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Colts' Bob Sanders wins NFL Defensive Player award
NEW YORK (AP) - Bob Sanders' impact on the vastly improved Indianapolis defense, not to mention his impact on opposing ball carriers, earned the Colts safety the Associated Press 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award Monday.
Sanders makes highlight films with his smash-mouth style andknack for always being near the ball. His value as a leader - the Peyton Manning of the Colts' defense, if you will - was just asmuch a factor in Indianapolis having the third-ranked unit in the NFL and allowing just 262 points, a league low.
Yes, these Colts can play dominating defense, and Sanders is themain reason.
"One of the things we talked about when he first got herewas how critical this position is in this defense," said coach Tony Dungy, who has nicknamed Sanders "The Eraser."
"Donnie Shell went to five Pro Bowls, and John Lynchwent to I don't even know how many Pro Bowls. You get asked to do a lot of things in this defense, and it's rare to findsomeone who can do those things."
Sanders did enough to earn 31 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media memberswho regularly cover the NFL. That was particularly impressive because it was a strong season for individual defensive performances.
Yet next closest in the balloting were Seattle end Patrick Kerneyand Tennessee tackle Albert Haynesworth with four votes each.
Sanders was a huge factor in the Colts' surge to the Super Bowl title lastyear. He missed most of the regular season, got healthy for the playoffs, and suddenly teams couldn't run or pass effectively on Indy.
With Sanders in the lineup for 15 games this season, the Colts were superbdefensively on their way to a 13-3 record and the AFC South crown.
Not that Sanders laid back in an attempt to stay healthy.
"Coming in, that was my No. 1 goal, staying healthy. Sometimes, though,you can't prevent injuries from happening," he said.
One key to the Colts' stinginess has been moving Sanders closer to the lineof scrimmage.
"I've had to adjust and I think I've adjusted well," Sanderssaid. "I was definitely a run stopper in college (at Iowa), but playing cover-2 or man coverage or whatever makes me better. I've tried to adjustbecause I want to do it.
"I enjoy it definitely. The strength of my game is being down in the boxand I've got a good grasp of seeing what's going on. It's been a lot of work to do that since my rookie season."
Also receiving votes were defensive back Antonio Cromartieof San Diego with three; linebackers Mike Vrabelof New England and DeMarcus Ware of Dallas (2); and cornerback Ronde Barberof Tampa Bay, linebacker James Harrison of Pittsburgh, rookie linebacker Patrick Willisof San Francisco, and end Mario Williams of Houston, each with one vote.
