Manning Is Top Offensive Player

Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts was a runaway selection Wednesday as Associated Press NFL offensive player of the year after putting together perhaps the greatest passing season in league history.

Manning set a season record with 49 touchdown passes, surpassing Dan Marino’s 48 in 1984, and had a passer rating of 121.1, shattering Steve Young’s mark of 112.8 in 1994. Manning threw only 10 interceptions and led the Colts to the AFC South title with a 12-4 record.

Manning, 28, earned 35 votes from a nationwide panel of 48 writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. He easily outdistanced Philadelphia Eagle receiver Terrell Owens and Minnesota Viking quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who got four votes each.

“I feel more comfortable than I did last year,” said Manning, who in 2003 was co-most valuable player with Steve McNair of the Tennessee Titans. “My goal every year has been to be a better player every year than the year before, and I really feel I’ve done that. I feel I am a better player this year than last year.”

Manning threw for 4,557 yards and completed 67.6% of his passes. He had a passer rating above 140 three times, a six-touchdown performance -- against Detroit on Thanksgiving Day -- and three five-touchdown games.

The Colts play host to the Denver Broncos on Sunday in the first round of the playoffs.

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Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers was a unanimous selection as AP offensive rookie of the year.

Roethlisberger, 13-0 as a starter for the Steelers (15-1), passed for 2,621 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Roethlisberger, who played at Miami of Ohio, was the No. 11 overall pick in the draft in April. Two quarterbacks -- Eli Manning and Philip Rivers -- were selected ahead of him.

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The Arizona Cardinals hired longtime NFL assistant Keith Rowen as offensive coordinator, two days after Alex Wood was fired from the position.

Rowen, 52, has been an NFL assistant for 21 seasons, the last six as tight ends coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Rowen was on Arizona Coach Dennis Green’s staff at Minnesota as offensive line coach from 1994 to 1996.

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Cincinnati fired defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, the first change to Coach Marvin Lewis’ staff since their latest 8-8 finish.

The Bengals finished 19th overall in defense this season, including 26th against the run.

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Phil Savage has accepted an offer to be general manager of the Cleveland Browns, a team source told AP on condition of anonymity.

Savage, 39, was director of player personnel for the Baltimore Ravens the last two seasons.

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Kansas City Chief cornerback Eric Warfield pleaded no contest in Johnson County, Kan., to a felony charge of driving under the influence.

The charge was a felony because Warfield, 28, has two prior DUI convictions. A plea agreement calls for him to serve 10 days in jail and 80 days of house arrest and pay a $1,500 fine.

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Sean Taylor’s drunk driving charge was dismissed in Fairfax County (Va.), but the Washington Redskin safety was convicted of refusing to take a blood alcohol test.

Taylor faces a mandatory 12-month license suspension, but that penalty was delayed pending an appeal.