Bush League
Adam Voge: We’re 10 weeks into the NFL season. There have been some ups and downs for every team. There are several candidates for any NFL award you can think of, so let’s do our best to settle the argument. If the season ended today, who would be your pick for rookie of the year?
Nathan Haase: Percy Harvin is easily the rookie of the year on the offensive side of the ball. He’s got five touchdowns this year, two of which have been on kickoffs, and has provided the Vikes with the big-play receiver they’ve been lacking since Moss left.
Nate Rowan: I’ll agree with Haase and say Percy Harvin is without a doubt the rookie of the year.
AV: I’m going against the grain with this pick and saying Brian Cushing, a linebacker for the Houston Texans. The rookie has 78 tackles in nine games, good for fifth in the league. He also has two interceptions. I love Harvin, and I might even pick him if both of you hadn’t already, but for that reason, I’m going with Cushing. Who deserves coach of the year?
NH: I can’t justify giving it to Childress, simply because I still don’t think he’s a good coach. I’m going to go with Josh McDaniels. Even though he’s lost his last three games, I still think he’s done an excellent job with the Broncos considering the head cases he’s had to deal with in Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall. Nobody was expecting them to start 6-0 and he’s got the Broncos in excellent position to make a run into the playoffs.
NR: I’m gonna go with Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints. I understand they’re an offensive powerhouse, but their defense is forcing turnovers and not forcing the offense to score 40 points a game. Also, they were only 8-8 last season.
AV: The coach of the year should go to someone who has taken a team to a level which they weren’t expected to reach. The award should reward hard work, dedication, and perseverance. The coach of the year should perform well in the spotlight, and for those reasons, I think Marvin Lewis of the Bengals is the most deserving candidate. He’s taken a team that has 6-10 talent and a long arrest record and led them to a huge 7-2 start. Not only that, but Cincy swept the Steelers and the Ravens. A win over Cleveland, and the Bengals are 6-0 in division play. No one saw that coming. Now for my favorite award: the comeback player of the year.
NH: The comeback player of the year is easily Cedric Benson. He’s leading the NFL in carries and has scored six touchdowns. Not to mention he’s been carrying my fantasy team all year. It’s hard to believe that he was cut from the Bears in 2007.
NR: I also have to agree with Haase on the comeback player of the year. Benson has literally carried the Bengals to a 5-0 mark in the AFC North and turned Cincinnati into a legit contender in the AFC.
AV: I’m really not a fan of his, but I once again have to make a pick just for the sake of disagreeing and say Tom Brady is the comeback player of the year. This award exists to glorify the guys who don’t give up, and usually a no-name or at least non-superstar gets the award, but Brady came back from a major injury (and staph infection) and looks like himself again, so he does technically qualify. Now for the biggie: Who’s your MVP so far?
NH: The MVP goes to Drew Brees. Once again Brees and the Saints offense has been putting up remarkable numbers. He has the Saints looking like the favorites for the Super Bowl this year as their offense has looked unstoppable at times.
NR: Peyton Manning. They’ve started undefeated with the win last Sunday against the Patriots, and the only reason why is Manning. Their defense has battled injuries all year long, as a matter of fact so has the offense, yet Manning has yet to miss a beat. Yes, he still has Reggie Wayne, but he’s otherwise throwing to Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon. Who you might ask? My point exactly.
AV: I hate to say it, but I honestly think Brett Favre is the MVP of the league right now. In terms of players most valuable to their team, I think there are more deserving guys. Brady. Manning. Brees. But statistically, Favre is the reason for the 8-1 Vikings start. The numbers back him up, too. He’s the NFL’s top-rated passer. He’s thrown three less touchdowns than Manning in 60 fewer attempts and six less picks than Brees in the same amount of attempts. Would the Vikings be a winning team without Favre? Probably. Would they be 8-1? No. And it hurts me to say that, since I said Favre would have a 1:1 TD-INT ratio. Try better than 5:1.
