NFL Awards Update: Julio Jones Is The Comeback Kid
By Erik Lambert
A month is left in the season and the front-runners are separating from the pack towards the top NFL awards for 2014.
MVP: Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers
It was a dead heat between him and Tom Brady but then Aaron Rodgers beat Brady in a head-to-head matchup. Now there is no arguing. The Green Bay Packers quarterback has a stranglehold on what will be his second MVP award going into the final month of the season. It’s not a lock yet but at 3,325 yards with 32 touchdowns and just three (THREE!) interceptions, he’s on another planet than everybody else.
Comeback Player of the Year: Julio Jones – Atlanta Falcons
There are a lot of quality stories involved with this category from Kyle Orton returning midseason to get the Bills in the playoff hunt to Mark Sanchez proving his doubters wrong in Philadelphia. Still, the comeback award is about being dominant, disappearing for a season and then return as good or better than ever. Julio Jones has accomplished that feat for the Atlanta Falcons. After missing 11 games last season, the 25-year old returned and is already posting a great season with 1,169 yards and five touchdowns. He still has four games left, FYI.
Defensive Player of the Year: J.J. Watt – Houston Texans
This is not up for discussion. When a guy is so dominant on defense that he’s in talks for MVP, that makes him a runaway for Defensive Player of the Year. J.J. Watt is the best in the NFL, hands down. He’s literally unblockable and does everything and more to help his Houston Texans win. He may have gotten a huge pay day, but he could’ve asked for more and they would’ve paid him because he’s that good. I mean, come on: 54 tackles, 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, an interception, eight pass deflections and five touchdowns. Just put his bust in the Hall of Fame already.
Coach of the Year: Mike Pettine – Cleveland Browns
Why is this guy not getting more love from the media? Everybody likes to talk Chip Kelly, Bruce Arians and Mike McCarthy and they didn’t stop to realize that Mike Pettine has the Cleveland Browns 7-5 and on track for their first winning season in seven years and possibly their first playoff berth in twelve. Given where this team has been in recent years, that is an accomplishment worthy of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Rookie of the Year: Mike Evans – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Another hotly contested category with a lot of contenders from C.J. Mosley in Baltimore to Jeremy Hill in Cincinnati those two walked into good situations. Mike Evans has dominated for the 2-10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Josh McCown as his quarterback. That is a testament to just how good the rookie wide receiver is. He has the stats advantage over Kelvin Benajmin who is catching passes from Cam Newton. That is the only argument he needs.