Linebacker Lawrence Taylor of the New York...

Linebacker Lawrence Taylor of the New York Giants, who underwent treatment for an unspecified substance abuse in the off-season a year ago, has been voted the National Football League’s most valuable player in a poll taken by the Associated Press.

Taylor got 41 votes to 17 for runner-up Eric Dickerson of the Rams as writers and broadcasters from the league’s 28 cities participated. Taylor also was voted the league’s best defensive player for the third time, getting 74 votes, 70 more than Dexter Manley of the Washington Redskins.