Can you believe were halfway through the season already? As fast as it seems the second half will go by even quicker.
Enough talk, it’s time to hand out some awards.
MVP: Peyton Manning
Manning could win this award every year, but this year especially he is playing phenomenal. Despite breaking in new receivers and a less than stellar running game, Manning is playing arguably the best football of his career. He has passed for 300 yards or more in seven out the eight games, leading the Colts to a 8-0 record.
Runner Up: Drew Brees
Offensive Player of the Year: Chris Johnson
Despite playing for the 2-6 Titans, Johnson have been playing on a different planet. He is the ultimate big play threat and is leading the league in rushing avergaing a ridiculous 6.7 yards per carry. He is currently just off a 2,000 yard pase.
Runner Up: Drew Brees
Defensive Player of the Year: Jared Allen
Allen have been a terror off the edge this season and has 10.5 sacks through half of the season. He has saved his best for the biggest games, notching 7.5 sacks in the two games versus the Packers.
Runner Up: Darren Sharper
Offesnive Rookie of the Year: Percy Harvin
The ultra talented rookie has been a key component for the Vikings. He has been a good slot guy in the passing guy and has been explosive on kick returns. He has added another dimension to this offense.
Runner Up: Mark Sanchez
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jarius Byrd
The ball-hawking safety from Oregon has had seven interceptions this season, all coming in the last four games. Those seven interceptions have him tied atop the leader board with Darren Sharper.
Runner Up: Brian Cushing
Coach of the Year: Marvin Lewis
He has kept this locker room focused and has this team leading the division at 6-2, with two wins over Baltimore and one against Pittsburgh.
Runner Up: Josh McDaniels
Coordinator of the Year: Mike Nolan
I thought the big problem for the Broncos heading into this season would be the defense and boy was I wrong. They switched to the 3-4 and didn’t add much personnel to assist them, but Nolan has turned this into a top 10 defense.
Runner Up: Mike Zimmer
Comeback Player of the Year: Anthony Hargrove
The Saints defensive tackle has been a pleasant surprise after being out of the league last year due to a suspension. He clinched the victory last week with a fumble recovery touchdown. Look at this quote courtesy of Hargrove himself: Usually by this time of year I’m in jail or been arrested or failed a drug test or something. If you look back, that’s how it is. I get about a month in and go AWOL. It’s November, I haven’t been arrested, I haven’t failed a drug test. Seriously, I have to call a spade a spade. That’s my reality. I’m in a very new place right now. ”
Runner Up: Carson Palmer
Free Agent Signing: Darren Sharper
Playing on a 1 year $1.7 million contract Sharper has been rejuvenated in New Orleans. He has been a leader on and off the field and is tied for the league lead with seven interceptions, returning three for touchdowns.
Runner Up: Brian Dawkins
Free Agent Bust: Albert Haynesworth
Once again Daniel Snyder has dropped the ball in free agency and signed yet another multi-million dollar bust. Haynesworth has been the same player that terrorized opponent offensive lines last year and his work ethic has come into question.
Runner Up: Terrell Owens
Breakout Player of the Year: Cedric Benson
After years of disappointment and being dumped off by the Bears, Benson has finally shown the promise that made him the fourth pick of the draft. He has been a workhorse for the Bengals and leading the league in carries and is second in yards.
Runner Up: Ray Rice
Biggest Draft Bust: Darius Heyward-Bey
Heyward-Bey was put in a no win situation to begin with and has been even worse than advertised. While other first round rookie receivers are making impacts, Crabtree, Maclin, Harvin, Britt and Nicks, Heyward-Bey has only mustered five catches for 72 yards.
Runner Up: Andre Smith
Biggest Draft Steal: Michael Oher
Oher may have gone in the first round, but the 26th overall pick is playing like a top 5 pick. He has anchored the right side of the Ravens line and even filled in on Joe Flacco’s blindside for two games.
Runner Up: Austin Collie
Most Overhyped Story: The return of Michael Vick
The ex con’s return to the NFL dominated headlines this off season, but has been invisible so far this season. In his spare play Vick has been ineffective and the Eagles have barely used him the past few weeks.
Runner Up: T.O. in Buffalo
Most Overlooked Storyline: Jim Caldwell 8-0
With rookie coach Jim Caldwell leading the Colts to a 8-0 record, one has to question is Tony Dungy overrated? Dungy is recognized as one of the great coaches but after seeing a rookie head coach have the Colts undefeated at the midway point does it even matter who the coach is. They’d probably be 8-0 if Peyton Manning is the coach.
Runner Up: L.T. has fallen off a cliff
Most Overrated Team: Dallas Cowboys
The 6-2 Cowboys are riding high, on a four game winning streak fresh off a big victory over the division rivals Eagles. Don’t expect the success to continue though. December is always the killer for the Cowboys and now we’ll see how Miles Austin reacts to being consistently doubled teamed.
Most Underrated Team: San Diego Chargers
Don’t look but here come the Chargers. The traditionally slow starters are have now won three in a row and are now suddenly one game behind the Broncos. They have the talent to win the Super Bowl and no one would want to play them come January.
Other First Half Notes
What Happened to Parity
The NFL has turned into a rich and poor man’s league. Eight teams have two losses or less including two unbeatens and eight teams have two wins or less including five teams with only one win.
It’s a Passing League
The old virtue that you need to run the football to win has all but disappeared. Teams are passing more and more and who can blame them. Offenses have been putting up record numbers in pass heavy attacks. 10 quarterbacks are on pace to throw for more than 4,000 yards, which would break the record of even set in 2007.
Is the Wildcat Dead?
While the Wildcat has remained somewhat effective for the Dolphins, the trend is starting to die. The Dolphins 3-5 record proves, you can;t base your offense around it. It still has a place in the game as an occasional change of pace and I also think it is a great red zone offense. But running it the amount of times the Dolphins do isn’t effective. It takes the quarterback out of a rhythm and ask any quarterback in the league after a bad game what happened, the majority will say they never got in a rhythm. I think Chad Henne can be a good quarterback and so do the Dolphins, so I ask the Dolphins to let the man play.
Hey, we made it a whole column and we didn’t mention Brett Favre once!
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