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IRVINE, CA, January 8, 2009 – In 2007, VIZIO, America’s HDTV Company, set out to create an award that recognized pro football players with smaller contracts that emerge to perform above and beyond expectations and bring the highest value to their teams. The result was the VIZIO TOP VALUE PERFORMER, with the inaugural award in 2007 given to Jacksonville’s David Garrard, whose emergence last season earned him not only the award, but a full-time starting QB position and a renewed multi-million dollar contract. Once again, VIZIO will crown this year’s TOP VALUE PERFORMER and today, the 2008 candidates were announced.
Two of professional football’s most highly-respected former General Managers were commissioned to evaluate and select five finalists for the 2008 VIZIO TOP VALUE PERFORMER award. Tom Donahoe the former Pittsburgh General Manager who was instrumental in the team’s three Conference Championships and a World Championship appearance during his tenure through the better part of the ‘90s, while Ron Wolf masterminded Green Bay’s return to dominance on the arm of the untapped talent and back-up quarterback in Atlanta who went on to become one of football’s living legends.
“It never fails that an emerging and often unforeseen “value” player like these delivers the performance that takes the team to another level,” said Wolf. “You just can’t underestimate how valuable that is to a team’s success. After all, it was a very special “value” player we brought to Green Bay that was instrumental in returning that franchise to its glory days.”
The panel evaluated players based on their regular season individual performance and statistics, factoring in the success of their teams, the specific role they played to that success and measured all of this against their base salaries to come up with the following finalists:
Steve Slaton – Running Back, Houston
Coming in under the million-dollar salary mark ($959,386), Houston’s rookie sensation surprised fans and critics alike with a legit breakout season in 2008, compiling over 1,600 total yards from scrimmage (finished 5th in the league), 10 touchdowns and earning a reputation as a threat to score every time he touches the ball.
Matt Cassel – Quarterback, New England
Entering 2008, Cassel wasn’t on anyone’s radar thanks to the over-bearing shadow of the league’s most heralded QB. But after the New England starter’s week-one season-ending injury, Matt Cassel was the subject of every football conversation, thrust into the starting role of arguably the league’s most revered modern franchise. Despite not having started a game since high school and earning just over $500,000 in salary, Cassel led his team to 11 victories, amassing more than 3,600 passing yards and 21 TDs.
Brandon Marshall – Wide Receiver, Denver
Marshall returns as a TVP Award candidate for the second-straight season, reinforcing his distinction as one of the league’s undisputable top-value performers. Marshall picked up in 2008 where he left off after his breakout season in 2007, with more than 100 receptions (ranked 3rd overall), 1,265 receiving yards (ranked 7th overall) and 6 TDs. His size and athleticism make him one of the toughest matchups in the league for opposing defenses.
Antonio Bryant – Wide Receiver, Tampa Bay
After a career journey that started in Dallas and went through Cleveland and San Francisco, Bryant was finally found a home with Tampa Bay in 08, and he certainly made the most of it. Earning only $661,240, Bryant was Tampa’s go-to guy down the stretch and one of the year’s true “breakout” players, compiling 1,248 receiving yards (ranked 8th), 83 receptions (ranked 11th) and 7 TDs.
Nick Collins – Defensive Back, Green Bay
While Green Bay’s season was a bit of a “mixed bag,” one consistency was the dominant play of veteran cornerback, Nick Collins. Earning a little more than $500,000 in salary, Collins anchored the Green Bay secondary, tallying 7 interceptions, tied for second best in the league.
With the finalists established, VIZIO is calling upon fans across the country to choose the winner by voting online between January 7 - 21 at www.vizio.com. Every fan that votes will be automatically entered for a chance to win a VIZIO 42” 1080p flat-panel LCD HDTV. Voting will close on Midnight on January 21st with the winning player announced later that same week.
Like these unique players, VIZIO has built its success as one of America’s most popular brands of flat-panel HDTV’s, through its ability to deliver high quality, high performance televisions while providing maximum value to the consumer.
“We were thrilled with the positive response we received from the fans and players after introducing the award last season,” said Jason Maciel, Director of Marketing for VIZIO. “We’re proud of this award and each of the candidates, because they have done what VIZIO sets out to do every day – exceed expectations and deliver performance and value far above that delivered by the competition.”
About VIZIO
VIZIO, Inc. "Where Vision Meets Value," headquartered in Irvine, California, is America’s HDTV and Consumer Electronics Company. In 2007, VIZIO skyrocketed to the top by becoming the #1 selling brand of flat panel HDTVs in North America and became the first American brand in over a decade to lead major categories in U.S. TV sales. VIZIO is committed to bringing feature-rich flat panel televisions to market at a value through practical innovation. VIZIO offers a broad range of award winning Plasma and LCD HDTVs including the new XVT series. VIZIO’s products are found at Costco Wholesale, Sam's Club, Sears, Target, Walmart, BJ's Wholesale, and other retailers nationwide along with authorized online partners. VIZIO has won numerous awards including a #1 ranking in the Inc. 500 for Top Companies in Computers and Electronics, Good Housekeeping's Best Big-Screens, CNET's Top 10 Holiday Gifts, PC World's Best Buy among others. For more information, please call 888-VIZIOCE or visit on the web at
www.VIZIO.com.
The V, VIZIO, Where Vision Meets Value names, phrase and symbols are trademarks or registered trademarks of VIZIO, Inc. All other trademarks may be the property of their respective holders.
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