Overwhelmingly, so did just about everyone else.

"He was my vote for MVP," said Leon Washington, who won last year.

Thomas Jones, who scored just two touchdowns in 2007, was selected by his teammates as the Curtis Martin Award winner for team MVP in 2008. And for the first time since 2001 when Martin did it, Jones also was voted the Dennis Byrd Award winner for most inspirational player.

"I'm grateful to be thought of that highly by my teammates," Jones said. "For them to feel that way about me is definitely an honor."

Jones, as the entire team did, struggled in 2007, rushing for 1,119 yards with one rushing TD and one receiving. He averaged just 3.6 yards per carry.

This season Jones is the AFC's leading rusher heading into Sunday's game in Seattle with 1,222 yards, averaging a career-best 4.6 yards per carry. He has already set Jets single-season records with 15 total TDs and 13 rushing.

Right tackle Damien Woody called Jones the "heart and soul" of the Jets offense.

"I'm just glad he's on my team," Woody said. "To be able to block for a running back like him and Leon Washington ... those guys are two of the most productive players in the league. I couldn't be happier for him."

Outside the locker room there might be some surprise at Jones winning an award for most inspirational player because Jones, while not adverse to talking to the media, typically isn't very outspoken. Not surprisingly, his teammates see a different side of him, especially before games when he does his most inspired talking.

"The passion that displays in his voice," Washington said. "When you have a guy like that who says it and means it and it shows on the field, it's not hard for guys to follow behind him."

Jones, in his ninth season, knows the window for an NFL running back to stay at a top level is a small one.

"I'm blessed to have an opportunity to play so I just cherish the moment every time I'm out there," Jones said. "And I just like to make sure everybody feels the same way I feel about the game. And the good thing about this team is that we have a lot of veterans and lot of vocal guys. We inspire the young guys, we inspire each other with our work ethic and the way that we prepare."

For Jones a lot of that preparation takes place in the weight room, where coach Eric Mangini said the running back chooses to lift with his teammates that have a bit more girth.

"I like lifting with the linemen because it helps me build a good relationship with them," Jones said. "We're in the weight room working together and we're working together on the field so I've always been like that. I like working out with those guys. They lift heavy, I like to lift heavy. They push me, you know. A lot of times I can't lift as much as they can but at least if I'm trying, it's constantly pushing me to get stronger."

And make the Jets better, Jones' primary concern. He answered questions politely yesterday - as he usually does - but he was clearly focusing on something else.

"Obviously the season's gone well to this point, but we still have a lot of work to do," Jones said. "But it's definitely satisfying coming off the season last year being 4-12 and not having the success you wanted to have. Definitely I've been blessed this year, we've been blessed as a team, so it's been one of my best seasons I've had."

Notes"es: Several other team awards were announced. S Abram Elam won the Kyle Clifton Good Guy award, voted by Jets staff; FB Tony Richardson received the Marty Lyons Charity Award, also voted on by the staff, and WR Jerricho Cotchery got the Ed Block Courage Award, which is voted on by the players. The Eskenazi Award, the media version of the Good Guy Award, went to Woody, who edged S Kerry Rhodes ... NT Kris Jenkins (hip), LB Eric Barton (knee), WR Laveranues Coles (thigh), LB David Harris (groin), WR Brad Smith (concussion), LB Bryan Thomas (shoulder), OL Wayne Hunter (shoulder) were limited in practice, but all are expected to play Sunday.

Sunday

Jets at

Seattle

4:05 p.m.

TV: Ch. 2

Radio: WEPN (1050),

WRCN (103.9)

Thomas Jones' numbers

1,222 Yards rushing

90 Points scored

71 First downs made

59 Longest run (TD)

15 Total TDs

13 Rushing TDs

8-2 Jets record when Jones scored a TD

8 Consecutive games with TD

5 Games with 100-plus yards rushing

4.6 Avg. yards per carry