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New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has been named Sports Illustrated's 2013 Sportsman of the Year.

The award is presented annually to the person or team who transcended the year in both athletic performance and character.

Manning is the only four-time NFL MVP and is among the candidates for this year's honor. He has 47 touchdown passes this season and needs four more to break the single-season record of 50 set by Tom Brady, the 2005 SI Sportsman winner.

The 35-year-old veteran is the eighth SI Sportsman from pro football, joining Pete Rozelle (1963), Terry Bradshaw (1979), Reggie Williams (1987), Joe Montana (1990), Tom Brady (2005), Brett Favre (2007), and Drew Brees (2010).

Last year's winner was Miami Heat star LeBron James.