NEW YORK — Jerod Mayo firmly answered everyone who criticized the Patriots for taking him with the 10th pick in April's draft by winning The Associated Press 2008 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

Mayo was a nearly unanimous choice, earning 49 of 50 votes yesterday from a panel of sports writers and broadcasters who cover the league. He was the outstanding performer on a linebacking corps that struggled during New England's 11-5 season, leading the team in tackles.

"I knew when they first called my name at the draft I was going to an organization that knew how to win," Mayo said. "They knew how to prepare for games and things like that. So I pretty much came in trying to learn as much as I could."

Mayo's versatility, highlighted by quickness and a physical style, made him stand out even though the Patriots didn't make the playoffs.

Mayo led the Patriots with 139 tackles, according to their coaches' calculations after reviewing game tapes. The NFL credited Mayo with 128 based on statistics compiled on game day.

"Jerod's done a lot for us," coach Bill Belichick said. "We've asked a lot of him and from Day 1 he's really been a well-prepared, very mature player who can do a lot of things.

"He's smart, makes a lot of defensive adjustments and calls for us there. He runs well. He's tough. He's a good all-around football player, very mature, very professional. For a rookie, he's probably as professional as anybody I've coached."

AP COMEBACK PLAYER

TWICE FOR PENNINGTON

Chad Pennington has made a comeback from a comeback.

The Miami Dolphins quarterback won The Associated Press 2008 NFL Comeback Player of the Year award yesterday, the second time in three years Pennington has received the honor. He also earned it in 2006 while with the New York Jets.

Pennington is the first player in the 11 seasons of the award to win it twice.

This time, Pennington was coming back from being benched in New York during the 2007 season, then discarded this summer when the Jets acquired Brett Favre. Two years ago, Pennington returned from two rotator cuff operations in eight months in 2005 and led the Jets to the playoffs.

But his work this year in guiding the Miami turnaround from 1-15 to 11-5 and AFC East champion was the best of his career.

"I think in my experience over the last nine years is that when you're winning, you feel appreciated; when you're losing, it gets a little tough," he said.

ELSEWHERE

49ers: San Francisco coach Mike Singletary has made two more adjustments to his new coaching staff, firing quarterbacks coach Ted Tollner and running backs coach Tony Nathan, one day after firing offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

Jets: New York has received permission to speak with Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan for its vacant coaching job, but will interview two in-house candidates tomorrow: offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and offensive line coach Bill Callahan.

Lions: Detroit is interested in speaking to Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier for its vacant coaching job. Vikings coach Brad Childress confirmed the contact by the Lions, who fired coach Rod Marinelli after an NFL-worst 0-16 finish.