Peyton Manning leaves the field following the game against the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC divisional round playoff game at Sports Authority Field. The Ravens defeated the Broncos 38-35 in double overtime. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

Peyton Manning was named the 2012 AFC Offensive Player of the Year by the NFL 101 Awards which is the country’s premier football awards event dedicated to the NFL.

This is the seventh time that Manning has won the 101 Award (1999, 2003-05, ’08-09, ’12). He led the Denver Broncos to their second straight division title and the AFC’s No. 1 seed while setting every major franchise single-season passing record. He was named to his 12th Pro Bowl and he finished the regular season with team records for completions (400), passing yards (4,659), completion percentage (68.6%), touchdowns (37), and passer rating (105.8).

Manning will be presented with the award at the 43rd annual NFL 101 Awards gala in Kansas City, MO., on March 2.

Manning is the third Broncos player to win the award. John Elway won it in 1987, 1993, and 1996, and Terrell Davis won it in 1997, 1998.

A national media committee made up of 101 sportswriters and broadcasters who cover the NFL selected the winners in each category.

Other winners this year were Adrian Peterson (NFL Offsenive Player of the Year), J.J. Watt (AFC Defensive Player of the Year), Aldon Smith (NFC Defensive Player of the Year), Chuck Pagano/Bruce Arians (AFC Coach of the Year), and Pete Carroll (NFC Coach of the Year).

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There's no red carpet or bad jokes at this awards show, just Broncos fans voting on who they want to see take home a "Golden Bucky". (Dustin Davis)

Along with it being Super Bowl season, it is also awards season in the world of entertainment.  In fact, just this morning the nominees for the 84th annual Academy Awards were announced.  So I thought, why not have an “awards show” of sorts for our beloved Denver Broncos, who are well worthy of some honors after a miraculous 2011-12 season that saw them win the AFC West Division title and go on to beat the defending AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers in a thrilling Wildcard playoff game.  The Broncos may not have made it to the Super Bowl, but that doesn’t mean the team isn’t due some super praise.

So, welcome, Ladies and Gentleman, to the First Annual (well, it’s definitely the first but who knows if it will be annually) Predominantly Orange “Golden Bucky” Fan Vote Awards!  Named after Bucky the Bronco, the 30 ft tall fiberglass statue that has watched over every Denver Broncos home game since 1976, the “Golden Bucky” is awarded to the winner of the fan vote in several different categories.  Each week will be a new category, with fans being able to vote throughout the week on who they believe is deserving of that particular honor.
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