How fitting that the final FedEx Air & Ground Player of the Week field features the most nominated player of the year -- Tom Brady.
The Patriots quarterback capped a remarkable season by setting the NFL record for touchdown passes with 50, the team record for passing yards with 4,806, and by leading his team to a perfect 16-0 regular season record.
Joining him as candidates are the Bengals' Carson Palmer, who finished an inconsistent season on a high note, and the Falcons' Chris Redman, who had the best game of his career in a win over the Seahawks.
The Ground selections offer the Browns' Jamal Lewis, the Redskins' Clinton Portis and the Panthers' DeAngelo Williams. Each had outstanding efforts in season-ending wins for their teams.
Fans vote for more than their favorite players. The weekly FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week Awards are also a win for the local community. Along with the player awards, FedEx is awarding Children's Hospital Foundation and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Foundation, the children's hospitals in the winning markets, two checks for $5,000.
The children's hospitals in the two season-long winner's markets, announced at Super Bowl XLII in Arizona, will be awarded $25,000 each. That means that FedEx will deliver nearly $250,000 to local children's hospitals around the country in recognition of the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week Award winners.
FedEx, the premier global provider of transportation, e-commerce and supply-chain management services, is the Official Delivery Service Sponsor of the NFL, Super Bowl and Pro Bowl. Through the weekly FedEx Air and Ground awards, FedEx recognizes those NFL players who represent the same speed, precision and teamwork that their customers have come to expect from the full range of FedEx air, ground, freight and international shipping services.
The Nominees
Quarterbacks
Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Brady completed 32 of 42 passes for 356 yards and two touchdowns in the Patriots' 38-35 win over the New York Giants.
Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals
Palmer completed 23 of 32 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns in the Bengals' 38-25 win over the Miami Dolphins.
Chris Redman, Atlanta Falcons
Redman completed 17 of 27 passes for 251 yards and four touchdowns in the Falcons' 44-41 win over the Seattle Seahawks.
Running Backs
Jamal Lewis, Cleveland Browns
Lewis led the Browns with 128 rushing yards over 26 carries in their 20-7 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers
Williams carried the ball 20 times for 121 yards and two touchdowns in the Panthers' 31-23 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins
Portis carried the ball 25 times for 104 yards and two touchdowns in the Redskins' 27-6 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
