DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Vinnie Iyer's Midseason Awards (with browns goodness)

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=290930

One of my favorite things about college football is that there's so much fodder for debate. You've always got the polls and the BCS, but just talking Heisman can lead to another equally heated argument.


In the NFL, the only hardware that seems to matter is the Vince Lombardi Trophy. That's good and all, but that shouldn't stop us from having some fun with breaking down the individual awards races, too.

So here we go, with what I guess we can call our "pre-midseason" accolades:

Most valuable player

1. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots. OK, we know this race is pretty much over. Brady is having the best season ever for an NFL quarterback, and even if he "cools off" into the 35-TD, 4,000-yard range, it's his. Besides, a player this great deserves to win one of these regular-season MVPs at least once in his career.

2. Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys. He's got a long way before he's the next Brady, starting with getting re-signed by Jerry Jones, but he's the reason for Dallas' 5-1 start.

3. Steve Smith, WR, Panthers. Despite disappointing play from its running game and defense and mounting injuries at quarterback, Carolina is quietly 4-2. That's because Smith's presence has been vital to all four of the wins.

4. Derek Anderson, QB, Browns. Just wait and listen for a second. Remember how awful the Browns' offense looked with Charlie Frye in Week 1? Anderson has helped turn it into an explosive unit, gotten the team to .500 and has given Cleveland a chance to sneak into the playoffs and save Romeo Crennel's job.

5. David Garrard, QB, Jaguars. Just wait and listen again. Considering how late in camp coach Jack Del Rio made the move to get rid of Byron Leftwich and make Garrard the unquestioned starter, Garrard has excelled at being efficient (no interceptions) and leading the team to a 4-1 record. Look, I know neither Anderson nor Garrard really have a shot, but they certainly fit the description of being "most valuable" to their teams.

But don't forget about: Peyton Manning, QB, Colts, and LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers. We know these guys are awesome players who lift their entire teams, but I see the NFL MVP like the Academy Awards. They both like to spread the wealth, and both Manning and LT already have been rewarded in the past. So their toughest competition isn't Brady but rather their own previous record-breaking selves. This just is Brady's year, much like when Al Pacino finally won for Scent of a Woman. Ooh ahh.

Rookie of the year

1. Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings. Reggie Who? Being in Chicago and watching Peterson run all over Minnesota this past Sunday, I was thrilled just as much as all the Bears fans in the bar were disappointed. He has moves and vision you just can't teach, and that acceleration to the outside once he finds a seam inside? Wow. He's joining Brady in a runaway victory.

2. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Bills. There haven't been many bright spots in Buffalo's offense, but Lynch, with his tough running and versatility, is an easy standout. He has better potential than Willis McGahee, and more important, a much better attitude for being a Bill.

3. Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs. I loved this guy when he was at LSU, and he's delivered as the complete package with his size, speed and hands. It's been a while since KC got a wideout who can ideally play off tight end Tony Gonzalez for big plays, both downfield and in the red zone.

4 (tie). Nick Folk, K, Cowboys, and Mason Crosby, K, Packers. Kickers don't get enough respect for all the pressure situations in which they need to excel. Folk and Crosby have both been booming and have been clutch legs for the NFC's two best teams.

But don't forget about: Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions and Joe Thomas, OT, Browns. Johnson got off to a hot start, only to be slowed by a back injury. But if he's healthy the rest of the season, he can make up good ground on Peterson with TDs in bunches in Mike Martz's passing game. Anderson wouldn't be firing the ball downfield to Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow without Thomas' blindside protection.

Coach of the year

1. Bill Belichick, Patriots. Say what you want about "Videogate", but that's only put more scrutiny on Belichick and raised the pressure for him to keep the Patriots rolling. Although he arguably has the most talent he's ever had in New England, that doesn't mean his coaching and motivational skills have dropped off.

2. Tony Dungy, Colts. He's keeping the defending Super Bowl champions right on track to have a serious shot at doing it again.

3. Jeff Fisher, Titans. He's in the top five every season. He faces a greater challenge ahead, however, if Vince Young needs to miss some games with a quadriceps injury.

4. Wade Phillips, Cowboys. Bill Parcells is a hard act to follow, but Bum's son has been the right coach to take a Tuna-built team and make it a looser, better team without losing its focus.

5. Mike Tomlin, Steelers. Pittsburgh has found another 15-year keeper.

But don't forget about: Mike McCarthy, Packers and Ken Whisenhunt, Cardinals. Fellow rookies Sean Payton and Eric Mangini overshadowed McCarthy last season. Not anymore. Whisenhunt got the better of fellow rookie Tomlin this season, and installing a run-first style has given Arizona hope to win the wide-open NFC West.

Defensive player of the year

1. Osi Umenyiora, DE, Giants. Flying upfield once again, he's thriving in defensive coordinator's Steve Spagnuolo's simple attack mode and has been the game's most dangerous pass rusher so far this season.

2. Bob Sanders, S, Colts. This award goes back a little way for how he helped shore up Indy's defense for the Super Bowl run, and he's continued to dominate with his all-around game. Now, if he can only stay healthy ...

3. Albert Haynesworth, DT, Titans. He has matured into a premier run stuffer, and he's why Tennessee boasts the league's top run defense.

4. Thomas Howard, OLB, Raiders. He may have started high-stepping too early on his "pick six" of Philip Rivers this past weekend, but he had to come up with something different after his fourth consecutive game with a pick and his second TD of the season.

5. Mike Vrabel, OLB, Patriots. Just like the team has done for Super Bowl introductions, I would like to name the entire New England defense here, but that's not a real award. Vrabel has plugged away as a vital Pat in the Belichick era without ever making a Pro Bowl. He is a fine representative among all their top defenders because of his versatility and leadership. Also, he's off to a hot start with 3-1/2 sacks.

But don't forget about: Barrett Ruud, MLB, Buccaneers and Michael Boley, OLB, Falcons. Ruud has helped the Bucs' defense climb back toward where it once was, but Tampa Bay, even at 4-2, doesn't get enough attention for him to get consideration. While Boley has been fantastic, the 10 men around him haven't been that good.

Good read.

Nice to see Thomas getting some recognition. It has been stated on here repeatedly, but it is very true, he deserves to be considered as a rookie of the year candidate (despite not having the 'sexy' stats).

He deserves it, but we all know he won't get it. And, you know what, I'm okay with that. I like flying under the radar.

Midseason? How about waiting a few more games...this stuff kills me.

Quote:

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4. Derek Anderson, QB, Browns. Just wait and listen for a second. Remember how awful the Browns' offense looked with Charlie Frye in Week 1? Anderson has helped turn it into an explosive unit, gotten the team to .500 and has given Cleveland a chance to sneak into the playoffs and save Romeo Crennel's job.

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......He obviously doesn't see his "limited upside" or how incredibly "Lucky" DA is.

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Mike Tomlin, Steelers. Pittsburgh has found another 15-year keeper.

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If he hadn't mentioned Anderson he'd be saying the guy knows nothing about the Browns, which he doesn't.

It isn't so much about the Browns...some of these posters get mad when writers see things they don't see or visa versa.

I think it is great Anderson and Thomas are getting props even if some don't.

Who said they didn't like it? Always trying to put words in people's mouths.

I made the same comments I would if they hadn't mentioned the Browns at all. It's too early for midseason awards and this dude gets all his info from the hightlight reels.

I didn't put words in anybody's mouth.

Those words are out of my mouth....or off my fingers.

I agree...this is the 1/3 split....but bye weeks sort of splits the season.

I also suppose midseason doesn't have to mean exact middle even though that is where the word derives.

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It's too early for midseason awards and this dude gets all his info from the hightlight reels.

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Journalism at it's finest. It would be nice if a couple of these guys took the time to watch the games.

Oh please, I have no interest in playing your games today. Click on somebody else.

I am not playing games.....but no problem

Clark Judge from CBS Sports, gives more positive props to the Browns.

6. Derek Anderson and the Cleveland Browns: Some day the Browns will have to give Brady Quinn a shot, but the more Anderson plays the longer off that day becomes. Anderson was supposed to keep the quarterback position warm for Quinn, but he has the Browns at 3-3 and a game-and-a-half off the lead in the AFC North. So his completion percentage isn't all that gaudy. I don't care. He has 14 touchdowns, better than everyone but Brady and Tony Romo. Braylon Edwards can take a bow here, too. A year ago the Dawg Pound was ready to give up on him; now he's up for Best In Show with a team-high seven TDs and an average of 19 yards per catch. All I know is a team that seemed as drab as its colors suddenly is worth watching, and that's a credit to everyone from GM Phil Savage to coach Romeo Crennel to the players. Hallelujah. It's about time.

If you want to read the rest of the article, it's right here:

web page

Honest and to the point.

already posted

Where?

Joe Thomas should be able to make the Pro Bowl this year, even as a rookie..

my bad, i didn't see what topic i was in