Tomlinson selected top offensive player

~ Miami's Jason Taylor was voted defensive player of the year.

NEW YORK -- With a bushel full of records and an MVP award already in his 2006 collection, LaDainian Tomlinson added The Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year to his resume Friday.

Could there have been any doubt after L.T. made everything look EZ in sparking the San Diego Chargers to the NFL's best record (14-2)?

Tomlinson, voted Most Valuable Player on Thursday, broke Shaun Alexander's league record for touchdowns by scoring 31 (28 rushing) and also threw for two scores. The brilliant running back not only surpassed the mark Seattle's Alexander established last year in also winning the MVP-offensive player double, but Tomlinson surpassed Paul Hornung's 46-year-old record for points by getting 186.

And L.T. rushed for a league-high 1,815 yards on 348 carries, had 56 receptions for 508 yards and was 2-for-3 as a passer, both completions for scores, giving him six in his six-year career, tying him for second among non-quarterbacks.

It paid off with 38 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the league. Next was Tomlinson's former quarterback with the Chargers, the Saints' Drew Brees with eight, followed by Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning with three and St. Louis RB Steven Jackson with one.

Brees also was second and Manning third in the MVP balloting.

Defensive player of year

The Miami Dolphins' defensive end Jason Taylor was honored Friday as the league's defensive player of the year .

Taylor provided one of the few bright spots during the Dolphins' disappointing season. They lost 10 games to finish last in the AFC East, then lost their coach this week when Nick Saban bolted for Alabama, ending more than a month of speculation.

Through it all, Taylor thrived. He had 131/2 sacks, forced 10 fumbles, recovered two, intercepted two passes and returned both for scores.

Taylor earned 22 of 50 votes. Denver cornerback Champ Bailey received 16, and San Diego linebacker Shawne Merriman finished third with six.