For the first time in a while, there is not a unanimous choice for the NFL's MVP award. In 2007, Tom Brady had it locked up since the first effortless bomb to Randy Moss in week one. In '06, LT led his team to a 14-2 while breaking the single season rushing touchdown record with 28; a record that had been set the previous season by the 2005 MVP, Shaun Alexander.
This year, no one player has set themselves apart from the pack, leaving the race for MVP wide open. Kurt Warner, Kerry Collins, and Brett Favre were the cute picks a few weeks ago, but as their teams have cooled off, so have they. Despite leading his team to their first division championship in decades, the Cardinals sit at a pedestrian 8-6 in the worst division in football making Warner's bid a little less legit. Over the past couple weeks Collins is looking more like the mistake prone, immobile quarterback we all know and love, and the novelty of Brett Favre in a Jet uniform has worn off ever since those back-to-back losses to Denver and San Fransisco.
Since the veteran quarterback craze has died down, the new front runners have become Adrian Peterson and Peyton Manning..... boring...
Since no one is obligated to the award this year, I say give it to a guy who doesn't play QB or running back; someone who has been valuable to their team without throwing for the most yards or running for the most touchdowns. Here are my 'cute' picks for MVP:
1. Albert Haynesworth (DT, Tennessee): Okay, so he's not a hidden gem anymore but what he does from the defensive tackle position is amazing. Tennessee has the 3rd ranked defense in the NFL this year, and Haynesworth deserves a lot of the credit for that. He draws a double team on every play, creating opportunities for his linebackers and defensive backs in addition to putting up some pretty monstrous numbers of his own (8.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 51 tackles from the DT spot through 15 weeks). Haynesworth hurt his MCL this week, and will miss the last two games of the regular season; watch Tennessee's game this week against the Steelers and you'll see how valuable this guy is when the Titans let fast Willie Parker go right through the middle of their defense.
2. Anquan Boldin (WR, Arizona): If you busted your face open and had to get metal plates and screws put into your head in addition to hours of surgery to essentially re-insert your jaw after it had been almost completely dislocated, how many weeks of football do you think you would have to miss? Anquan Boldin missed two. Boldin's recovery from what was probably the most vicious hit of the season gave new meaning to the word resilient, and there's no doubt it gave a huge spark to the Cardinal's, especially Kurt Warner who contemplated retirement right after the injury. In addition to Boldin's emotional value, he was also one of the team's most reliable players; especially in the red zone. Despite missing the two games, through 15 weeks Boldin leads all NFL receivers in touchdowns with 11, ranks fourth in receptions with 89,and tenth in yardage with 1038.
3. Alan Faneca/Steve Hutchinson (OG, New York Jets, Minnesota): Since these two guys are so similar, Hutchinson and Faneca could share the award like Steve McNair and Peyton Manning did in '03. These are hands down the best run blockers in all of football; wherever they go, a great running game follows. Hutchinson cleared holes for the aforementioned Shaun Alexander for years before bringing his game to Minnesota where Adrian "All Day" Peterson has emerged as one of the best running backs in the game. Faneca paved the way for Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker en route to a Super Bowl win for the Steelers before heading to New York where Thomas Jones (the same Thomas Jones who struggled for years in Arizona and Chicago) has been selected as the starting running back for the AFC Pro Bowl squad. Coincidence? I think not.
4. Troy Polamalu (S, Pittsburgh): Polamalu is the heart and soul of the #1 ranked Pittsburgh defense. All he does is make plays; to the tune of four straight games with an interception (7 total interceptions). The only Steeler getting any consideration for MVP right now is Ben Roethlisburger because he apparently 'wins games'. Frankly, if it weren't for Polamalu and the defense keeping Pittsburgh in games, Big Ben would never even have the chance to be the 'hero'. I mean, how heroic is a guy who doesn't even find the end zone until he's in the two minute drill in a 9-6 game? Polamalu > Roethlisburger
5. Michael Turner (RB, Atlanta): Okay, yeah, he's a running back but he's arguably the best free agent signing of the off season, "Turner the Burner" has lived up to his name; actually not really, it should be more like "Turner the Churner" (or maybe not). But the point is, he went from being one of the best backups in the league behind LaDainian Tomlinson to one of the premier workhorses. Turner is just one of many great stories happening in Atlanta right now (Matt Ryan, John Abraham, Mike Smith just for starters) and he is currently leading the NFL in touchdowns with 15. He plays a full game better than anyone (to the dissapointment of Jerious Norwood) and has the ability to carry the Falcons on his back when needed. Without Turner taking all the pressure off, there is no way Matt Ryan would be having the type of season he is, thus making him VALUABLE.
As far as coach of the year, I would have to be boring and say Tony Dungy. Not a lot of guys can stay calm after that bad of a start (the Colts started 3-4 before reeling off seven straight wins). Dungy deserves all the credit in the world for the win streak they're on right now, and I think it will carry over to the playoffs. The Colts of old seem to be back.
Who are your 'cute' MVP choices? How about what coach has done the best job this season?
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While I disagree with some of your picks, I do respect them. Heres my list
ReplyDelete1. Albert Haynesworth (DT, Tennessee)
He's matured a lot since stomping on the head of Andre Gurode, he now is a force to be reckoned with in the middle, constantly drawing double teams, and yet he still puts up ridiculous numbers. He is the heart and soul of the defense.
2. Matt Forte/Chris Johnson (RBs, Chicago/Tennessee)
These two rookies have been astounding since coming into the NFL. Forte slipped to the second round, and has become an every down back for the Bears, almost single-handedly keeping them in contention for a playoff spot. He blocks, catches and runs well. As for Johnson, who was known more for his 40-yard dash time then for running the football, is having a year that most rookies don't even dream about having. With a passing game that disappears at times, Johnson has put the team on his back and carried them. (Lendale White is just a TD vulture)
3. Anquan Bolden (WR, Arizona)
I agree with Quinn here because Bolden is so tough, and somebody from the Cardinals has to be mentioned as an MVP, since they won the division for the first time since like 1947. He hustles downfield to block too, which is something that we do not usually see out of a star.
4. Bernard Pollard (S, Kansas City)
Think about one person who has changed the league this year more than Bernard Pollard. Keep thinking! You can't name one! That's because Pollard fell on the knee of Tom Brady, thereby altering a team that was poised to make another run at the Super Bowl and turning them into an average team.
5. Jason Gross (OT, Carolina)
He has protected the blind side of oft-injured Jake Delhome all year, while clearing the way for Jonathan Stewart and Deangelo Williams, and leading the team to a shot at a division title. Oh yea, he was selected to the Pro Bowl.
Coach of The Year:Tony Sparano (Miami Dolphins)
A year ago, this team was one overtime, one Troy Smith fumble away, from going 0-16. Now they are 8-6 and have a reasonable shot at wining their division. Excellent job with the "wildcat" also.
-PJ Anderson
There's no question Johnson and Forte have been their team's best offensive players, and Jordan Gross is probably the best blocker on a line that has had 2 breakout running backs this year so I do agree with your picks, PJ.
ReplyDeleteAlso, how about Jeff Fisher for Coach of the Year? Yeah, the Titans have come down to Earth, but the fact that Fisher had the guts to bench a star like Vince Young is pretty impressive. It'll be interesting to see how Tennessee fairs in the playoffs. We'll see whether they peaked too early or if they're still legit.
I like Boldin for the "cute" MPV. He broke his face, missed two games, and is still the league leader in TD receptions.
ReplyDeleteAs far as coach of the year I know one coach who should not win, Jim Zorn. Everyone got so excited when the skins went 7-2, then they lost five of their next six games. And who loses to the Bengals? Not even bad teams lose to the Bengals, you have to be horrible to lose to them. He also openly admitted to being "the worst coach in the NFL," yikes. But for actual coach of the year I would have to go with J-Fish (Jeff Fisher), the Titans do have the best record in football with a 100 year-old quarterback.
I don't think we can argue that Manning did, in fact, deserve the award as much as anyone else in the league. People forget about how messed up his knee was going into the year, he recovered amazingly well and was back to his old self almost immediately. The guy didn't even step on the field in training camp. I think the sports writers did as well as they could with this one; though I think Sparano or Fischer were a bit more deserving than Mike Smith in the Coach of the Year department.
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