NEW ORLEANS — Adrian Peterson’s sensational season following major knee surgery has earned him The Associated Press 2012 NFL Most Valuable Player Award.

Earlier Saturday, Peterson won Offensive Player of the Year.

The Minnesota Vikings running back finished with 2,019 yards, a mere 9 yards short of breaking Eric Dickerson’s rushing record. Peterson beat out Peyton Manning, who in his first season as Denver’s quarterback contended for a fifth MVP trophy. Manning’s four are a record.

Peterson received 30 1/2 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. Manning got the other 19 1/2 votes, and was selected as Comeback Player of the Year after returning from four neck surgeries.

Peterson led the Vikings from a 3-13 mark to 10-6 and a wild-card playoff berth. He is the first running back to win MVP since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006.

Peterson accepted his award at the “2nd Annual NFL Honors” show on CBS saluting the NFL’s best players, performances and plays from the 2012 season.

Offensive rookie: Washington’s Robert Griffin III beat out fellow quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson and was named Offensive Rookie of the Year.

From a brilliant rookie class, RG3 was a strong winner in voting by a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league.

Griffin, who underwent knee surgery last month, said, “It’s truly a blessing to be up there – to be able to stand, first and foremost.” He added that next season “you’ll see a better Robert Griffin.”

Coach of the Year: Bruce Arians became the first interim coach to win NFL Coach of the Year honors. Arians, now the coach in Arizona, replaced Chuck Pagano in September when the Colts’ coach was diagnosed with leukemia. Arians went 9-3 before Pagano returned, and Indianapolis made the playoffs at 10-6.

Defensive Player of the Year: Houston end J.J. Watt swatted the competition for Defensive Player of the Year, getting 49 votes. He led the NFL with 20 1/2 sacks and also blocked an astounding 16 passes.