NFL Honors Recap

JJ Watt was among the award winners. Photo Credit: Getty Images

NFL Honors award Saturday evening had Aaron Rodgers take home MVP, and J.J Watt take home defensive player of the year.

 By: Niqko Marshall

The night before the Super Bowl, the NFL presented its end of the year awards headlined by Rodgers, who took home the MVP.

It was an exciting year for football in 2014-2015. A year that saw numerous players put up crazy numbers for their respective teams and some even record breaking. With that being said, here were the winners from the NFL Honors awards.

AP MVP: Aaron Rodgers GB, Rodgers was expected to win the award by most as he threw 38 touchdowns to only five interceptions. He threw no interceptions at home and the Green Bay Packers clinched the second seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs this year. Rodgers was the best player at the most important position in football this year.

AP Defensive Player Of The Year: J.J Watt HOU, Watt had a monstrous season this year, and some could argue that he should have also been the league's MVP. He did finish second to Rodgers in voting. It is worth noting that Watt was the first ever unanimous decision for defensive player of the year. Watt finished the season with 20.5 sacks, ten pass deflections, and was first in fumble recoveries. Not to mention Watt also had a couple receiving touchdowns as he lined up at tight end on the goal line formations for the Texans.

AP Offensive Rookie Of The Year: Odell Beckham Jr. NYG, Beckham Jr. (also known as OBJ) had one of the most exciting seasons of any NFL player in a long time. As the 12th pick in the 2014 draft out of LSU things got off to a rocky start for OBJ and the New York Giants organization. OBJ was battling injuries through training camp and the early part of the season. He missed the first four games of the season and ended with 91 catches, 1305 receiving yards, and 12 touchdowns. To go along with amazing stats, Beckham Jr also had jaw-dropping plays that will be remembered for a long time. OBJ mentioned that he had played with two tears in his hamstrings the whole season. OBJ also won the Bridgestone Performance Play of The Year with his 43 yard one-handed touchdown catch.

AP Defensive Rookie Of The Year: Aaron Donald STL, Donald was a one man wrecking ball for the Rams this season. Donald finished the season with nine sacks which were second to all defensive tackles in the league and first amongst rookies. He also stopped the run, and Pro Football Focus graded him as the best 4-3 defensive tackle in the NFL last year. Donald also won the Pro Football Writers of America Defensive Rookie of The Year award and also the Pro Football Focus one as well. Finishing second and third were C.J Mosley and Khalil Mack.

AP Offensive Player Of The Year: DeMarco Murray DAL, Murray had a career year for the Cowboys this year. He finished the season with 392 carries for 1845 yards which are a Cowboys record. He also added 416 receiving yards. His offensive production was a big part of the Cowboy's playoff season. Murray will be a free agent this year so it is to be determined if he will continue that production for the Cowboy's next season.

AP Coach Of The Year: Bruce Arians ARI, Arians did an excellent job with the Arizona Cardinals this year. The Cardinals got off to a 9-3 start and finished the year with an 11-5 record and clinched a playoff birth. The Cardinals compete in the tough NFC West where the Cardinals lost both their starting quarterback and backup to season-ending injuries. This is the second COY award for Arians as he one as the interim coach for the Colts in 2012. Arians Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, now head coach of the New York Jets took home the assistant coach of the year award.

Other notable winners from the night: Justin Houston KC, was the winner of the Deacon Jones award. Thomas Davis CAR, won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. Larry Fitzgerald ARI, won the Art Rooney Award. Rob Gronkowski NE, won the comeback player of the year award. Le'Veon Bell PIT, won FedEx ground player of the year and NFL.com Fantasy player of the year.