DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - BARRETT RUUD And to think at the start of the year, no-one was sure how the Bucs' middle linebacker would hold up to starting in that role for the first time. By the end of September, everyone in the NFL knew who Barrett Ruud was, having been named Defensive Player of the Month. And now he was won our Defensive Player of the Year award too, taking over 51% of the votes cast to become the fourth linebacker to take the honour after Derrick Brooks, Hardy Nickerson and Broderick Thomas. Ronde Barber had won the award for the past two seasons but settled for a distant 2nd place this year with just over 21% of the votes cast, and newcomer Greg White showed that everyone loves a feel-good story to take third place. Back in the distance came votes for Chris Hovan, Tanard Jackson, Jermaine Phillips and only a handful for five-time winner Derrick Brooks. Previous winners 1985 - Jeremiah Castille 1989 - Harry Hamilton 1990 - Wayne Haddix 1991 - Broderick Thomas 1992 - Santana Dotson 1993 - Hardy Nickerson 1994 - Hardy Nickerson 1995 - Hardy Nickerson 1996 - Derrick Brooks 1997 - Derrick Brooks 1998 - Derrick Brooks 1999 - Derrick Brooks 2000 - Warren Sapp 2001 - Ronde Barber 2002 - Simeon Rice 2003 - Simeon Rice 2004 - Derrick Brooks 2005 - Ronde Barber 2006 - Ronde Barber