Gurley salutes St. Louis fans in winning NFL honor
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_46d5c364-7350-5899-8d0e-4d3d21dca8c6.html
SAN FRANCISCO • Other than perhaps a playoff berth, Todd Gurley couldn’t have asked for a better rookie season in the NFL.
Capping an inaugural season in which he topped 1,000 yards rushing and made the Pro Bowl, the Rams’ running back was named the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year as voted on by the Associated Press.
Last month, Gurley also was named rookie of the year by the Pro Football Writers of America.
His voice nearly cracking with emotion, Gurley told a national television audience during Saturday’s NFL Honors show that the award: “Definitely means a lot. You know, a year ago, battling from an ACL (knee) injury to being offensive rookie of the year. I definitely appreciate everybody who voted for me.”
Gurley also had a shout-out to the fans of St. Louis during the telecast, while also saying hello to his new Los Angeles fan base.
“I just want to say something to the St. Louis fans,” Gurley said. “I know you all might be disappointed that we’re leaving. But you know, I still support the fans. ... We’re gonna be in LA next year, so hopefully we’ll make some noise out there.”
Still emotional after a brief press conference backstage, Gurley said his remarks to St. Louis a few minutes earlier on TV were heartfelt.
“This is for them,” Gurley said, clutching the award.
Gurley is the first Rams offensive rookie of the year since quarterback Sam Bradford in 2010, but the team has now gone back-to-back in rookie honors because defensive tackle Aaron Donald was the AP’s defensive rookie of the year last season.
Donald was a finalist for defensive player of the year this season, but the award went to Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt on Saturday.
Only two other Rams besides Gurley and Bradford have won offensive rookie of the year awards – running backs Jerome Bettis (1993) and Eric Dickerson (1983). Both are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
This season, Gurley finished with 1,106 yards rushing and scored 10 touchdowns despite playing in only 13 games. He missed the first two games as he completed rehab work from a knee injury and subsequent surgery in 2014 in college at Georgia.
He also missed the season finale in San Francisco with turf toe, but played in the Pro Bowl and said Saturday night that the toe is fine.
Gurley became the first rookie in NFL history to rush for 125 yards or more in four consecutive games. His 566 yards rushing in his first four starts are the most for a rookie in the Super Bowl era.
“I couldn’t even picture myself being in these shoes a year ago,” Gurley said. “My biggest thing was to just try to get back playing on the field and get healthy. To get this award is definitely a blessing. I couldn’t imagine this in a million years.
“Thank you to my teammates, coaches, and everybody that believed in me and helped me get to this point.”