It's Oscar Night for the NFL — and as part of the NFL's effort to make the Super Bowl…well…even more all-encompassing than it already is, the third annual NFL Honors awards show took the presentation of the league's most anticipated post-season awards to another level Saturday night.
Perfectly situated on the night before Super Bowl XLVIII, the all-star gala at New York's famed Radio City Music Hall brought together NFL greats of yesterday and today (basically, everybody already in town for the big game) to salute 2014's most amazing performances.
CraveOnline was invited to take in all the spectacle and pageantry you'd expect when 6-foot-6, 310-pound behemoths slap on some Armani and hit the red carpet.
Check out our interviews just before the show as we chat with current stars like Matt Forte, A.J. Green and New York Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson (recipient of the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honors). We also got to talk with some of the wall-to-wall Hall of Famers on hand, including Emmitt Smith, Jim Kelly and Barry Sanders.
And…wait a minute…is that Mitt Romney?!?
Yep, we checked in with the former Massachusetts governor on what he's been up to since…well…you know.
You can check out the full list of 2014 NFL Honors winners below.
- AP Offensive Rookie of the Year: Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay Packers
- AP Defensive Rookie of the Year: Sheldon Richardson, DE, New York Jets
- Salute to Service Award, presented by USAA: John Harbaugh, head coach, Baltimore Ravens
- Fantasy Player of the Year: Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
- Greatness on the Road: Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
- AP Comeback Player of the Year: Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers
- AP Coach of the Year: Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers
- Don Shula High School Coach of the Year: Mike Grant, Eden Pairie (MN) High School
- Defensive Player of the Year: Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers
- AP Offensive Player of the Year: Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos
- Pepsi Next Rookie of the Year: Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego Chargers
- GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Year: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
- Deacon Jones Player of the Year: Robert Mathis, DE, Indianapolis Colts
- Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year: Charles Tillman, CB, Chicago Bears
- Bridgestone Performance Play of the Year: Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions
- FedEx Air Player of the Year: Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos
- FedEx Ground Player of the Year: LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
- AP Most Valuable Player: Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos
