Record-setting Gannon reportedly voted MVP -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ESPN.com news services Oakland Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon has been voted the NFL's Most Valuable Player, the San Jose Mercury News reported in Wednesday's editions. The Mercury News did not cite sources for its report. The Raiders have a news conference scheduled for Wednesday afternoon to announce a "major award." The MVP is given by The Associated Press after balloting from 48 media members nationwide. Gannon, who toiled on the fringes of the league for more than a decade before becoming Oakland's starting quarterback four years ago, will become the third Raider to win the award. Quarterback Ken Stabler earned the honor in 1974 and Marcus Allen won it in 1985, when the team was in Los Angeles. Five of the past seven MVPs have led their teams to the Super Bowl. Gannon, 37, was the engineer of the NFL's top-ranked offense. His spectacular season began with the second game Sept. 15 in Pittsburgh, when he completed 43 of 64 passes for 403 yards. Gannon went on to set NFL records for completions (418), 300-yard games (10) and consecutive 300-yard games (six), and he also led the league in passing yards (4,689) and attempts (618). His 26 touchdowns tied for fifth, and his 1.6 interception percentage ranked third. The Raiders went 7-1 down the stretch to clinch the AFC West title and the top seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Raiders signed Gannon in March 1999 to a four-year deal worth $16 million. At that time, he had never been a full-time starter.
Player Team Votes Rich Gannon Oak. 19 Brett Favre G.B. 15 Steve McNair Ten. 11 Derrick Brooks T.B. 1 Priest Holmes K.C. 1 Michael Vick Atl. 1
