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NFL Player Awards?
By Dagger | December 3, 2008
From cnnsi.com
MVP
1. Eli Manning, QB, Giants (Ranking last week, 5): If a quarterback is ultimately measured by his ability to win games, then Manning’s ascension to the top of the MVP race should not be a surprise. The reigning Super Bowl MVP has guided the Giants to the league’s best record (11-1) while producing career-best totals in passer rating, completion percentage and yards per attempt.
2. Clinton Portis, RB, Redskins (2): He has earned the respect of the league with his gutty play this season. Though he has been plagued by a balky knee for most of the year, Portis has reeled off six 100-yard games and tallied his best yards-per-carry average (4.8) since becoming a Redskin in 2004.
3. Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings (NR)
4. Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals (1): The former two-time league MVP suffered his worst performance of the season at the hands of the Eagles. With the team in the midst of a two-game losing streak, Warner will need to raise his level of play to keep the Cards from falling apart down the stretch.
5. Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys (NR): The return of the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback has energized a Cowboys’ offense that sputtered in his absence. Romo has guided the team to a 7-2 mark this season and has topped the 300-yard passing mark in six of his nine games. If Romo can successful guide the Cowboys through a rough December schedule, he may wind up stealing the trophy at season’s end.
Our Thoughts: Really has to be Eli Manning right now. Best team in the league, the offense has missed Plex on occasion but he has found other targets in the passing game. When defenses take away the run he finds ways to move the ball through the air. All of the other guys are having great years as well don’t get me wrong; without Portis the Skins would have 0 offense, Warner and Romo are the keys to their respective offenses of course.
Offensive Player of the Year
1. Drew Brees, QB, Saints (1): The two-time Pro Bowl QB shredded the Bucs’ second-ranked pass defense for 296 yards and two touchdowns, but his three interceptions proved to be the difference in the Saints’ narrow loss. With the Saints’ playoff hopes all but gone, Brees’ impressive run at history may be all for naught.
2. Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals (2)
3. Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings (NR)
4. Clinton Portis, RB, Redskins (4)
5. Michael Turner, RB, Falcons (5): The Falcons’ star has been instrumental in the team’s surprising surge. With back-to-back 100-yard rushing days in the Falcons’ last two wins, Turner has topped the century mark six times on the season. He is currently the league’s third leading rusher (1,208 yards).
Our Thoughts: Has to be Brees. He’s setting passing records and has been throwing the ball all over the field with ease. All this while Colston, Shockey, and Bush have missed time.
Defensive Player of the Year
1. James Harrison, LB, Steelers (2): The Steelers’ star is the league’s top stat stuffer off the edge. Harrison has 14 sacks, six forced fumbles, an interception and a safety. He is the only player in the league to register a stat in each of those respective categories.
2. Albert Haynesworth, DT, Titans (1): He continues to dominate the middle with his size and strength. Haynesworth leads all defensive tackles in sacks (8.5) and has three forced fumbles.
3. Troy Polamalu, S, Steelers (5): The three-time Pro Bowl safety has terrorized the opponents in the middle of the field. Polamalu has a league-high six interceptions and has made 15 breakups for the league’s top-ranked pass defense.
4. DeMarcus Ware, LB, Cowboys (NR): The league leader in sacks (15) has been instrumental in the Cowboys’ improved defensive play. Ware has sacks in all but one of the Cowboys’ games, including three-sack performances against the Rams and Seahawks.
5. Justin Tuck, DT, Giants (NR): The Giants’ top playmaker spearheads a defense that routinely pummels quarterbacks into submission. Tuck’s 11.5 sacks lead the team and rank fifth highest in the league.
Our Thoughts: No-brainer….James Harrison. Anyone who says otherwise hasn’t watched him play. He’s dropping into coverage, playing well against the run, and is obviously one of the NFL’s best pass rushers. The Steelers offense has been struggling this season and the team has relied on the Defense to win games…without the efforts of Harrison you could easily take a win or two off the Steelers record. Timely sack/fumbles, interceptions, and safeties have directly led to Steeler wins and Steeler points.
Coach of the Year
1. Tom Coughlin, Giants (2): The Giants maintain their winning ways amid the intense scrutiny of the Plaxico Burress‘ saga. The defending champs’ dominance has the possibility of “back-to-back” titles looking like a reality in New York.
2. Jeff Fisher, Titans (1): The Titans are still not regarded at serious title contenders by some, but critics should not underestimate their potent combination of a punishing defense and smash mouth running game. Fisher rode the combination to an AFC Championship in 1999, and he appears to be up to his old tricks with this year’s team.
3. Mike Smith, Falcons (3): No one expected this team to enter December with a division title within reach.
4. John Harbaugh, Ravens (4): The Ravens are not only winning games, but also dominating opponents on both sides of the ball. Though their final stretch of the season is littered with heavyweights (Redskins, Steelers, and Cowboys), they have a legitimate shot to enter the postseason in Harbaugh’s first year.
5. Tony Sparano, Dolphins (NR): While many will cite Bill Parcells‘ influence as the reason for the Dolphins’ dramatic turnaround, the rookie head coach deserves kudos for helping transform the 1-15 squad into winners.
Our Thoughts: I wouldn’t vote for Coughlin. The team was good last year and they’re good this year. Fisher has a dominant defense and a real good running game but that team might be a bit overrated. Harbaugh is riding a decent running game, a game-manager at QB, and a great defense. Sparano and Smith are two coaches that have turned franchises around. That has to count for more than the what the other coaches have done. One of these guys has to win it.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
1. Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons (1): His play has been so exceptional this season that he should garner some consideration as the league MVP.
2. Matt Forte, RB, Bears (3): The Bears’ star is one of the most complete backs to enter the league in recent years. Forte is the league’s fifth-leading rusher (1,012 yards) and his 48 receptions are the most of any running back.
3. Chris Johnson, RB, Titans (2): The electrifying runner broke out of his recent slump with his big performance against the Lions (16 carries, 125 rushing yards). Johnson is second in the AFC with 958 rushing yards.
4. Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens (4): He is maturing from game manager to playmaker in the Ravens’ offense. Flacco has thrown at least one touchdown in the Ravens’ past seven games and only two interceptions during that span.
5. Steve Slaton, RB, Texans (5): The sensational playmaker has come on strong during the past few weeks. He has topped the century mark in two of the last three games and is averaging five yards per carry.
Our Thoughts: Don’t know how you pick a winner here. I wouldn’t go with Steve Slaton but any of the other 4 could win and I wouldn’t mind. QB is a real tough spot to come in and excel right away so perhaps we’ll give the nod to Matt Ryan right now.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
1. Jerod Mayo, LB, Patriots (1): The Patriots’ leading tackler continues to set the standard for rookies with his stellar play. Mayo has racked up 96 total stops and is ninth best in the league in tackles.
2. Curtis Lofton, LB, Falcons (2): He has keyed the Falcons’ unheralded defense. Lofton ranks as the team’s third-leading tackler and is second among all rookies.
3. Chris Horton, S, Redskins (4): The ‘Skins’ dynamite safety has shown an unbelievable knack for getting to the ball. Horton is one of the team’s top tacklers, and leads Washington with three interceptions.
4. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Cards (3): The Cards’ top pick has upgraded the team’s inconsistent secondary. Though the team has suffered back-to-back losses, Rodgers-Cromartie’s play has been solid in both contests.
5. Kenny Phillips, S, Giants (NR): The Giants have slowly integrated Phillips into the lineup, but that hasn’t stopped him from making an impact as a punishing tackler. Phillips is the team’s second-leading tackler and is starting to be the difference-maker New York envisioned when it picked him in the first round.
Our Thoughts: Just because I’ve seen him more than the others….Chris Horton. Rookie came off the bench after starting the season as a backup and has done nothing but impress in both the run game and vs the pass.
Topics: NFL, Redskins, Steelers | 2 Comments »
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:41 pm
It’s interesting how there isn’t one blow you away offensive player this year. Brees has been great, but his team is average. Warner’s been good, but he has 2 of the top 5 WR’s in the league. Eli’s been guiding the best offense in the league, but the running game is what blows your socks off. Peterson’s playing great, but it almost seems status quo for him.
I agree that Sparano or Smith should get the award. Both those teams looked awful preseason. Ryan and Turner have been great, but the defense is strangely better, and when a rookie QB plays well the coaches should get a lot of the credit.
I think Ryan will win OPOY pretty easily, but those 3 RB’s have been very good for their teams. I really hope Mayo doesn’t win DROY because of his stats. Those that have watched him have been underwhelmed. This isn’t Patrick Willis we’re talking about. And considering the Falcons are letting up almost 5 ypc on the ground, it’d be hard to vote for Lofton either. Talib has made some good plays in his minor role in the Bucs’ very good defense, but probably not enough to compete with full time starters. Horton is a good pick. DRC’s not bad either.
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Eli for MVP GTFOH. If it wasn’t for his run game and the fact that he plays in NYC Eli wouldn’t even be considered.