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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RANDY MOSS NAMED PROGRESSIVE AUTO INSURANCE
NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
New York, January 27 –
In a season full of rewritten records and broken attendance figures, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss garnered significant national attention, capping his achievements with the Progressive Auto Insurance NFL Rookie of the Year award.Moss, who was selected in the first round (21st overall) out of Marshall University, set or tied four NFL records. Pacing the entire league with an NFL rookie-record 17 receiving touchdowns, Moss became the first newcomer with consecutive three-TD performances. The athletically gifted 6-4, 211-pound wideout became just the second player in NFL history to catch 10 touchdowns of 40 yards or more.
Moss, who was also chosen as Progressive’s November Rookie of the Month, finished the season with 69 receptions, 1,313 yards and 17 touchdowns. In dominating not only his rookie counterparts, but the rest of the league as well, Moss helped his team to an NFL-best 15-1 record and the Vikings’ first appearance in the NFC Championship Game since 1987.
The award winner is chosen through a combination of internet votes as well as a blue-ribbon panel nomination. In its inaugural year, the rookie of the year balloting generated over 170,000 votes with Moss obtaining roughly 55% of the total. Moss’ challengers included other standout rookies, such as Green Bay Packers Vonnie Holliday, Indianapolis Colts Peyton Manning, Jacksonville Jaguars Fred Taylor and Oakland Raiders Charles Woodson.
Throughout 1998, Progressive Auto Insurance, one of the NFL’s newest sponsors, has supported NFL rookies with a new, expanded Rookie of the Year program. The three-tiered program featured an Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Month presented by Progressive Auto Insurance and the team-level Rookie of the Year, culminating in the naming of an overall Progressive Auto Insurance NFL Rookie of the Year.
Progressive, one of the nation's largest auto insurers, is a Proud Sponsor of the NFL and the title sponsor of the Progressive Auto Insurance Super Bowl XXXIII Halftime Show, featuring Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. In business for more than 60 years, Progressive provides consumers throughout the U.S. and Canada with competitively priced automobile insurance and 24-hour, in-person services, and is the nation's largest writer of automobile insurance through Independent Agents. More information about Progressive can be found on the company's Web site, progressive.com.
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