IRVINE, CA, January 10, 2011 – For the past three seasons, VIZIO, America’s #1 LCD HDTV Company, has recognized the professional football player whose on-field performance most significantly exceeded expectations and the value of their salary with the VIZIO TOP VALUE PERFORMER award.
VIZIO TOP VALUE PERFORMER finalists are evaluated based on their regular season performances and statistics and the role they played in the success of their teams. These factors are then measured against their base salaries to come up with the following finalists:
Brandon Lloyd– Wide Receiver, Denver
A 2003 fourth-round draft pick out of Illinois, Lloyd had his breakout year many were waiting for in 2010 earning his first Pro Bowl selection. The 6’0” 195-pound receiver led the league with 1,448 yards receiving, had a career high 11 receiving touchdowns and pulled in 23 balls for 20 or more yards. Lloyd earned $755,000 in 2010, making him an outstanding candidate for the 2010 TOP VALUE PERFORMER award.
Peyton Hillis– Running Back, Cleveland
Drafted in the seventh round by Denver in 2008, Hillis spent two seasons under the radar prior to arriving in Cleveland in a 2010 off-season trade. Hillis rewarded Cleveland by putting up career-high numbers across the board running for 1,177 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns—all while earning a mere $470,000 in 2010.
Steve Johnson – Wide Receiver, Buffalo
Johnson, a third-year receiver out of Kentucky, racked up only 12 receptions for 112 yards and two touchdowns during his first two seasons in Buffalo. In 2010, earning just $470,000, Johnson hauled in 82 balls for 1,073 yards and 10 touchdowns, making him one of the most underpaid receivers to reach 1,000 yards receiving this season.
Ahmad Bradshaw – Running Back, New York
Bradshaw, a 2007 seventh-round draft pick out of Marshall, registered approximately 1,300 total yards rushing during his first three seasons. In 2010, earning just $1,001,000, he racked up the ninth-most rushing yards in the league with 1,235 while scoring nine TDs.
LaMarr Woodley, Outside Linebacker, Pittsburgh
The only defensive player among the five finalists, Woodley, recorded 50 tackles, 10 sacks, three forced fumbles and returned one of his two interceptions in for a touchdown. At 6’2” 225 pounds, the Pittsburgh outside linebacker earned just $550,000 in an outstanding 2010 season.
At the conclusion of the 2007 season, the inaugural VIZIO TOP VALUE PERFORMER hardware went to Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard, who went from back-up QB to All-PRO that season and parlayed his success and the award into a new contract. In 2008, then-New England and now Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel stepped in for an injured QB legend despite not having started a game since high school. Cassel led the team to eleven victories, taking home VIZIO TOP VALUE PERFORMER honors. Last year, New York wide receiver Steve Smith was thrust into the starting line-up after the team suffered key losses at wide receiver. Smith answered the challenge by setting a new team record for receptions with 107. His breakout performance on-the-field, in conjunction with his social media work off-the-field, helped him earn the 2009 VIZIO TOP VALUE PERFORMER award.
With the finalists established, VIZIO is calling upon fans across the country to choose the winner by voting online between January 10th and January 23rd at www.TopValuePerformer.com. Voting will close on Midnight on January 23rd, with the winning player announced later that same week.
