Feb. 2, 2011GUTIERREZ ARCHIVE
NFL PAGEATLANTA PAGEPROFILE: RODDY WHITE
Paul Gutierrez
CSNCalifornia.com
New England quarterback Tom Brady ran away with the Associated Press offensive player of the year award Tuesday, picking up 21 of the 50 votes cast to easily outdistance Philadelphia QB Michael Vick (11), Houston running back Arian Foster (7) and San Diego QB Philip Rivers (5).
I voted for Atlanta wide receiver Roddy White, who had two votes to tie with Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers and Philadelphia WR DeSean Jackson.
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Shocked my selection was at the bottom end of the balloting? You could say that.
Im surprised White did not receive more love from the rest of my voting brethren. Especially since he was the best player on the team with the best record in his conference.
NEWS: Brady wins top offensive player award
Oh, I know White had an MVP candidate in Matt Ryan throwing the ball to him. But Ryan also had a sick target to throw to in White.
News
It was as symbiotic a relationship as existed in the pass-happy NFL this season and it says here White was the alpha male in that Falcons familial bond. Ryan targeted White more than 11 times a game, including 23 times in the season opening overtime loss to Pittsburgh and 17 more in the defeat of Baltimore in the Falcons ninth game.
White slowed a bit in the seasons second half -- all five of his 100-yard receiving games, including his 201-yards on 11 catches tour de force against Cincinnati, came in the seasons first nine games -- but he still led the NFL with 115 catches for an NFC-best 1,389 yards and had 10 touchdown receptions.
REVIEW: Roddy White profilesplitsgame logs
At 6-feet, 212 pounds, he plays larger than his measureables and, frankly, looks thicker. Hes not a burner -- hes more of a solid possession guy -- but hes a physical specimen who was explosive and clutch and the Falcons would not have been the NFCs No. 1 seed without him. Now, it appears, White just needs a little more respect.