The Amari Awards

One of the things I’ve always wanted to do in my dreams of being an ESPN analyst or sports writer is giving out the end of the season awards.  Now, with my world famous blog, I have the medium to express who I think should receive the sought after hardware.  Unfortunately the rookies of the year have already been awarded and so has the comeback player of the year.  Percy Harvin (my high school teammate), Brian Cushing, and Tom Brady all would have been my choices for their respective awards so it’s good to know that I am already an expert!  But in all seriousness, the following analysis will be a mixture of predictions and who I think should get the award.  Enjoy!

Most Valuable Player:

Brett Favre. 68% comp, 33 TDs, 7 Ints

Why:  I think the MVP should go to a player who not only possess the gaudy stats but also captivates the league, and makes a true difference on their respective team.  Brett Favre is that guy.  He has already has 3 MVP awards, yet this is statistically the best season he has ever had.  On top of that, he has had us all on the edge of our seats since the summer.  One minute he is definitely not coming back, the next, he’s getting picked up from the airport by Minnesota coach Brad Childress.  Then everyone was convinced there was no way he could make it through a 16 game season.  For God sakes, he didn’t even participate in training camp!  He looks bad in pre-season, mediocre in the beginning of the season, and dominant the rest of the season. He’s had drama from beginning to end and he has the signature play of the season!  This guy is the story of  2009, and despite Minnesota’s late struggles he has turned this team into a Super Bowl favorite in the NFC. 

The Contenders:

Drew Brees: 70% comp, 34 TDs, 11 Ints

Looked good all season longs, but sputtered toward the end ( I know, he was on my fantasy team).  Besides, he’ll be good for years to come and I’m sure he’s got an MVP coming his way soon.  Just hasn’t stolen our hearts the way Favre has.

Peyton Manning: 69% comp, 33, 16

He is the most consistently elite player in NFL.  Almost led his team to an undefeated season (thanks Bill Polian) and always gives his team a shot to win.  Already has 3 MVPs and probably has two MVPs coming his way down the line.  He threw same amount of TDs, but more than twice the picks (16) of Favre.  And he just didn’t really finish the season (thanks Bill Polian). 

Phillip Rivers: 65% comp, 28TDs, 9 Ints

He’s leading the hottest team in the NFL right now, and doing it without a running game.  The defense has looked suspect, but this guy has been red hot.  I’d give it to him, but Favre’s stats are better and they’re both the two seed. 

Offensive Player of the Year:

Chris Johnson: 2,006 rushing yards, 14 Tds, 22 runs of 20 yards or more.

Why:

This guy has been amazing throughout the season.  He is one of only 6 players to rush for 2,000 yards and he didn’t even rack up much yardage in the 1st few games.  He is a highlight waiting two happen.  He almost led his team to the playoffs after a 0-6 start.  The knock on him was that he might not be able to take the pounding, but he made it the full 16, and carried the ball more than any other back in the league (358).  He shattered Marshall Faulk’s yards from scrimmage record (2,509), and it’s only his second year!  Does anyone think this guy has 2,500 rush yards in him? 

Contenders: none…seriously.

Defensive Player of the Year:

Darrelle Revis: 37 Pdef, 6 Ints, Shutdown every WR he faced

Why: 

It has been 16 years since a cornerback (Deion Sanders) has won the Defensive MVP but I expect that to change this season.  Revis has simply dominated the top WRs week in and week out the entire season.  It hasn’t even been close.  And he’s doing this with little safety help.  And it’s not like he’s that shutdown corner that never gets interceptions either.  He has a healthy six interceptions and he hasn’t been targeted very much.  I think that every player in the NFL recognizes him as the best corner in the league right now and I think they should recognize as the best overall defensive player as well.  The true shut down corner is back and his name is Darrelle Revis.  Google him!

Contenders:

Charles Woodeson: 27 Pdef, 9 Ints, 3 TDs

Tied for the league lead with 9 interceptions, and scored on 3 of those picks.  He continued to dominate even after the loss of his partner in crime Al Harris.  He became the leader of a defense that dominated down the stretch to lead the Packers to the playoffs after a rough start.  Also, collected 2 sacks as he is all over the field.  Only downside is his aggressiveness.  He often gets called for P.I.’s on a regular basis (Packers lead the league in penalty yardage) and gets beat from time to time. 

Jared Allen: Good, but no Michael Strahan.

Elvis Dumerville; Good, but no Demarcus Ware or James Harrison.

Coach of the Year:

Norv Turner:

Why:

Is there any hotter coach in the league than Norv Turner?  17-0 in December!  3 straight division titles!  This is guy is coaching his ass off right now and his players are responding.  He is very aggressive with his play calling as he calls flea flickers, reverses and the like at least once a game and his team is deadly in the redzone.  They are only 10th in yards per game but 4th in points scored.  And he is doing all of this without a running game.  Shawn Merriman is in and out of the line up.  They lost All-Pro defensive tackle Jamal Williams for the season.  What more do you want from this guy?

Contenders:

Marvin Lewis:

Took a team expected to finish in the bottom half of the league and led them to a division crown, sweeping every team in the tough AFC north.  But they never got their passing game going and have looked very beatable the last month.

Sean Payton:

Lead his team to #1 seed in the NFC and posted a 13-0 record before his first loss.  But his team has lost 3 in a row and has no momentum going into the playoffs.

Jim Caldwell:

Last team standing as his team went 14-0 before first loss.  Secured the #1 seed with 3 weeks left in the season.  But inexplicably conceded the last two games of the season ending the Colts run at perfection and drawing a wave of criticism.

All of the awards should be given out by the end of the week, so check back to see if all of my predictions are correct.  I got a good feeling about these!  Oh wait, that's just the tingling from the tequila.