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Ravens' Flacco Wins Fan Vote As Rookie Of The Year

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By AARON KNOX | TBO.com

Published: January 29, 2009

TAMPA - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was named the Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year on Thursday, beating out another quarterback and three prolific running backs for the award based on fan voting.

Flacco, who became the first rookie quarterback to win two playoff games, won the award over Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan, Chicago Bears RB Matt Forte, Houston Texans RB Steve Slaton and Tennessee Titans RB Chris Johnson.

Ryan, who guided the Falcons to the playoffs, won the Associated Press Rookie of the Year award, but Flacco's Ravens went deeper in the playoffs when they reached the AFC Championship game before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"It was a great year," Flacco said during a press conference at the Super Bowl XLIII Media Center. "I really couldn't have imagined it going this way for me, but it was a lot of fun."

Flacco, from the tiny University of Delaware, threw for 2,971 yards with 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in leading the Ravens to an 11-5 record.

Ryan, from Boston College, threw for 3,440 yards with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for the Falcons, who lost in the first round of the NFL playoffs.

The running backs all finished with remarkably similar numbers. Forte had 1,238 yards rushing with 8 touchdowns, Johnson ran for 1,228 yards and 9 scores, and Slaton rushed for 1,282 yards and 9 TDs.

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