Tomlinson is voted most valuable player

Record-setting running back LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers ran away with the Associated Press’ NFL most valuable player award Thursday the way he eluded defenders in leading his team to the AFC’s best record (14-2) and a favorite’s role for the Super Bowl.

Tomlinson, who broke Shaun Alexander’s league record for touchdowns by scoring 31 (28 rushing) and also threw for two scores, had one of the greatest seasons in NFL history.

He rushed for a league-high 1,815 yards in 348 carries, had 56 receptions for 508 yards and also completed two of three passes -- both for touchdowns, giving him six in his six-year career, tying him for second among non-quarterbacks.

Of all his records and accomplishments this season, Tomlinson said the highlights were breaking Paul Hornung’s single-season scoring record -- Tomlinson finished with 186 points -- and winning the rushing title.

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New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington overcame a second torn rotator cuff in as many years to win the Associated Press NFL comeback player of the year award.

The seven-year veteran led the Jets to a 10-6 record and a wild-card berth one season after they went 4-12 -- most of it with him sidelined.

Pennington started all 16 games for the first time and finished second in the AFC with a 95.7 passer rating. He passed for a career-high 3,352 yards and 17 touchdowns.

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For the fourth consecutive year, the NFL set a regular-season attendance record in 2006, averaging more than 67,000 fans per game.

Total paid attendance for games averaged 67,738, and increased to a season total of 17,340,879, the league announced Thursday.

It was the third consecutive year the league sold more than 17 million tickets.

The number of tickets sold represents paid attendance at more than 90% of stadium capacity, and local TV blackouts were lifted due to sold-out games in a record 97.3% of games this season. Out of 256 games this season, only seven were blacked out locally.

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Police impounded a 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe early Thursday they believe might have been used in a New Year’s Day drive-by shooting that killed Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams.

Passers-by spotted the vehicle parked south of Denver International Airport and called police anonymously at about 6:30 a.m., police spokesman Sonny Jackson said.