Packers cornerback Charles Woodson won his first AP Defensive Player of the Year award on Tuesday, lapping the field with 28 of the 50 votes, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis came in second with 14 votes.
For Woodson, the Defensive Player of the Year award caps both an outstanding individual season and career. Woodson racked up an impressive 2009 season, with 74 tackles, four forced fumbles, and nine interceptions, including three returned for touchdowns.
Chris Jenkins reports that Woodson reacted to the news that he won by saying:
It's a great honor, man. I felt like I put a lot into this game, mentally and physically. Body's always beat up and it's great to be recognized.
Interestingly, the AP's voting almost exactly mirrored that of SB Nation's NFL bloggers when they handed out their end of season Studs and Duds awards two weeks ago. SB Nation's NFL gurus named Woodson their "defensive stud" of the year with 53% of the vote, with the Bolts From The Blue blogger going so far as to opine that Woodson's 2009 season was "the best season by a cornerback that I think I've ever seen. I have no idea how he's playing at this level at his age."
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