The awards continue to pile up for the best player on a 3-13 team.
Defensive end Jared Allen, whose 22 sacks set the franchise record and came within a half sack (or a Brett Favre flop) of the NFL season record, was named the Sporting News Defensive Player of the Year in a close ballot of 632 NFL players, coaches and executives.
In a tight race that conjures memories of recounts and hanging chads, Allen defeated Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware 113-111.
Said Bears fullback Tyler Cluttz: "Jared Allen is a motor guy who just goes and goes and goes and goes."
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