NFL 2001

1. Marshall Faulk: Was the NFL MVP by Pro Football Writers and Sporting News.

 

He was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year for the third straight season.

The 2000 MVP was a unanimous All-Pro and Pro Bowler.

 He joined Emmitt Smith as the only player in league history with back to back 20 TD seasons.           

 Faulk finished second in the MVP voting.

 He led the league in yards per game (98.7) and yards per carry (5.3) for the 3^rd year in a row.

Despite missing two games Faulk scored 21 TDs and led the league in points for the 2nd straight year.       

His 1,382 yards were 5^th in NFL.  Faulk’s 2,149 yards from scrimmage was 2^nd in the NFL.

He topped all RBs with 83 catches.  His nine receiving TDs were 5^th in the league.

Marshall scored TDs in 11 of 14 games, including six with 2+.

In the Rams divisional rout of Green Bay he ran 82 yards and had 47 yards in air along with a 7 yard TD run.

Faulk carried the Rams to the Super Bowl with a 159 yard performance vs. the Eagles. He scored two second half TDs to turn a one point deficit to a 13 point lead.

In the Super Bowl he had 76 yards on just 17 carries and 4 catches for 56 yards.

He had 314 yards in 3 playoffs games (5.0 ypc) and 114 receiving yards.

St. Louis would win the NFC for the 2^nd time in three years but fell 20-17 to the Patriots in the Big Game.

The Rams went 14-2 and won the NFC West. They led NFL in yards and points (31.4).

2. Kurt Warner: Was the MVP for the 2^nd time in three years.

He led NFL in passing (101.4), yards (4,830), 36 TDs, comp. % (68.7) and completions.

His yards totals were second most in a single season.

He was a unanimous All-Pro.

He had nine games over 300 yards passing and eight with 3 or more TDs.

He threw for 216 and two scores in round 2 vs. the Packers.

His 5 yards scoring pass to Issac Bruce opened scoring in the Rams conference title winning game, 29-24 over the Eagles.

Warner passed for the second most yards (365) in Super Bowl history. He led the Greatest Show on Turf from down 17-3 to a tie score at 17 late in the 4^th quarter.

The Rams became the first team in NFL history to score 500 points in three straight seasons.

3. Rich Gannon: Was Pro Bowl MVP for the 2^nd straight season.

He was 1^st team All-AFC (Pro Football Weekly).

Gannon was 2^nd in comp, rating (95.5), and comp. % (65.8).

The Raiders QB was 5^th in yards (3,828), and 4^th in TD (27).

In the playoffs Gannon gave the Raiders double digit cushions with TD passes to Tim Brown and Jerry Rice.

He was 23-29 for 291 yards 2 TD and 131.9 rating as the Raiders got past the Jets 38-24.

In the divisional round vs. the Patriots Gannon’s 2^nd quarter TD pass gave Oakland a halftime lead. He finished with 159 yards passing in the Snow Bowl.

The Raiders would eventually lose 16-13 in overtime after the controversial “Tuck Rule” call.

The Raiders went 10-6 and won the AFC West. They averaged 25 ppg which was good for 2^nd in the AFC.

College Football 2001

1. Rex Grossman: Was the AP Player of the Year and finished 2^nd in the Heisman voting.

He was named first team All-American by the AP and Football News. He was also the SEC Offensive Player of the Year.

Grossman led nation in passing efficiency and total offense (354.9 per game), first player to do both since Steve Young in 1983.

The Gators sophomore threw for 3,896 yards 34 TDs (3^rd in NCAA) and completed 65% of his passes.

He set NCAA record in yards per play (9.1).

Rex torched #7 LSU on 22-33 for 464 yards (school record) and 5 TDs.

He was 21-32 302 yards 3 TDs vs. #13 So. Carolina.

In the Orange Bowl, he picked apart #11 Maryland on 20-28, 248 yards, and 4 TDs.

Florida finished #3 in the final polls and was 11-2. They pounded ACC champion Maryland in the Orange Bowl 56-23.

2. Ed Reed: Was a unanimous All- American.

He made consensus All-American for the 2^nd straight year. He was also the Big East Defensive Player of the Year.

Reed was also named national defensive player of the year by Football News.

He led the NCAA with nine interceptions.

The senior safety was 2^nd in the country with 206 yards and 2 TDs off those nine picks.

Reed led the Big East with 18 pass break ups.

He helped save Miami’s perfect season with this heads up play vs. #21 Boston College.

Miami led NCAA in scoring D (9.4) PPG, INTs, and turnovers. They were 2^nd in passing yards allowed (138 per game).

Reed had 44 tackles, 2 FR and a blocked punt return for TD in win over #15 FSU.

He had two picks in season finale win over #18 Virginia Tech.

In the Rose Bowl, Reed had a game high 9 tackles and pass break up.

Miami cemented its #1 ranking with wins over top 15 foes Syracuse and Washington by a combine 124-7. 

They won games by 33 PPG and pounded #4 Nebraska and Heisman winner Eric Crouch 37-14 to win their first title in 10 years and 5^th overall.

The Canes had 11 starters and 17 players overall who were drafted in the first round. 7 starters and 14 players would go on to the Pro Bowl. 

3. Joey Harrington: Was the PAC-10 Player of the Year.

He finished 4th in Heisman, and was a finalist for Unitas Award (QB of the Year).

Harrington was 2nd team All American by the Sporting News.

After being snubbed by the BCS, #2 Oregon settled for the Fiesta Bowl.

Harrington lit up then #3 Colorado for 350 yards and 4 TDs. He was named game MVP.

The Ducks QB threw for 2,415 yards 23 TDs and just 5 Ints. He also rushed for 7 TDs.

Against Arizona St. he threw for 319 yards and a school record 6 TDs.

Oregon went 11-1 and won the PAC-10. They finished #2 at the end of the regular season but were left out of the national championship. They remained at #2; its highest ranking ever.