Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning nominated for Best NFL Player ESPY

June 30, 10:50 AMIndianapolis Colts ExaminerJohn Oehser

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Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning won his third NFL Most Valuable Player Award in 2008 in one of the most courageous seasons of a memorable career.

That performance could be honored yet again.

Manning, who won not only a record-tying third MVP but was also named first-team Associated Press All-Pro and a starter in his ninth Pro Bowl, is one of five players who have been nominated for the 2009 “Best NFL Player” ESPY, one of 37 categories for which fans can vote in the 17th annual verson of ESPN's ESPY awards.

Manning, who was also named Associated Press MVP in 2003 and 2004, posted an NFL-record ninth season with more than 4,000 passing yards in 2008. He also became the first player with 11 consecutive seasons of 25 or more touchdown passes.

Manning missed training camp and preseason after preseason knee surgery, then began the season with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions in the first seven games. In the next nine games, he completed 209 of 290 passes for 2,153 yards and 17 touchdowns with three interceptions. The Colts won all nine games to make the playoffs for a seventh consecutive season.

In the first seven games of the season, Manning had two games with a passer rating over 90. In the last nine games, he had eight such games and in December, he completed 90 of 110 passes for 1,054 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions.

Other NFL players nominated for the NFL Best Player ESPY:

• Larry Fitzgerald, wide receiver, Arizona Cardinals. He had a total of 96 receptions, 1,431 yards and 12 touchdowns during the regular season. He then broke the NFL postseason records for receptions (30) and receiving yards (546), previously held by Jerry Rice. Had four catches of more than 40 yards during the playoffs.

• James Harrison, linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers. The NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Harrison recorded 16 sacks during the regular season and returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown in the Super Bowl.

• Adrian Peterson, running back, Minnesota Vikings. A second-year veteran, Peterson led the NFL in rushing yards with 1,760 and averaged 4.8 yards-per-carry. He also became the fifth player in NFL history to total over 3,000 rushing yards over his first two seasons.

• Kurt Warner, quarterback, Arizona Cardinals. Warner, who led the Cardinals to the NFC Championship and their first Super Bowl appearance, threw for 4,583 yards during the regular season. That total was second in the NFL and Warner had the most poseason passing yards (1,147).

The ESPYs, which will be hosted this year by Samuel Jackson, will be televised Sunday, July 19, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN HD.

Voting begins today and runs through 11:59 p.m. ET July 11.

Fans can vote for the ESPYs online at www.espys.tv or via mobile phone at www.espn.mobi.

Manning previously has won five ESPYs:

• 2006: Best Championship Performance.

• 2005: Best Record Breaking Performance.

• 2005: Outstanding Pro Football Performance.

• 2004: Outstanding Pro Football Performance.

• 1998: Outstanding College Football Performance.

THE POSITION-BY-POSITION PRE-TRAINING CAMP SERIES: 

• The QUARTERBACKS
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• The TIGHT ENDS
• The WIDE RECEIVERS
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• The OFFENSIVE GUARDS
• The CENTERS

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