Associated Press
DALLAS -- Here's a Brady Bunch for NFL fans: Tom Brady got all 50 votes for MVP.The New England Patriots quarterbackon Sunday became the first unanimous choice for The Associated PressNFL Most Valuable Player Award since the AP began using a nationwidepanel of media members who cover the league.He surpassed himself, too: In 2007, when Brady won his first MVP, he got 49 votes; one voter went for Brett Favre."It is always flattering to be chosenfor such a prestigious award," Brady said. "But I also look at it as ateam award, as nothing in football gets accomplished without the mentaltoughness and determination of every player and coach associated withthat team."I am very humbled to be a part of anorganization where winning comes first, and our goals are based aroundthe success of the team."Those successes, including three Super Bowl titles in the last 10 years, are in great part due to Brady's excellence.Although he didn't set nearly as manypassing marks as in '07, Brady by far was the league's top performer inleading New England to a 14-2 record, best in the NFL. He had a recordstreak of 355 throws without being intercepted, and passed for 36touchdowns with only four picks.Not that the 33-year-old Brady would compare this season's Patriots to any others."Every team every year is different,"he said, "and over the course of 100 practices and many games a teamestablishes its identity. Players change, schemes change, opponentschange, which is why the game is so exciting year in and year out."The fact that 32 teams start outeach year with the same goal is why the popularity of the sport is atan all-time high. The great part about our sport is that nothing comeseasy, and wherever you stand at the end of the year is the exact placethat you deserve to be."Individually, Brady stands above allothers. The only Patriot to win the award, he and Peyton Manning, hisrival for the NFL's best quarterback, have split the last four MVPs.Brady followed his previous MVPtrophy with a lost season, tearing left knee ligaments in the firsthalf of the 2008 opener. His return in 2009 was solid, although handand rib injuries slowed him.This year, even with a sore rightfoot that required postseason surgery, Brady was simply dynamic. Hetwice threw for four touchdowns in a game and four times had three.Twelve times, he had a passer rating of at least 100.And he guided a young team in transition to 14 victories."Brady is so special because he'ssuch a great leader and all the players can relate to him," team ownerRobert Kraft said. "These kids (rookies) who come in live in awe ofhim, but the nice thing is he treats them well."He works very hard, he studies veryhard," Kraft added. "Being a great quarterback isn't just being veryskilled. It's being able to process information quickly, to make theadjustments, and I think he's fabulous at that."As fabulous as he might have been, Brady, not surprisingly, has some regrets about 2010."When the season is over, 31 teamsare disappointed about the outcome," he said. "There is only onechampion, and nobody plays this game for second place. The desire andhunger is about winning, which to me never gets old. The motivation toget up and work every day for that goal is something that challenges usall."Our team has very highexpectations, and our team will come back this year with the samepurpose," he said. "Whether or not that leads to a championship seasonwill be determined by the commitment each player makes to do their jobas best as they possibly can."The way Brady does.