DALLAS — New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on Sunday became the first unanimous choice for The Associated Press NFL MVP since the AP began using a nationwide panel of media members.
In 2007, when Brady won his first MVP, he got 49 votes; one vote went to Brett Favre.
“It is always flattering to be chosen for such a prestigious award,” Brady said. “I also look at it as a team award.”
Brady had a record streak of 355 throws without being intercepted, and passed for 36 touchdowns with only four picks.
• NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says this weekend’s bargaining session with the players’ union was “beneficial.” In an interview with “Fox News Sunday,” Goodell called drug testing a key issue. Other sticking points were revenue division, rookie salaries and benefits for retired players.
• A person familiar with the situation told The AP the New York Jets are leaning toward using their franchise tag on linebacker David Harris. Teams can start using the franchise label Thursday.
F1 driver injured
ROME — Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica suffered multiple fractures in a crash at a Ronde di Andora Rally in Italy. He will need up to a year to regain full use of his right hand, according to the surgeon who operated on Kubica. His co-driver, Jacub Gerber, was unhurt.
Footnotes.
Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem says the walking boot protecting his surgically repaired left foot should be taken off Tuesday.
• Manuel Machata won the four-man bobsled World Cup title in Cesana, Italy, beating Olympic champion Steven Holcomb of the U.S. The German ended the season with 1,597 points. Holcomb had 1,522.
• Alexis Boeuf of France won the men’s 12.5-kilometer pursuit at the biathlon World Cup in Presque Isle, Maine. Lowell Bailey was the top American in 16th. Norway’s Tora Berger won the women’s 10K pursuit. Sara Studebaker was the top U.S. woman in 28th.
• Ashton Eaton of the United States improved his world record for the men’s indoor heptathlon. He scored 6,568 points at the International Indoor Combined Events meeting in Tallinn, Estonia.
• David Boudia scored six 10s for a near-perfect dive (578.05 points) and won the men’s platform final at the USA Diving winter national championships in Iowa City, Iowa.
• Tommy Robredo beat Santiago Giraldo 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (5) to win the Movistar Open clay-court tournament in Santiago, Chile.
• Unseeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia won his first ATP Tour title beating Michael Berrer of Germany 6-3, 6-4 at the Zagreb Indoors.
• Australian Open winner Kim Clijsters came from behind to beat Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-7 (10), 6-2, 6-1 and lead Belgium to a 4-1 win over the United States in Ant- werp and a place in the semifinals of the Fed Cup World Group. In other Fed Cup matches, Russia stunned France 3-2 in Moscow and the Czech Republic reached its third consecutive Fed Cup semifinals, taking an insurmountable 3-0 lead over Slovakia.
