Predicting the Awards

by Alex Swift on Jan 30, 2011 3:44 PM CST

With the season coming to a close, and most people focusing on the draft, there's still one thing to do - hand out the year-end awards.

MVP- Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots. No shock here, quarterbacked his team to a 14-2 record to lead the NFL. Despite the playoff flop, the Patriots were easily the best team in the NFL this year, and it was largely thanks to Brady's efforts. 36 touchdown passes with only 4 INTs, 3900 yards and a league-leading 111.0 QB rating make this an easy choice.

Runner-Up: Michael Vick, QB, Philadelphia Eagles.

Offensive POY- Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots. See above.

Runner-Up: Michael Vick, QB, Philadelphia Eagles.

Defensive POY- Clay Matthews, LB, Green Bay Packers. Led the Packers to the 3rd ranked defense in the league, pushing them to a playoff spot and the Super Bowl. His 13.5 sacks were 4th in the league, and he also had 2 forced fumbles, and he returned his only interception of the season for a touchdown.

Runner-Up: Jerod Mayo, LB, New England Patriots.

Offensive ROY- Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis Rams. Another easy decision. Brought a 1-15 team to 7-9 and almost a playoff berth. No other offensive rookie did anything near what Bradford did for the Rams.

Runner-Up: LeGarrette Blount, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Defensive ROY- Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions. 10 sacks, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble and recovery, 1 TD and 1 botched PAT. Pretty solid stats for a rookie DT on the 21st ranked defense in the league.

Runner-Up: Devin McCourty, CB, New England Patriots.

UPDATE:

Comeback Player of the Year- Michael Vick, QB, Philadelphia Eagles. Thanks to coldpizza for letting me know he would be eligible. This is almost an easier pick than MVP.

Runner-Up: Brandon Lloyd, WR, Denver Broncos.

Coach of the Year- Mike Smith, Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons were the 2nd best team in the league, and they surprised a lot of people. Beating out the defending Super Bowl Champions to win the conference was a tough task, but they accomplished it behind a shaky defense.

Runners-Up: Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Bill Belichek, New England Patriots.

Super Bowl MVP: Clay Matthews, LB, Green Bay Packers. The Packers defense will be key in winning this game, especially Matthews. If the Packers are to win, Matthews and that defense has to prove they can shut down Big Ben and the Steelers offense.

Runner-Up: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers.

There it is. You can take those predictions to the bank. Unless they're wrong. If they are, then I'm not responsible for any losses on your part.

UPDATES:

DPOY has been won by Troy Polamalu, SS, Pittsburgh Steelers. Clay Matthews, LB, Green Bay Packers is the runner-up.

OPOY has been won by Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots. Michael Vick, QB, Philadelphia Eagles is the runner-up.

Coach of the Year has been won by Bill Belichek, New England Patriots. Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay Buccaneers is the runner-up.

OROY has been won by Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis Rams. Mike Williams, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers is the runner-up.

DROY has been won by Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions. Devin McCourty, CB, New England Patriots is the runner-up.

Comeback POY has been won by Michael Vick, QB, Philadelphia Eagles. Mike Williams, WR, Seattle Seahawks is the runner-up.

MVP has been won by Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots. It was a unanimous decision.

Super Bowl MVP has been won by Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers.

Scoring myself:

I'll give myself 1/2 point if the player/coach is in the top 2(3 for coaches). I'll give myself a full point if I guessed they're standing correctly. Therefore, each player award is worth 2 points, and the coach of the year being worth 3 points. Since MVP was unanimous, it is only worth 1 point.

DPOY: 0.5/2

OPOY: 2/2

COY: 1.5/3

OROY: 1/2

DROY: 2/2

Comeback: 1/2

MVP: 1/1

Subtotal: 8/12

Comments: Damn. Polamalu screwed me over a lot. Belichek winning was a surprise. Haley over Smith a surprise too. OPOY was an easy one. The rookie awards helped my score quite a bit. Absolutely shocked that Brandon Lloyd didn't get a single vote.

This FanPost was written by a reader and member of Canal Street Chronicles. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CSC and its staff or editors.

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Comments

They sound pretty good, and realistic.

However, I want to make a homeristic argument in favor of Arian Foster winning the OPOY award. (Full Disclosure: I root for the texans)
Arian Foster not only led the league in rushing yards, but he also led the league in rushing TD with 16. A full 3 TD over the next closest rusher. He had the 2nd highest rushing average of all backs. Of his 327 attempts, 89 of them resulted in a first down. Meaning, 1/4 times he got the ball, he got his team a first down.

And though some like to say it is all the O-line and the zone-blocking scheme that Kubiak has put into place. Last year, the Texans were ranked 30th in the league in rushing in 2009 (and that was with two games at the end of the season where Foster came in and had almost 100 yard rushing games), this year the Texans were ranked 7th and of their 2000 rushing yards, Foster accounted for 1600 of them. On top of all these amazing feats, Foster also had 604 recieving yards with 66 receptions and 2 receiving TD.

In 2010, the Texans had 386.6 yards a game on offense. Foster accounted for 138.75 yards per game by himself. Even if he does not win, Arian Foster should at least be considered for Offensive Player of the Year.
/end rant
Sorry people, I like Arian Foster…a lot. And though my man crush on Brees is higher, Foster keeps earning his way up the list as well.

Offseason Motto: Burn the damn black pants.
The Official CSC-TWSS Commenter
Canal Street Chronicles-you know you want to

by Jon Banks on Jan 30, 2011 4:28 PM CST reply actions

Nice write-up

and a good idea, too!

However, I must note that LeGarrette Blount (Offensive ROY runner-up) plays for Tampa Bay, not San Francisco.

And with your selection of Clay Matthews as Defensive POY, I can’t help but look at Green Bay’s two first-round picks from 2009 (Matthews – pro bowl LB, and BJ Raji – run stuffing DL), and wish the Saints could hit on a defensive bonanza like that…SIGH

Happiness is a warm blanket.

by Hans Petersen on Jan 30, 2011 5:47 PM CST reply actions

Not sure why I said San Fran. Brain fart:p

"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we kick the Vikings from the Dome to the foot of Canal Street!" - MtnExile

by Alex Swift on Jan 30, 2011 11:35 PM CST up reply actions

Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic.

Tom Brady as MVP? That’s like awarding the sun “Best Star in the Solar System.” Show some imagination, why don’t you?

Like: Ahmad Bradshaw. He only came in 9th in rushing, but he comes right before Brady alphabetically, and if there’s a clerical error Bradshaw is the guy to bet on.

Or: Super Bowl MVP, Mason Crosby. Not only does he kick 9 out of 9 touchbacks, but he scores all Green Bay’s points in a 24-23 thriller.

Or even: Coach of the Year, Tom Cable. He didn’t accomplish all that much, but the voters hate Al Davis more than death, so they choose Cable for the headline value alone: “Davis fires Coach of the Year.”

What do you want, it’s a slow week…

It was worth the wait.

by MtnExile on Jan 30, 2011 7:17 PM CST reply actions

Vick is definitely eligible for Comeback Player of the Year and will likely win it in a landslide. I consider Brandon Lloyd the likely runner-up.

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Jan 31, 2011 10:28 AM CST reply actions

Brian Urlacher will get some (largely undeserved) votes, too. He made the the Pro Bowl, after all.

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Jan 31, 2011 10:43 AM CST up reply actions

Lloyd was another guy I was wondering about his eligibility. I was definitely thinking him as runner-up if he was as well.

"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we kick the Vikings from the Dome to the foot of Canal Street!" - MtnExile

by Alex Swift on Jan 31, 2011 12:29 PM CST up reply actions

SB MVP: Rashard Mendenhall. First RB in 13 years. Book it.

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Jan 31, 2011 10:33 AM CST reply actions

He’s gonna need to have a huge game for the Steelers to win. If they do win, he has a good chance at winning it. I see Clay Matthews shutting him down though.

"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we kick the Vikings from the Dome to the foot of Canal Street!" - MtnExile

by Alex Swift on Jan 31, 2011 12:34 PM CST up reply actions

I think they’re going to run the s*** out of the ball. And effectively.

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Jan 31, 2011 1:27 PM CST up reply actions

Was LeGarrette Blount even the most productive offensive rookie on his own team? Mike Williams had a very solid year, imo. Also, what about Maurkice Pouncey for OROY? Blunt didn’t make the Pro Bowl, nor did his team qualify for the playoffs.

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Jan 31, 2011 10:49 AM CST reply actions

Nor did Bradford(’s).

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Jan 31, 2011 10:50 AM CST up reply actions

I like that pick,

but this was about predictions, not who was deserving. Do you really think they’ll give ROY to a center over a quarterback?! I’m not sure even Myron Cope would have voted that way.

by HB-NOLA on Jan 31, 2011 11:35 AM CST up reply actions

They didn’t give it to Joe Thomas who outplayed Adrian Peterson his rookie year. WAsn’t even close….so no. Pouncey will be lucky to be on the ballot…such is the fate of O-linemen.

"Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not 'every man for himself.' And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are all mistakes, Otto. I looked 'em up."

by jeff.l.b on Jan 31, 2011 11:55 AM CST up reply actions

Agreed. I just thought he was worthy of mention, based on this hyperbole:

No other offensive rookie did anything near what Bradford did for the Rams.

Historically speaking, Bradford’s pretty much got OROY locked up.

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Jan 31, 2011 1:25 PM CST up reply actions

well, it's not like Bradford is undeserving

He led a previously 1-15 team to playoff contention. And it’s not like he was just handing it off to Jackson all day. He completed 60% of his 590 pass attempts. Only Brees and Manning threw it more. That’s pretty damn impressive for a rookie thrown to the wolves.

It would be oh so nice to see an O-lineman win one of the big awards like that though.

by HB-NOLA on Jan 31, 2011 7:53 PM CST up reply actions

Blount played 13 games, started 7, STILL had over 1000 yards, which lead all rookie RB’s.

"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we kick the Vikings from the Dome to the foot of Canal Street!" - MtnExile

by Alex Swift on Jan 31, 2011 12:31 PM CST up reply actions

I didn’t realize he had cracked 1K.

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Jan 31, 2011 1:22 PM CST up reply actions

Why no love for Mike Tomlin as Coach of the Year

4 games without your franchise QB, losing your starting RT in off-season conditioning drill, losing your anchor of the defense in week 7, losing your starting LT in week 9, having at least 5 different starting offensive line combination’s. The fact that he held the ship together to be in a spot to win a SB is amazing.

Players who should be in the Hall of Fame: Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Jack Butler, Greg Llyod, Andy Russel, Cris Carter, Kevin Greene and Jerry Kramer
"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." Martin Luther King Jr.
Canal Street Chronicles resident Steelers Fan

by WVPiratesfan on Jan 31, 2011 3:06 PM CST reply actions

Because as good a coach as Tomlin is...and he is very, very, very good...he did what people expected him to do.

He won his division, contended for a SB. Yes, you lost your tackles, but nobody in their right mind thinks that the key to anything the Steelers do lies outside of their defense. Hence, no credit given for losing the starting tackles. You also patched your missing RT with a starting LT from another team who was more than veteran enough to jump in and do admirably.

Considering the make-up of that team, and the been there done that mentality that comes with the Steelers generally means that Tomlin isn’t going to get the coaching credit (right or wrong) for coach of the year outside a 15-1 type season.

"Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not 'every man for himself.' And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are all mistakes, Otto. I looked 'em up."

by jeff.l.b on Jan 31, 2011 3:14 PM CST up reply actions

Defensive POY- Clay Matthews, LB, Green Bay Packers. Led the Packers to the 3rd ranked defense in the league, pushing them to a playoff spot and the Super Bowl. His 13.5 sacks were 4th in the league, and he also had 2 forced fumbles, and he returned his only interception of the season for a touchdown.

Runner-Up: Jerod Mayo, LB, New England Patriots.

Swing and a miss

Troy Polamalu Wins NFL’s 2011 AP Defensive Player Of The Year Award Over Clay Matthews

Offseason Motto: Burn the damn black pants.
The Official CSC-TWSS Commenter
Canal Street Chronicles-you know you want to

by Jon Banks on Jan 31, 2011 9:43 PM CST reply actions

Yeah, but who missed? Me, I say the AP voters missed more than he did.

by FriarBob on Jan 31, 2011 11:03 PM CST up reply actions

He predicted. So I was informing him.

But yeah, the AP voters threw the curve ball early. As good as Polamalu was, Clay Matthews was better.

Offseason Motto: Burn the damn black pants.
The Official CSC-TWSS Commenter
Canal Street Chronicles-you know you want to

by Jon Banks on Jan 31, 2011 11:37 PM CST up reply actions

Defensive player of the year should have been Scott Shanle

Because he’s on the defensive more than anyone I know.

It was worth the wait.

by MtnExile on Feb 1, 2011 8:58 AM CST up reply actions

What Troy does doesn't show up in the box score

he takes away a large portion of the field, because you have no idea if he is going to blitz or drop back into coverage. Also 7 INT’s, 1 sack fumble that changed the momentum of the second Ravens game. Also look at the ground that Troy covers he is all over the field making tackles.

by WVPiratesfan on Feb 1, 2011 11:49 AM CST up reply actions

No offense…you are obviously a bit biased in the debate. I’ve watched Troy play…guy’s good, really good. I’ve also seen him look 100% lost against premiere top QBs who know how to handle him. He was worthy of being in the discussion, but IMO not worthy of the reward. Honestly neither was Matthews…terrific start, slow finish due to injuries. To tell the truth, watch some tape on what Peppers did this year in his all around game. That’s the guy that didn’t get near enough credit.

"Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not 'every man for himself.' And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are all mistakes, Otto. I looked 'em up."

by jeff.l.b on Feb 1, 2011 12:23 PM CST up reply actions

You knocked OPOY out of the park.

Good job.

Offseason Motto: Burn the damn black pants.
The Official CSC-TWSS Commenter
Canal Street Chronicles-you know you want to

by Jon Banks on Feb 2, 2011 10:13 AM CST reply actions

Thanks

"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we kick the Vikings from the Dome to the foot of Canal Street!" - MtnExile

by Alex Swift on Feb 2, 2011 12:14 PM CST up reply actions

You were half right on coach of the year.

But I’m not blaming you for that, I would have had Raheem Morris on top with Haley in 2nd. But apparently, Belichick won. Seriously? Yeah, he led the team to a 14-2 record…but last year Marvin Lewis won for taking the Bengals to a 10-6 record. STAY CONSISTENT YA DUMBASSES!!

Offseason Motto: Burn the damn black pants.
The Official CSC-TWSS Commenter
Canal Street Chronicles-you know you want to

by Jon Banks on Feb 2, 2011 8:57 PM CST reply actions

Both coaches took a team that wasn’t expected to do that well — and dealt with mid-season “issues” (Randy Moss, death of Chris Henry, etc) — and did far better than expected. It’s not THAT inconsistent.

by FriarBob on Feb 2, 2011 9:57 PM CST up reply actions

Raheem Morris took the Bucs to a 10-6 record..

THE BUCS!! Todd Haley led the Chiefs to a 10-6 record….THE CHIEFS!!…Belichick led the patriots to a 14-2 record…with a hall of fame QB, and the best defensive coaches in the league….again.

Offseason Motto: Burn the damn black pants.
The Official CSC-TWSS Commenter
Canal Street Chronicles-you know you want to

by Jon Banks on Feb 2, 2011 10:31 PM CST up reply actions

The Steelers had more to overcome than the Pats did

First four games without their starting QB, they went 3-1 with Dennis Dixon and Charlie “freaking” Batch at QB. Lost out starting RT in the off-season, lost our LT midway through the year and have somewhere around 6 different combination of starting offensive linemen. The pats had to get rid of a locker room cancer, man that is almost comparable.

by WVPiratesfan on Feb 4, 2011 9:41 PM CST up reply actions

Knocked DROY out of the park

You got the OROY, but missed the runner up. But that doesn’t really matter. You did pretty good, you just have 3 awards left, and they seem like shoe ins.

Offseason Motto: Burn the damn black pants.
The Official CSC-TWSS Commenter
Canal Street Chronicles-you know you want to

by Jon Banks on Feb 4, 2011 10:50 PM CST reply actions