15 Things about Championship Weekend

Championship weekend has passed and it did not disappoint in the least. Here are 15 things I saw that I found worthy of mentioning.

1. People need to lay off Cutler. Who in their right minds would give up at half time in the most important game of their life? Do you honestly believe someone would voluntarily submit themselves to that much venom? Use your head people. 

2. Caleb Hanie looked better than anyone expected. This undrafted 2008 free agent impressed me with his accuracy and arm strength. Yeah he threw 2 picks, but he’s the 3^rd stringer playing against a 5^th ranked Packers defense, playing lights out football.

3. Matt Forte is probably the most underrated RB in the league. He can do it all.

4. I dare you to name 5 NT’s better than second year man B.J. “The Freezer” Raji. You can’t.

5. Even if Green Bay didn’t have any picks after the first round, they would still be considered the winners of that draft, drafting Raji and Matthews; the future anchors of that defense.

6. Just imagine how good Green Bay would be if they didn’t lose 15 players to IR, most notably all world TE Jermichael Finley and LB Nick Barnett

7. How on earth did James Harrison not get selected to this year’s Pro Bowl? Arguably the best LB in the game, let alone the AFC.

8. Offensive play calling on 4^th and 1 from the 1. You’re going to run? Seriously? Against that Pittsburgh run defense? 

9. That WAS an incomplete pass, not a fumble. Look from the 1:40 mark

10.  I could smell Phill Simms’ arrogance from my living room.

11.  I could smell Joe Buck’s arrogance from my living room.

12.  Why is Randle El still returning punts?

13.  It takes balls to go shotgun, 5 wide on 3^rd down to try and ice the game. Lucky for the Steelers it worked or everyone would try to castrate Tomlin if it was unsuccessful and the jets scored a miraculous TD. 

14.  Does any player in the league run with as much intensity as Mendenhall? He’s been doing it all and no one ever talks about him.

15.  As a Football fan I could not have asked for a better Superbowl Match up. It’s going to be a great game, I can’t wait.

NFL Season comes to an end. End of year Awards are here!

January 3, 2011 is a sad day for many of us as it marks the end of the 2010 football regular season. Only 3 more weeks of Football and the Big Dance are left, then we must wait 7 months until this glorious sport resumes. Having all that being said, here are my end of the year awards!

Most Valuable Player: Tom Brady, QB, Patriots

            Was it ever in doubt? Brady was my mid season winner and he remains the winner in my eyes at the end of the season. Many people I know hate Brady and the Patriots but lets all be fair in our assessment. Brady had one of the greatest seasons ever recorded by a QB. 14-2 record, 8-0 at home, 3900 yards, 111% passer rating, 37 total TD’s, 4 INT’s (4!!) and over 330 straight passes without an interception. Furthermore, take a look at Brady’s supporting cast. Welker, Edelman, Gronkowski (R), Hernandez (R), Woodhead, Green Ellis and Branch. Lest we forget that Moss was traded away. Yup, no debate in my eyes. Runner up: Michael Vick

Offensive Player of the Year:  Arian Foster, RB, Texans

            There are many names people can throw out here and a great case can be made for all of them. Especially Vick and Rivers. Nonetheless, my vote goes to Arian Foster. All Foster did this year was literally come out of no where to lead the league in rushing (1,616 yards), rec. yards by a RB (604), and total yards from scrimmage (2220). He also had 17 touchdowns while only starting 13 games this year. Take note that all of this was accomplished playing on a team with a losing record. Like I said previously, very close race, but the edge goes to Foster. Runners up: Michael Vick, Philip Rivers

Defensive Player of the Year:  James Harrison, OLB, Steelers

            I already know that 99% of the people who read this (not that many of you, I know) will disagree with me and give this award to Clay Matthews. Is Matthews deserving of this award? You bet your ass he is. The only problem is, Harrison is more deserving, and hopefully will win his second DPOY award in 3 years. Both players play on incredible defenses. Both anchor a sick LB core. Both play in a 3-4. Both have MONSTER NT’s (Raji and Hampton respectively). Is Matthews more important to his defense than Harrison is? Probably. Too bad that’s not the award in question. However, while awards should not be just about stats, Harrison’s stat line is undeniable. 100 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 2 INT’s, 5 passes defensed and 6 forced fumbles. It’s so dirty I need a shower after writing that. Can you believe the guy was undrafted and cut twice?  Runner up: Clay Matthews

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Sam Bradford, QB, Rams

            There are no words to describe what Bradford did this year with the Rams. No words at all. All this kid did was lead a team that had three combined wins over the last two seasons to a 7 win season and a shot at the division title. Oh yeah, and he had major reconstructive shoulder surgery last year. Seriously, does anyone remember how putrid the rams were last year? They were 1-15 and were a complete joke. To come into the NFL and do what he did is nothing short of miraculous. He also broke the record for most completions by a rookie, a record previous held by none other than Peyton Manning himself. 7-9 record, 18 touchdowns to only 15 interceptions, 3512 yards and a passer rating of 76.5. Sorry Mike Williams, you had a monster year, but the award goes to Bradford. Runner up: Mike Williams

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Ndamukong Suh, NT, Lions

            66 tackles. 10 sacks. 1 interception. 4 passes defensed. 1 forced fumble. I’ll give you a second to re-read that stat line. Done? OK good. Can you believe that all of that was accomplished by a ROOKIE interior lineman? It’s outrageous. That stat line reads like a seasoned vet of 6 years playing at his peak. Nope, that’s what Ndamukong Suh accomplished this year. It’s absolutely mind boggling. Is there any question that this kid is already top 5 at his position? Without question Suh is the future. No further commentary necessary. Runner up: Devin McCourty

Comeback Player of the Year: Michael Vick, QB, Eagles

            Come on, is this even a debate? 3 years ago Vick’s life was turned upside down and people questioned if he would ever play in the NFL again, let alone be a starting Quarter Back. Vick has been so incredible this year that he has a legit shot at winning the MVP. I bet if you asked Michael Vick right now what he thinks about his incarceration, I have no doubt he will tell you it was the greatest thing that has ever happened to him. This year Vick became what he was always supposed to be when drafted. He is going to revolutionize how the Quarter Back position is played. Seriously. 21 pass TD’s, 9 rush TD’s, 3,018 pass yards, 676 rush yards, passer rating of 100.2 and a comp % of 62.6! All of this while only playing in 12 games. These numbers are unfathomable. Just imagine what those numbers would be if he played all 16 games. They would be off the charts. Good for you Mike. Runner up: Mike Williams, Seattle

Coach of the Year: Raheem Morris, Buccaneers

            I’m going against the grain and not make a generic pick like Bill Bellicheat or Mike Smith. Instead, I’m giving my award to the coach who has turned a franchise around in two short years. Last year the Bucs went 3-13 amidst all kinds of drama. There were issues with ownership, the previous GM was running the team into the ground, they had a rookie QB, etc. The future looked very bleak for the once dominant franchise of the early 2000’s. Well what did the Bucs do this year? They posted a very solid and impressive record of 10-6 all while playing in a division with the former champs and team with the best record in the NFC. Who exactly are the stars of the team? A second year QB and a rookie WR and RB. Honestly, before the season started who expected Mike Williams to have the kind of year he did? Especially LeGarette Blount. Blount’s career was almost over before it started. He was suspended for 8 games at Oregon during his senior season for punching an opposing player. Blount, not surprisingly, went undrafted. He was then signed and cut by the Titans for; you guessed it, punching a teammate in training camp.  Lastly, while not as dominant as the Bucs defenses of old, the Bucs were still much more then respectable, led by key players Talib, Ruud and Jackson. Runners up: Mike McCarthy, Packers, Todd Haley, Kansas City

Got any beef? Agree with my picks? Does my reasoning suck? Let me know and post your comments!