The races for NFL awards are closer than the races for playoff spots going into the last week of the season.
MVP
Quarterbacks Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer and Tom Brady, running backs Shaun Alexander, Tiki Barber and Edgerrin James and receiver Steve Smith are in the unusually large group of candidates.
Most valuable awards usually go to the most outstanding performers, and often there is no conflict. But there is a difference in definitions. Most valuable means most important more than it means most outstanding. A simple way to determine importance is to imagine how a team might do without a certain player.
The trouble is that does little to narrow the field, especially this year. This year, it’s better to turn the question around and consider how great the team has done because of a certain player. That narrows it to Manning and Alexander.
The Indianapolis Colts were flirting with an unbeaten season and Manning was calling the shots. Ignoring last season’s 49 touchdown passes, Manning audibled to runs by James when teams tried to take away his passing. James had a great season but is eliminated because he’s on the same team with Manning.
The Seattle Seahawks are the highest-scoring team in the league, and Alexander has 27 touchdowns. One more and he breaks his tie with Priest Holmes for the league record.
Manning gets the nod over Alexander because quarterbacks almost always are more valuable than running backs. New England’s Brady is a close third because he has been the rock on a team that has used 44 starters. Cincinnati’s Palmer also was outstanding in leading the league in touchdown passes. Manning beat both away from home.
The New York Giants’ Barber is leading the league in yards from scrimmage in his best season. Carolina’s Smith is leading the league in receiving yards. Both meet the “what-would-they-do-without-me” test.
But Manning is the man for the third year in a row. Not only does he lead the league in passer rating; he also leads in third-down passing and in fourth-quarter passing.
Offensive player of the year
Alexander leads the league in rushing and touchdowns. Not only does he have 1,807 yards; his 5.2-yard average is best among the 16 running backs with at least 1,000 yards as well. So while Alexander has carried the ball more times (350) than anybody except James (360), he also has made the most of it.
Defensive player of the year
Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher is the leading tackler on the No. 1 defense measured by yards, points and red-zone percentage. Five Bears defenders made the Pro Bowl, but Urlacher is the focal point, calling signals and running down plays all over. At 6 feet 4 inches, 258 pounds, he still is the fastest player on the defense. Few big plays are made against the Bears, primarily because of him.
Offensive rookie of the year
Cadillac Williams is the easiest award winner to pick. With 1,097 yards rushing, he’s well ahead of former Auburn teammate Ronnie Brown (886), and Tampa Bay is a different team with Williams healthy.
The Bears’ Kyle Orton is the only rookie quarterback who played extensively, and there isn’t a rookie among the top 50 receivers. Pittsburgh tight end Heath Miller, with 35 catches and six touchdowns, deserves honorable mention and so do several offensive linemen, led by New England’s Logan Mankins and Nick Kaczur, Tampa Bay’s Dan Buenning and Jacksonville’s Khalif Barnes.
Defensive rookie of the year
Seattle linebacker Lofa Tatupu beats out Cincinnati linebacker Odell Thurman. Both made significant contributions to defenses that needed improvement. Tatupu surprised even the Seahawks with his leadership and ability. With him and fellow rookie linebacker LeRoy Hill, the Seahawks have jumped from 26th on defense to 15th.
Comeback player of the year
Steve Smith missed 15 games last season after breaking his leg in the opener. Yet the Panthers counted so much on his return that they let Muhsin Muhammad go in free agency after Muhammad led the league in touchdown catches.
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With the Panthers 21st in rushing and without any big threats at tight end or opposite Smith at receiver, Smith has led the league in receiving yardage. Everybody knows he’s going to get the ball and he still catches it.
Coach of the year
This won’t make him feel any better, but Tony Dungy gets the nod over Lovie Smith, who won’t mind deferring to one of his mentors.
Coaching awards usually go to the coaches who win more games than anybody expects. That’s why Smith is a prime candidate because his Bears weren’t picked to rebound much from last season’s 5-11 even when quarterback Rex Grossman was healthy.
New England’s Bill Belichick also should get consideration because his team struggled through injury and now is in position to win its third straight title.
Dungy won with a Colts team that was supposed to win, but the way he handled the 13-0 start and beat nemesis New England on the road should earn him an overdue honor. Winning isn’t everything, as Dungy always knew, but it should be enough this year to give him at least one trophy.
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