Football Digest was a sports magazine for fans interested in professional American football, with in-depth coverage of the National Football League (NFL). The magazine modeled the Reader's Digest idea, to bring the best in football journalism from newspapers and magazines that the fans would have otherwise not had an opportunity to read. The final issue was published in November 2005. It also had its own independent All-Rookie team which began in 1971 and its own All-pro team which began in the 1980s. The All-Pro team was chosen by the editorial staff which gave them the freedom to choose otherwise less-publicized players on the second-team selections. By interviewing coaches and players the editors felt they got the inside "scoop" on who the "sleepers" were for an All-Pro Team. Awards NFL Player of the Year 1973— O. J. Simpson, RB, Buf 1974— Ken Stabler, QB, Oak 1975— O. J. Simpson, RB, Buf 1976— Ken Stabler, QB, Oak 1977— Walter Payton, RB, Chi 1978— Earl Campbell, RB, Hou 1979— Dan Fouts, QB, SD 1980— Brian Sipe, QB, Cle 1981— Ken Anderson, QB, Cin 1982— Joe Theismann, QB, Was 1983— Joe Theismann, QB, Was 1984— Dan Marino, QB, Mia 1985— Marcus Allen, RB, LARd 1986— Lawrence Taylor, OLB, NYG 1987— Jerry Rice, WR, SF 1988— Boomer Esiason, QB, Cin 1989— Joe Montana, QB, SF 1990— Randall Cunningham, QB, Phi 1991— Barry Sanders, RB, Det 1992— Steve Young, QB, SF 1993— Emmitt Smith, RB, Dal 1994— Barry Sanders, RB, Det 1995— Brett Favre, QB, GB 1996— Brett Favre, QB, GB 1997— Barry Sanders, RB, Det 1998— Terrell Davis, RB, Den 1999— Kurt Warner, QB, StL 2000— Marshall Faulk, RB, StL 2001— Kurt Warner, QB, StL 2002— Rich Gannon, QB, Oak 2003— Peyton Manning, QB, Ind 2004— Peyton Manning, QB, Ind NFL Defensive Player of the Year 1992 - Junior Seau, ILB, San Diego Chargers 1993 - Deion Sanders, CB, Atlanta Falcons 1994 - Charles Haley, DE, Dallas Cowboys 1995 - Merton Hanks, S, San Francisco 49ers 1996 - Bruce Smith, DE, Buffalo Bills 1997 - Dana Stubblefield, DT, San Francisco 49ers 1998 - Junior Seau, ILB, San Diego Chargers 1999 - Warren Sapp, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2000 - Ray Lewis, MLB, Baltimore Ravens 2001 - Brian Urlacher, MLB, Chicago Bears 2002 - Derrick Brooks, OLB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2003 - Ray Lewis, ILB, Baltimore Ravens 2004 - Ed Reed, S, Baltimore Ravens NFL Defensive