Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was named today as the National Football League's Most Valuable Player, following a 16-0 regular season where he set the record for most touchdown passes in a season (50) and threw only eight interceptions.

Here is what Brady said in a statement earlier today released by the Patriots media relations department:

    "As I have learned over the course of my time with the Patriots, the most meaningful accomplishments are always the ones I have celebrated with my teammates. I am certainly proud of the success that we have enjoyed so far this season. I consider myself extremely fortunate to play for an organization like the New England Patriots. The Kraft family, Coach Belichick, and all of my teammates and coaches have created a winning tradition that we all are proud to be a part of. For that I am most thankful.

        "I have always been a huge football fan and will always have great respect for the history of this game. I am flattered to join such an esteemed list of players, many of whom I consider the greatest of all-time. I hope that I can set as great of an example for kids around the world as the previous MVP's did for me. I am grateful to all of the voters for any consideration I was given. It is a tremendous honor and I am sure it is one that my family will one day look back on with great pride.

        "There is still plenty of football to be played this season and I look forward getting back on the field with my teammates and preparing for next weekend's game. Thank you.”

-- TOM KING

Here are four picks for this weekend's NFL Wild Card action, just beating kickoff of Game 1:

SEATTLE over Washington, 17-14 -- The Redskins have played well, but midnight comes for Todd Collins. Seattle is just too tough at home, with enough speed to offset that of the 'Skins.

JACKSONVILLE over Pittsburgh, 24-13 -- Did you know the Steelers have not lost to the same team twice at home in a season in some 75 years? But it should happen tonight, because the Jaguars are for real and the Steelers (minus Willie Parker and others) are banged up. Oh, and because Anthony Smith predicted Pittsburgh would be returning to Foxboro, it won't happen. We'll see Jacksonville at Gillette next Saturday night.

TAMPA BAY over the Giants, 23-7 -- The Giants still haven't learned to use their running game to their advantage, putting too much on Eli Manning's plate. The fleet-footed Tampa secondary will be waiting. So will playoff nemesis and Bucs QB Jeff Garcia, who, if he can avoide the Jints' pass rush, should eat New York's secondary alive.

SAN DIEGO 42, Tennessee 7 -- Neither Kerry Collins nor Vince Young are any match for a fired-up Chargers' defense. And every time a Charger makes a play, he'll see a Patriots player instead of a Titan. They've been waiting a year to make somebody pay for their home playoff loss of last January.

-- TOM KING