Jan 6, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) drops back to pass during the second half of the NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks at FedEx Field. The Seahawks won 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Robert Griffin III beat out Andrew Luck for the Heisman Trophy in 2011/2012, and in 2012/13, he beat him out for the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year.

Griffin was one of the most exciting players in the NFL as a rookie before tearing up his knee in the playoffs, leading the Redskins to an NFC East title and taking them from being one of the worst teams in the league to one of the most promising. He beat out not only Andrew Luck but Seattle’s Russell Wilson.

The former Heisman winner out of Baylor was selected second in the 2012 NFL Draft, and came in with pretty high expectations. He lived up to those expectations by passing for 3,200 yards with 20 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Griffin also ran for 815 yards and seven touchdowns in his rookie campaign.

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Luke Kuechly of the Carolina Panthers was also named AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Saturday night. Kuechly had 164 tackles and two interceptions in his first year for the Panthers after a collegiate career where he was one of the most productive tacklers in college football history.

Both Griffin III and Kuechly entered the 2012 NFL Draft as underclassmen, and were top 10 picks.

Jan 26, 2012; Honolulu, HI, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) throws a pass at NFC practice for the 2012 Pro Bowl at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

The AP Award results are in, and Cam Newton and Von Miller are taking home some hardware. Newton has been named AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Miller was named AP Defensive Rookie of the year.

Newton made the Pro Bowl after a year in which he had 4,051 yards passing with 21 touchdowns through the air, as well as 706 rushing yards and 14 more touchdowns on the ground.

His ability to adjust to the NFL so quickly was not only surprising, it was almost unheard of and he is totally deserving of that award.

Miller finished the year with 64 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 21 t ackles for loss, and three forced fumbles. He truly was a force of nature from the very moment he stepped on a practice field for the Broncos. I was at training camp, and I can say first hand that you can just see how special this guy is. He blows by offensive linemen like they are standing in cement.

He made the Pro Bowl and had two sacks on Cam Newton in the game.

Jan 27, 2012; Ko Olina, HI, USA; AFC linebacker Von Miller of the Denver Broncos (58) wearing sunglasses during practice at AFC media day for the 2012 Pro Bowl at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

Throughout the season, there was not a more dominant rookie than Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller. Sure, Aldon Smith had 2.5 more sacks in about 30 percent fewer snaps, and sure, Cam Newton was one of the most exciting players in the league as a rookie. But what Miller did for his team was absolutely incredible, both on and off the field, and he should be the NFL’s rookie of the year, regardless of what side of the ball.

The only negative to Miller’s game was his thumb injury, because otherwise, he was unstoppable. Miller didn’t miss a single tackle all season and he played in close to 80 percent of the Broncos’ defensive snaps. Despite missing time with his thumb injury, Miller was third in the NFL in tackles for loss behind only DeMarcus Ware (Cowboys) and Jason Pierre-Paul (Giants) who are arguably the top two defensive ends in the entire NFL right now.

Miller’s 21 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks are impressive, but even more so when you consider some of the post-draft evaluations of the Broncos’ selection of the former Texas A&M “joker” linebacker.

He finished the year with 64 total tackles, including some of the biggest plays of the year for the Broncos. For instance, in the game against the Chicago Bears, with Chicago moving into field goal range, Miller had a huge tackle for loss that forced the Bears into a punting situation and gave the Broncos a chance to make one of their more improbable comebacks of the season.

In my opinion, Von Miller should be the defensive rookie of the year, followed by Houston’s J.J. Watt, then either Ryan Kerrigan or Aldon Smith.