com Wire Service

Ladainian Tomlinson, who set records for touchdowns and points scored in 2006, was named Sporting News player of the year on Tuesday.

The St. Louis-based publication also named New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton as coach of the year and Tennessee quarterback Vince Young as the top rookie in the Feb. 5 issue that arrives on newsstands Wednesday.

Tomlinson received 18 of 20 votes cast by NFL pro personnel directors. The San Diego Chargers running back was named the magazine's Sportsman of the Year last month. He was also named most valuable player by The Associated Press.

Tomlinson scored 31 touchdowns, topping the 28 Seattle's Shaun Alexander scored in 2005. Tomlinson's 186 points was 10 more than the 1960 record set by Green Bay's Paul Hornung.

He rushed for an NFL-best 1,815 yards on 348 carries, caught 56 passes for 508 yards and even threw two touchdown passes.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Colts quarterback Peyton Manning got one vote each.

Payton, 43, in his first season as a head coach, led a Saints team that was 3-13 in 2005 to a 10-6 record and an appearance in the NFC championship game, where they lost to the Chicago Bears.

Bears coach Lovie Smith was second with four votes, and the Chargers' Marty Schottenheimer received three votes.

Young passed for 2,199 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Titans went 8-5 in games he started, but lost the other three games and narrowly missed the playoffs. Saints running back Reggie Bush, Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew, Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans and Bears returner Devin Hester each got two votes.

The Sporting News all-NFL team included the following players:

Offense: WR Chad Johnson, Cincinnati; WR Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis; TE Antonio Gates, San Diego; OT Walter Jones, Seattle; OT Jonathan Ogden, Baltimore; C Olin Kreutz, Chicago; G Shawn Andrews, Philadelphia; G Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota; QB Drew Brees, New Orleans; RB Larry Johnson, Kansas City; and Tomlinson.

Defense: DE Julius Peppers, Carolina; DE Jason Taylor, Miami; DT Jamal Williams, San Diego; DT Kevin Williams, Minnesota; LB Lance Briggs, Chicago; LB Brian Urlacher, Chicago; LB Shawne Merriman, San Diego; CB Rashean Mathis, Jacksonville; CB Champ Bailey, Denver; S Ed Reed, Baltimore; S Adrian Wilson, Arizona.

Special teams: K Robbie Gould, Chicago; P Brian Moorman, Buffalo; KR Justin Miller, N.Y. Jets; and Hester as the punt returner.