The Red Zone Report

There are two ways you can look at the number of candidates that there are for this season’s NFL MVP.

On one hand, the optimistic fan or voter could say that there have been so many excellent performers that it’s too hard to single out that one deserving player. On the other hand, many can say that there have been many good performers, but that no one had a ‘great’ season.

Last season, it was pretty cut and dry. Brady was no surprise pick, though an argument could be made for Randy Moss to have gotten a share, since he caught 23 of Brady’s 50 touchdown passes.

This season, I can name at least 10 candidates who could get first-place votes. From Peyton to Philip, All Day to a couple of QB nightmares, a quartet of NFC South stars, or a couple of comeback kids, there’s a whole host of guys who could have a shout.

But, you’ve got to choose someone, and I’ve made my picks for MVP and other awards below.

MVP: Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis – Unlike in many seasons, there’s no clear-cut choice for MVP. Adrian Peterson? Michael Turner? Matt Ryan? Drew Brees? Philip Rivers? James Harrison? DeMarcus Ware? Chad Pennington? DeAngelo Williams? Kurt Warner?

For me, it comes down to Manning and Pennington.

Pennington’s numbers (3,653 yards, 19 TD, 7 INT) aren’t spectacular, but you can’t point out a truly bad game on his ledger. Accuracy has always been his hallmark, and there were only three games in which he completed less than 60% of his passes. Sexy choice? No, but he did what was asked of him and then some, and it’s not like he had an array of stars around him.

Manning’s numbers weren’t the best of his career, but keep in mind that he started slow. You had to know it was only a matter of time before he caught on fire, and when he did, so did the Colts. Without him, the Colts would have been battling the Texans for second in the AFC South. With him, they’re looking like the best team in the league heading into the postseason.

Offensive Player of the Year: Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego – Rivers led the league in passer rating (105.5) and touchdown passes (34), and with LaDainian Tomlinson having a down season, Rivers’ arm helped carry the Chargers through all the ups and downs.

Defensive Player of the Year: DeMarcus Ware, LB, Dallas – Ware or Harrison? Harrison or Ware? Harrison’s team is in the playoffs and Ware’s isn’t, and Harrison has him beat in tackles and forced fumbles.

But Ware had his way with a quarterback almost every week, registering at least one sack in 14 of 16 games. Three times, he had three sacks, and all told, he finished with a league-leading 20 sacks, nine more tackles for loss, and six forced fumbles. If he keeps this up, it won’t be long before he usurps Michael Strahan atop the single-season sack charts.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta – I’ll fess up and say that I wasn’t big on the Falcons drafting Ryan at #3, but he certainly showed me, didn’t he? Whether or not you bought the ‘Matty Ice’ hype, I don’t think too many expected him to have the Falcons in the playoffs this soon.

Joe Flacco earns some mention since he also has the Ravens in the playoffs, and Chris Johnson and Steve Slaton also had great seasons statistically. It’s a shame Felix Jones got injured so early, otherwise he’d have been in the conversation as well.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jerod Mayo, LB, New England – Unlike on the offensive side of the ball, there isn’t a whole lot to choose from defensively. Mayo was one of the NFL’s leaders in tackles with 128, and he had at least six tackles in 14 of 16 games. No sacks or interceptions to his credit, but he was a consistent performer throughout the season and justified New England selecting him 10th overall in April.

Coach of the Year: Mike Smith, Atlanta, and Tony Sparano, Miami – This is how it should be. These two rookie head coaches inherited situations that appeared to be major rebuilding jobs, and this weekend, both will be coaching their teams in a playoff game.

Fluke? One-year wonder? We’ll see, but it looks like the future looks bright for both. You know, lost in their success is the fact that John Harbaugh also led the Ravens to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth in his first season in Baltimore.

Comeback Player of the Year: Chad Pennington, QB, Miami – Well, this one’s pretty obvious. The Jets were all too ready to get rid of him, but isn’t it funny how things work out? He leads his new team to the division title at the expense of his old team, on his old team’s field, all the while as his replacement, who was supposed to be everything that he wasn’t, crashed and burned down the stretch.

Brings a tear to your eye, doesn’t it?