Ndamukong Suh, Sam Bradford named AP NFL Rookies of the Year

Fort Worth, TX (Sporting Alert) – Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has won the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year award, while St. Louis quarterback Sam Bradford picked up the Offensive honor for the 2010 season. (We apologies for that mix up)

Final voting results saw Suh tallying 48 of 50 total verdicts, as he became the seventh Lions player to claim the Rookie of the Year award, which is the most in the NFL history.

“It is a great honor and one of the highest honors I can receive on the defensive side of the ball,” Suh said, while crediting his mentors and teammates for his success.

“I really, truly can’t thank my family, friends, teammates and coaches enough.

“They have been a huge part of it and the main reason I was able to be honored with this.”

Suh was the No.2 overall draft pick out of Nebraska and he finished with 10 sacks in his 66 tackles and was the only rookie selected to the All-Pro team.

“It has definitely been incredible. I compare it to my senior year at Nebraska, being able to go on those award tours and being up for the Heisman,” Suh added.

“Even though I didn’t win, it was an honor to be there. This is the same type of situation. I am really just soaking it in. It is eye opening. I feel truly blessed.”

With his award, Suh joins former Lions – CB Lem Barney (1967), WR Earl McCullough (1968), RB Mel Farr (1976), DE Al Baker (1978), RB Billy Sims (1980) and RB Barry Sanders (1989) on the past winners list.

Bradford, the 2010 No. 1 overall draft pick out of Oklahoma, in the meantime, set NFL rookie records for pass completions (354) and attempts (590).

He threw for the second most by an NFL rookie – 3,512 passing yards – and sits him behind Peyton Manning’s 3,739 yards, accomplised in 1998.

“It means a lot to me when you look at this award and see who has won it in the past,” said Bradford, who threw 18 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions in the campaign.

“It reflects what we were able to do as a team this year,” Bradford said of the award.”