I know I've said this doesn't really matter, that it's just a matter of opinion...but I deserve to express my own opinion as much as any AP writer with a vote. And here is the objective proof of why Drew Brees deserves the MVP more than Aaron Rodgers:

31 of 44, 440 yards, 70.5 percent completion percentage, 6 TDs, 1 INT, passer rating of 136.4.

That's the stat line on Matt Flynn of the Green Bay Packers against the Lions.

To put this in context: the Lions were battling for playoff positioning; the Packers were battling for nothing at all. They sat Rodgers, Greg Jennings, James Starks, Bryan Bulaga, Clay Matthews, and Charles Woodson, and still won the game. Rodgers had only four games this season that were statistically better than Flynn's; and he has never thrown for six touchdowns in a game.

What does it all mean? That Green Bay misses almost nothing with Aaron Rodgers sitting on the sideline. Does anyone really believe--yet--that the Saints could pull off the same sort of offensive dominance they've shown this season--especially aganst a playoff team--if Chase Daniel were playing in Drew's place? (And that's not meant as a knock on Daniel: I think he'll turn out to be a good pro.)

And yes: I realize it was only one game. But in a competition as close as this, single games are enough to turn the tide in one direction or the other. Here are the final stat lines:

Aaron Rodgers: 45 TDs, 6 INTs, 4,643 yards, 68.3 completion percentage, passer rating of 122.5, in 15 games.

Drew Brees: 46 TDs, 14 INTs, 5,476 yards, 71.2 completion percentage, passer rating of 110.6, in 16 games.

It's true that Rodgers' numbers would have been greater had he played an extra game; it's also true that his completion percentage, passer rating, and any other stat expressible as a ratio might have gone down rather than up. What's truest of all is: we'll never know.

What we do know, along with the raw numbers, is this: Drew set a new NFL record for passing yards. He broke his own record for completion percentage. The Saints set a new NFL record for yards in a season, surpassing the "Greatest Show On Turf" as perhaps the best offensive unit in the history of the game. All under the leadership of who?

Drew Brees. For you AP writers, here's the spelling: D-R-E-W space B-R-E-E-S. Make a note of it. And give yourselves a good, long look in the mirror before you vote.

And, as always: Sinn Fein, y'all. [Hat tip to Ronnie Virgets, through Ashley Morris, through Grandmaster Wang. How ya been, Ronnie?]