2002 Ad

TOP NFL PLAYERS OF 2002: The Kansas City Chiefs' Priest Holmes (l) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Derrick Brooks recently received The Associated Press NFL Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards, respectively. An elusive running back, Holmes only played 14 games this season before being sidelined by a bruised hip.

In that time he still set 10 team records, including 1,615 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. He also had three scores as a receiver. Holmes marked 2,287 yards from scrimmage, and in 383 touches, the dynamic player had only one fumble. Brooks, the Bucs' star linebacker, who is highly recognized for his numerous good deeds off the field, is the crown jewel of the NFL's best defense. He led his team in tackles (170) for the fifth straight season, and he led the league with three interception returns for touchdowns. This season, Brooks also had five interceptions and 15 passes defensed, both career highs. Below, the Denver Broncos' Clinton Portis (l) has been honored as the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Carolina Panthers' Julius Peppers (r) received the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award for the 2002 season. Portis, the forceful running back out of the University of Miami, ran for 1,508 yards this season, by far the most among rookies and fourth overall in the NFL. Portis also scored 17 touchdowns, which tied for third-most by a rookie in league history. Though Peppers finished the season prematurely because of a four-game suspension, the defensive end still made his impact on the league. The second overall pick recorded 12 sacks, second among rookies this year, and the Panthers hope to build around the North Carolina native's cornerstone defense.