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Peterson Runaway Winner As Top Offensive Rookie

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The Associated Press

Published: January 3, 2008

NEW YORK - Adrian Peterson is impressed.

Not so much by his achievements as he ran away with The Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year voting the same way he surged past opposing tacklers this season. What has gotten the attention of the Minnesota Vikings running back is the company he keeps.

"It's a great honor to join a list with names like those," Peterson said Wednesday when told that Jim Brown, Emmitt Smith, Eric Dickerson and Billy Sims also won the award. "They are guys that I looked up to growing up. It's a goal that I set before the year started, to win rookie of the year, so it feels great to accomplish that."

Peterson, who set the league mark for rushing in a game with 296 yards in a 35-17 victory over San Diego, also had a 224-yarder in a win against Chicago. The key to Minnesota's improvement to an 8-8 record this season, he led the NFC with 1,341 yards rushing, second only to San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson in the league. His 78 points on 13 touchdowns were second in the conference.

Those numbers, compiled in 14 games, and his overall impact - the Vikings struggled to pass the ball, yet were in the wild-card race until the final game - earned Peterson 46 1/2 votes Wednesday from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. Cleveland tackle Joe Thomas was the only other player receiving votes, 3 1/2 .

"I added to things they already had," Peterson said. "I am a playmaker. That's why I say if there is anything I could do to put me out there, just put me out there."

Dolphins Name Ireland As General Manager

DAVIE - Dallas Cowboys executive Jeff Ireland is rejoining Bill Parcells as general manager of the Miami Dolphins.

Parcells hired Ireland to replace Randy Mueller, fired Monday after three seasons with Miami.

Parcells, the Cowboys' head coach in 2003-06, joined the Dolphins two weeks ago as executive vice president of football operations.

Still to be decided is the fate of Cam Cameron, whose job is in jeopardy after going 1-15 in his first season as an NFL head coach. He met Tuesday with Parcells, but the talks ended with Cameron uncertain whether he would be retained.

Ireland spent the past three years as the Cowboys' vice president of college and pro scouting, and he helped build the team that won the NFC East this season with a 13-3 record. Before that, he was an NFL scout for 11 years.

"I am excited about joining the Dolphins," Ireland said in a statement. "I know the great tradition of the team, and in my mind they are one of the flagship franchises in the NFL. They have a great owner in Wayne Huizenga, who I know is committed to making the Dolphins into winners once again. I am looking forward to working with him."

Martz Reportedly Fired As Lions' Coordinator

DETROIT - The Detroit Lions reportedly fired Mike Martz, ending his fractious two years as the team's offensive coordinator.

Martz will be replaced by Jim Colletto, who will retain his position as offensive line coach while calling plays. Receivers coach Kippy Brown will serve as co-coordinator, the Detroit Free Press, Booth Newspapers and ESPN.com reported.

Martz confirmed his firing to the Free Press.

"We fell short of what we wanted to do offensively, and I regret that," he told the newspaper.

The Lions were 7-9 this season after a 6-2 start.

BENGALS: Fired defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan and linebackers coach Ricky Hunley.

CHIEFS: Fired offensive coordinator Mike Solari and three other assistant coaches following a 4-12 season.

49ERS: Coach Mike Nolan will return to the team next season despite going 16-32 in his first three years with the club. Owner John York promoted executive Scot McCloughan to general manager, giving him the final say on personnel issues.

HIGH RATINGS: Football fans around the country flocked to their TV sets last weekend, taking advantage of an expanded opportunity to see the Patriots become the first team in NFL history to go 16-0 in the regular season.

An average of 34.5 million viewers watched New England rally to beat the New York Giants 38-35 last Saturday night, the most-watched regular-season game since the Kansas City Chiefs played the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day in 1995.

CBS drew 15.7 million viewers, while NBC drew 13.2 million and the NFL Network 4.5 million.

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