There are seven major awards given out based on regular season play. Here”s what the results should be when they are announced later this month:
Coach of the Year:
There are five viable candidates for the award, but only three coached teams to the playoffs. 1990 was the last time a coach won the award without leading his team to the playoffs (Jimmy Johnson, who brought America”s team back to life).
As a result, Lovie Smith (Chicago Bears), Pete Carroll (Seattle Seahawks) and Todd Haley (Kansas City Chiefs) are the top three candidates.
Smith had a decent turnaround in 2010, but won the award in 2005. The Seahawks improved only slightly in Carroll”s first year but did make the playoffs. Of the three, Haley”s team had the best turnaround and won a tough-fought AFC West.
Haley will win.
Defensive Rookie of the Year:
A two-man race between Detroit Lions tackle Ndamukong Suh and New England Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty.
McCourty had a great year highlighted by seven interceptions, one sack and 82 tackles, but Suh starred on a slightly higher-ranked defense and had 10 sacks, 66 tackles, one INT and one fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Suh, rookie out of the University of Nebraska, will win.
Offensive Rookie of the Year:
No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford seems like a shoo-in, considering he started every game for the St. Louis Rams, a team that improved its record by six games in 2010. He was the only rookie quarterback to be in the top 20 in TD passes, passing yards and completion percentage (also top 10 in INTs).
The only competition could come from Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Williams, who was the only rookie WR in the top 40 in receptions, TDs and yards.
Bradford, out of the University of Oklahoma, will win.
Comeback Player of the Year:
This one”s a no-brainer. QB Michael Vick led the Philadelphia Eagles to a division title in his first season starting games since 2006. He reinvented his career and the QB position in ways nobody thought possible before this season.
Vick served 21 months in prison and seems to have come out on the other side (professionally anyway).
Vick will win.
Defensive Player of the Year:
Linebacker James Harrison was the best player on the league”s best defense. The Pittsburgh Steelers allowed the fewest points this season and finished second in yards-allowed.
Harrison was the only player to finish the season with triple-digit tackles and double-digit sacks. He also had two INTs and six forced fumbles.
Safety Troy Polamalu is the face of the Steelers” defense, but didn”t play every game nor put up league-best numbers like Harrison did.
Look for Harrison to win the award for the second time in three years.
Offensive Player of the Year:
Patriots QB Tom Brady had a tremendous year distinguished by remarkable pinpoint precision. Brady threw for 36 TDs, more than 3,900 yards, only four INTs and a 111.0 passer rating. He dominated like no other in 2010.
Brady will win.
Most Valuable Player:
This is a tough one. On the one hand, Brady led the best team in football with extraordinary numbers – four INTs for a season is insane. He was the best passing QB by leaps and bounds this year.
But there”s also Vick, who threw for 21 TDs with just six INTs as well as rushed for nine more TDs, in only 12 games. Vick led all QBs in rushing yards and TDs (Brady only scored one rushing TD). Imagine what Vick”s numbers would have been if he had played a whole season.
I”m usually a fan of voters making a decision but will feel just fine if the voters do what I suspect they”ll do: call the MVP race a tie. Twice in the past 14 seasons two players have shared the award, and it would be entirely justified this year, honoring two astonishing yearlong performances from two exceptional talents.
Brady and Vick will share the MVP.
Jeremy Walsh is a staff reporter for Lake County Publishing. He can be reached at 263-5636 ext.37 or jwalsh@record-bee.com.
