Steelers name Antonio Brown 2013 team MVP

By a vote of his peers, Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is valuable once again.

Brown was selected as the team's most valuable player for the second time in his four-year career, the team announced Thursday. Brown broke Yancey Thigpen's 16-year-old franchise record by eclipsing the 1,400 yard barrier for the first time in team history.

Brown, who has an outside shot at breaking Hines Ward's team record of 112 receptions - although it would take a monster game in Week 17 - has also returned a punt for a touchdown this season.

Odds are outstanding he will earn his second Pro Bowl nomination as well.

Brown, a sixth-round pick out of Central Michigan in 2010, joins a very limited group of Steelers who have earned multiple MVP awards, including Terry Bradshaw and Joe Greene.

This season was to be big for Brown; the departure of Mike Wallace led many to question whether he had the skill necessary to be the focal point of Pittsburgh's passing offense. Brown exploded after an alleged altercation between himself and offensive coordinator Todd Haley for individual records (12 catches, 193 yards) against Chicago in a Week 3 loss.

Brown and Redskins wide receiver Pierre Garcon have a chance to become the first players in league history to catch at least five passes in all 16 of their team's games this season.