NFL: Rodgers brings home his third MVP award

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers was named The Associated Press most valuable player for a third time late Saturday night, while Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald won his third top defensive player award.

Rodgers, who turned 37 in December, had perhaps the best season of his 16-year career, leading Green Bay to a 13-3 record and topping the league with 48 touchdown passes, a completion rate of 70.7 per cent and a 121.5 rating.

Rodgers also won the award in 2011 and 2014.

“It is really special to have won it in my fourth year as a starter and now to win it in my 13th year as a starter in a new offence is pretty amazing and something I am very proud of,” Rodgers said. “To have sustained success and be able to play your best football at 37 in my 16th season is something I take a lot of pride in.”

Donald, who also won the defensive prize in 2017 and 2018, joined Lawrence Taylor (1981, 1982, 1986) and Houston edge rusher J.J. Watt (2012, 2014, 2015) as three-time winners.

Other winners: Titans 2,000yard rusher Derrick Henry was named top offensive player; Chargers quarterback Justin Hébert was the offensive rookie; Washington edge rusher Chase Young was defensive rookie; Washington quarterback Alex Smith was the comeback player of the year; Cleveland's Kevin Stefanski was coach of the year, and Buffalo offensive co-ordinator Brian Daboll earned assistant coach honours.

Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award for his work in the community.

Class of 2021: Peyton Manning, the quarterback whose meticulous attention to detail helped turn the 21st-century gridiron into a chessboard on turf, was awarded a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

The son of Saints legend Archie and brother of two-time Super Bowl champion Eli will be joined in Canton by two more first-ballot selections, defensive back Charles Woodson, who beat out Manning for the Heisman Trophy in 1997, and former Lions receiver Calvin (Megatron) Johnson.

Also making it were guard Alan Faneca and hard-hitting safety John Lynch.