NFL Midseason Awards: Bills Fred Jackson Very Deserving, Aaron Rodgers MVP?
The Halfway point is officially upon us for all of the teams except for the few who have played all 9 weeks. It’s time to hand out some Hardware. To go along with that, in part because I’ve been inspired by Mocking the Drafts all rookie team (gotta keep up with the Jones), I’m also going to give out my all rookie team.
Excuse the first few awards as they are completely made up awards.
“Hey Look My contract was not completely ridiculous”
Charles Johnson-Carolina Panthers
The Panthers wanted to pay a premium for a pass rusher. And they did. Charles Johnson has 7 sacks already this year and has shown that the Panthers might nave known what they were doing with him.
Antithesis of this award-Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans
Worst Loss of the season
The New York Giants losing at home vs the Seattle Seahawks
This might eventually cost the Giants a playof
f appearance. That could not have been a worse loss. A lot of people lost their survivor pool on that one.
Best Win-Rams’ beat down of the Saints
My Arse is on Fire Award (given to the coach who has lasted the longest on the hottest seat)
Tony Sporano-Miami Dolphins
Now onto some real awards
Offensive player of the year
Fred Jackson, RB, Buffalo Bills
Full disclosure, I wanted to go away from a quarterback here. The little running back no one wanted out of Coe college has been the biggest surprise of the year this season. Behind an average Buffalo Bills line Jackson has rushed for 803 yards (at 5.4 yards per carry) for 6 touchdowns and also chipped in another 391 yards through the air. Jackson has only been in the league five years, but is already thirty years old because of the circuitous route he took to the N.F.L., which is perhaps why the Bills haven’t given him a contract extension this year. Jackson shows us that in this day and age with all of the fancy passing attacks, running the ball is still effective.
Runner up: LeSean McCoy, Eagles
Coach of the year: Jim Harbaugh
How could it be anyone else? Most people expected the Rams to win the division, but Harbaugh has not only taken the division by storm (and basically already won it), but the league. I believe with the soft schedule the 49ers have the rest of the year that they should win 11 or 12 games. They have a very good shot at securing a playoff bye. Who saw THAT coming?
Defensive player of the year
Darrelle Revis, New York Jets
The easy call here is to go with DeMarcus Ware because sacks are invogue and important, but in a league where offenses seemingly go up and down the field at will, it’s refreshing, nay amazing, that Revis can completely take away the oppositions number one wide receiver in nearly every contest. To boot this year Revis has made the most of his opportunities to intercept the ball four times, he’s also second in the league in pass deflections (16), which is unthinkable. How often does he get tested? Not very. What a great player. Too bad he plays for the Jets (I kid, I kid).
Runner up: Jared Allen. allen is playing on an abysmal team, but leads the league with 12.5 sacks. he also has an interception, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. He’s been a one man wrecking crew for the Vikings.
Comeback player of the year
Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions
Easy pick here is Plaxico Burress because what defense “comeback” more than spending years away from the game in jail and coming back and playing meaningful snaps, starting every game and playing fairly well? But Stafford only played in three games last season after missing the last 6 games of his rookie season, meaning that out of the previous 22 games, Stafford played in three. This year he is completing 61 percent of his passes with 19 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Maybe this is more of a “breakout player” award, but comeback works for me.
Runner up: Plaxico Buress.
Breakout player of the year
This should be a N.F.L. award, but it’s not.
Jason Pierre Paul, New York Giants
Pierre Paul has .5 sack in every game this season, but the one vs Arizona. He has 9.5 sacks playing in a rotation on the Giants defensive line to go along with 38 tackles (3rd among all defensive linemen). He looks like an absolute monster this year and could be a potential All-pro. I don’t mind tooting my own horn once in awhile, but to be fair I’ll also uncharacteristically (who else that has a public forum does that?) point out my huge misses. And I swung and missed so bad on Jason Pierre Paul. What a pleasant surprise for everyone not named Jerry Reese.
Offensive rookie of the year
Cam newton, QB , Carolina Panthers
Andy Dalton is making a run for this title, but he’s not near there yet. Newton has been better than advertised, for even the most staunch Newton supporters. Looks like he has a terrific future.
Defensive rookie of the year
J.J. Watt, Texans
Watt is a huge reason why the Texans defense isn’t absolutely awful anymore. I considered Von Miller and Aldon Smith here because they have done a very nice job of getting at the quarterback, but Smith isn’t on the field much for run plays and Von Miller has a lot more work to go on his rush defense.
Most Valuable Player-
Aaron Rodgers
Who else could this go to? Rodgers has been absolutely fantastic.
Runner-up.
Eli Manning. Yes, I’m a homer, but yes this is also a deserving award. Eli Manning has won 5 games this year in the fourth quarter after being down. FIVE comeback victories. He was also one tipped pass by Victor Cruz from having 6 of these victories. Eli is having the best season of his career. The Giants have played a soft schedule so his numbers will probably not stay at the same pace, but he’s been excellent ths year.
Let’s get some discussion going. Leave a comment and let me know where I’m way off.
Hopefully tomorrow, or later this week I’ll be able to get out my midseason all rookie team.
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