Awards are announced starting Wednesday, culminating with the most valuable player Jan. 11. Peyton Manning has ruined the buildup. He should be the unanimous MVP and offensive player of the year.
Ordinarily, those two honors go to two different players just to accommodate multiple candidates and spread around the hardware. But Manning has not had an ordinary year. It’s not even extraordinary; it’s unprecedented.
Minnesota quarterback Daunte Culpepper’s numbers are extraordinary, yet they pale compared with Manning’s. Culpepper’s 37 touchdown passes after only 15 games would have led the league in 14 of the last 17 seasons. Culpepper doesn’t even get a sniff of MVP or outstanding offensive player.
Manning’s 49 touchdown passes are more than the Bears (and some other teams) have thrown in the last three seasons.
Often, there are arguments over the nature of MVP awards. There is usually a difference between spectacular statistical accomplishments and value to a team.
Where would the Philadelphia Eagles be without receiver Terrell Owens, for example? So far, they are 0-1, although Monday night’s loss was meaningless.
The Indianapolis Colts have joined the debate in recent years with the Triplets. Is it Manning, running back Edgerrin James or receiver Marvin Harrison who makes that offense go? Manning has ended most arguments this season.
Defensive player of year
This is more debatable. Pittsburgh linebacker James Farrior deserves it. Baltimore safety Ed Reed, Indianapolis pass rusher Dwight Freeney and New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi and safety Rodney Harrison also had worthy seasons.
More Top Picks Best Blackdecker Refrigerators
Farrior’s numbers are most compelling. He is the only player with at least four interceptions, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and three sacks. He is the best player and leading tackler on the league’s No. 1 defense. He also won the Steelers’ vote as team MVP, ahead of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and fullback Jerome Bettis.
Offensive rookie of year
This will be as lopsided a vote as Manning’s. Is there anybody else besides Roethlisberger?
Yes, there is, but strictly as runner-up. Roethlisberger is the only 13-0 quarterback in history, rookie or otherwise. But there were other rookies, including Tampa Bay’s Michael Clayton, who went to the head of the ballyhooed class of rookie receivers despite being the fifth one picked behind Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald, Detroit’s Roy Williams, Jacksonville’s Reggie Williams and Buffalo’s Lee Evans.
Defensive rookie of year
This is a closer call. Cornerbacks Dunta Robinson of Houston and Chris Gamble of Carolina have six interceptions and cornerback Nathan Vasher of the Bears and safety Michael Boulware of Seattle have five. Defensive end Jared Allen of Kansas City has nine sacks.
But the vote should go down to three players–linebackers D.J. Williams of Denver and Jonathan Vilma of the Jets, teammates at the University of Miami, and defensive end Igor Olshansky of San Diego. All three have been starters and contributors on defenses that have improved over last season. Williams has the most impressive line score of stats, though not by much.
Coach of year
It usually goes to the coach who made the biggest turnaround, which means San Diego’s Marty Schottenheimer is the leader. His seven-game turnaround ties him for third best ever. He could get to eight. Atlanta rookie coach Jim Mora also could get to seven. The Chargers were picked last and finished first in the AFC West, so the coach gets the credit.
Overlooked are three coaches who are being taken for granted, the highest tribute a coach can get.
New England’s Bill Belichick, Philadelphia’s Andy Reid and Pittsburgh’s Bill Cowher all have enjoyed banner seasons again. There should be an award for “most consistent,” but that’s too boring. The trio probably would wind up sharing it.
Comeback player of year
Drew Brees surprised his own team with an astonishing one-season turnaround. Buffalo’s Willis McGahee came back strong from knee surgery. But Carolina linebacker Mark Fields came back from a season-long bout with Hodgkin’s disease. He missed the Super Bowl season while taking chemotherapy with his position coach, Sam Mills. This year, Fields came back as a starter and nobody came back further.
Important draft
This is why the NFL draft is so important:
Of the 76 position players selected to this year’s Pro Bowl, 68 of them, or 90 percent, were taken in the first, second or third rounds of the draft.
Here’s the breakdown: 43 first round, 12 second round, 13 third round. The other eight were two in the fifth round, three in the sixth and the three free agents.
All six offensive tackles were first-round picks. Just four of the wide receivers and tight ends went in the first round.
Niner no-no
The 49ers have secured the No. 1 pick in the draft. In 2000, Tom Brady, who grew up in San Mateo rooting for the 49ers, watched when his team selected quarterback Giovanni Carmazzi in the third round.
“I remember sitting in my living room and the 49ers picked a quarterback in the third round. I was so mad,” Brady said.
New England Patriots sixth-rounder Brady lines up against the 49ers for the first time Sunday, although he’s not expected to play for long.
“As a player, you certainly like to go out and play your best,” Brady said. “But I’m not going to go out and hit somebody to show them how mad I was. All the teams took quarterbacks and I was the 199th pick, so there weren’t many left. I’ll never forget those days. You know who you are playing against and all those teams that took quarterbacks that year. Cleveland took Spergon Wynn. San Francisco took a quarterback. The Jets took [Chad] Pennington. Pittsburgh took Tee Martin. The Rams took [Marc] Bulger.”
More Reggie
As great as Reggie White was, the two Bears right tackles who faced him when he played for Philadelphia and Green Bay held their own. Keith Van Horne and James “Big Cat” Williams both played White as well as he could be played. Former coach Mike Ditka said he also made sure a back chipped White, but Van Horne and Williams always rose to the occasion against the unquestioned best defensive lineman of his era.
More Top Picks Top Rolex Watches
No football town
The Jaguars were playing at home for a playoff berth when the Houston Texans shut them out. The Jacksonville crowd was estimated at about half of the 66,000 tickets sold. It was the day after Christmas in 40-degree weather, apparently excuses enough. Strange place to hold a Super Bowl.