Mangini Wins 101 Award

(Kansas City, MO) – The NFL 101 Awards – the nation’s only awards event dedicated exclusively to the National Football League – announced the six individual recipients for the 2006 season at a news conference today in Kansas City.

The New Orleans Saints captured two of the awards – Sean Payton as NFC Coach of the Year and quarterback Drew Brees as NFC Offensive Player of the Year. NFL Most Valuable Player Ladainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers was voted the AFC Offensive Player of the Year. Both defensive award winners are repeat honorees – Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor, who won the same AFC Defensive Player of the Year award in 2001, and Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, who won the NFC award for the second straight season. The AFC Coach of the Year is the NFL’s youngest head coach, Eric Mangini of the New York Jets.

A national media committee, comprised of 101 sportswriters and broadcasters who cover the NFL, selected the winners in each award category in a nationwide vote at the conclusion of the regular season.The six recipients will be presented with trophies at the 37th Annual NFL 101 Awards gala, presented by Legacy Investment Partners. The prestigious, multi-media awards show is scheduled for Saturday, March 3, 2007 at the Westin Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City. The black-tie event was founded in 1969 and has evolved into what many sports insiders consider the finest awards event of its kind.

AFC COACH OF THE YEAR
Eric Mangini; New York Jets
Youngest head coach in the NFL who led the Jets to a 10-6 record and Wild Card Playoff spot in his first season.
Won 5 of the last 6 games, including the final 3, to make the playoffs
Orchestrated a six-game turnaround from previous 4-12 Jets team.