The NFL just announced the Charles Woodson as the Defensive Player of the Year.  Woodson had led a Green Bay defensive unit that was first in interceptions (28) and takeaways (40).  Personally he had a career high 9 INT, 4 forced fumbles and scored 3 TD's on the season.  Woodson was extremely versatile being used often not just in coverage as a corner, but also being an effective tackler that helped the run defense and often even being used as an extra pass rusher on the blitz.

More impressive than Woodson's contributions on the field were his efforts in the community off of it.  Woodson donated $2 million dollars to the University of Michigan's Mott's Children's Hospital.  That money will be going to the construction of a new hospital as well as to create a fund that will help doctor's conduct clinical research.  

Too often we focus strictly on the negative in sports, but Woodson is one of many athletes that is making a positive impact on his community.  

As great a year as he had, Darrelle Revis matched him every step of the way and surpassed him while emerging as the league's premiere cover cornerback.  While Woodson's versatility was impressive nobody in the league was as dominant at their position as Revis was this year.  

Against 8 of the league's top receivers in a total of 11 games played, Revis gave up a grand total of 1 TD.  That is utter and complete domination.  If you've watched the Jets this year at all Revis defends on an island by himself with no help at all from the safeties.  The Jets' defense, one of the league's best, is predicated on Revis' ability to stick his man for an entire 60 minutes and not once all year did he let them down.  

Check out what he held the NFL's top wide receivers too when he was matched up head-to-head with them.

1. WR Andre Johnson, Houston: 4 catches, 35 yards, 0 TD                                                                                                             
2. WR Marques Colston, New Orleans: 2 catches, 33 yards, 0 TD                                                                                                
3. WR Steve Smith, Carolina: 1 catch, 5 yards, 0 TD                                                                                                                         
4. WR Roddy White, Atlanta: 4 catches, 33 yards, 0 TD                                                                                                                     
5. WR Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis: 3 catches, 33 yards, 0 TD                                                                                                      
6. WR Randy Moss, New England: 9 catches, 58 yards, 1 TD (2 games)                                                                                     
7. WR Terrell Owens, Buffalo: 6 catches, 44 yards, 0 TD (2 games)                                                                                           
8. WR Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati: 2 catches, 28 yards, 0 TD (2 games, 1 in the playoffs)

Charles Woodson had a great year and this isn't meant to be a knock on him at all, but awards like this are given often times to older, more established players.  If Revis continues on the path to becoming one of the league's greatest cornerbacks of all time, he'll have a few of these awards before he's done.