Pelletier's Perspective 12.06.08: NFL Awards

Posted by Justin Pelletier on 12.06.2008

It may not be the end of the season (or midseason for that matter) but that doesn't mean that we can't look at teams and players which are in line for awards. Join 411's Justin Pelletier as he explores the NFL season at the three-quarter (plus one game) mark.

Anyone can do mid-season awards. We here at the Perspective like to do things differently. So with that in mind, we are proud to bring you our NFL three-quarter awards.

MVP: Kurt Warner, Arizona – If you don't like the Kurt Warner story than you are a straight-up Communist. Warner's rags-to-riches-back to rags-back to riches story is whole heartedly American. When Eli Manning came into his own and pushed Warner to the bench in 2004 it seemed like his career was over. Now, four-years later, he's not only playing like his former two-time MVP self, HE'S LEADING THE ARIZONA CARDINALS TO THE PLAYOFFS. If that doesn't confirm your faith, nothing will.

Runners-up: Eli Mannine, NY Giants; Clinton Portis, Washington; Drew Brees, New Orleans

Coach of the Year – Jeff Fisher, Tennessee – Jeff Fisher is the most wildly underrated coach in all of sports. He has constantly coached good, to very-good, teams his entire 15-year tenure. If Kevin Dyson's arm was two-inches longer he'd have a Super Bowl ring, too, and be a sure-fire Hall of Famer.

This year, however, he's even outdone himself. Coming into the season it looked as though his team had one offensive weapon. Since that time, that lone-weapon has gotten hurt, been on suicide watch and replaced by a 35-year-old man who has been accused of being everything from a bum to a racist.

Somehow, Fisher has managed to keep his team's identity while keeping their heads on straight. His run the ball/stop the run approach is a proven winning formula and Fisher is a proven winner himself.

Runners-up: Tom Coughlin, NY Giants; Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona; Mike Smith, Atlanta

Rookie of the Year: Chris Johnson – If this were a Rookie MVP award, than Matt Ryan would win in a run away, but it's not. This award is for the best rookie player and that's Johnson. His blazing speed makes him a game changer and he, along with LenDale White are the prime reasons the Titans are a legitimate Super Bowl threat.

Runners-up: Matt Ryan, Atlanta; Joe Flacco, Baltimore; DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia

Surprise Team(s) of the Year – Baltimore, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago - Before the season began I'd would have been surprised if these four teams combined for six wins but now THEY EACH HAVE SIX WINS. The reason for their success is simple; QUARTERBACK. Kyle Orton has stepped into his own and become a legit NFL starter. The Dolphins picked up a legit starter in Chad Pennington and Flacco and Ryan are on their way to becoming household names. It's often said that quarterback is the most important position in sports and that point has never been clearer than it is in these cities.

Runner-up: Tennessee Titans

Disappointing Team of the Year: San Diego - I'm not the type of guy to say I-told-you-so, no wait I am that type of guy. So in that case, I-told-you-so San Diego. Everyone and their grandmothers picked the Chargers to come out and represent the AFC in the Super Bowl but there was one problem in those predictions, Norv Turner. The man is a complete joke of a coach. Listen, I know the Raiders job isn't a prime position (more on that later) but that wasn't the only stop where Turner proved to be in way over his head. Ask the good people of D.C. what they think of Turner and you'll get the same response. I wonder if the San Diego brass still thinks it was a good idea canning Marty Schottenheimer.

Runners-up: Cleveland Browns; Seattle Seahawks; Cincinnati Bengals; Jacksonville Jaguars

Well there are some ¾ pole awards, but that's not all that has gone on in the NFL this season. Here is our Perspective on some other 2008 happenings.

• I've shied away from this topic for as long as possible. Fans' anger can come and go. A bad call, or a shitty trade, is easily reason enough for a fan to loose his cool. Fan anger isn't a bad thing, however. The one thing that is much worse than anger is apathy, and that is where I'm at. Al Davis has broken my spirit. I've been a Raiders fan for as long as I can remember and I've put up with some crappy season. I've watched as Mike White, Norv Turner and Art Shell (twice) have coached my beloved team into the ground. I've witnessed the Todd Marinovich era disintegrate and seen my bay-area boys sign countless Super Bowl heroes, only for their careers to hit the skids inside the Black Hole.

This year has trumped all that, though. The asinine Lane Kiffin/Al Davis debacle was followed by Davis' rambling press conference where he waxed idiotic for what felt like forever and the train wreck was capped off by the DeAngelo Hall release. This team has derailed and it's going to take Davis losing control (take that as you will) for my team to ever regain respectability.

• So Andy Reid finally made the decision to give Kevin Kolb a look a quarterback and it went…terribly. I live in South Jersey so I have the misfortune of being able to listen to Philadelphia sports talk radio and if I have to listen to one more Eagles fan complain about the same thing again I may commit genocide. Let me break it down for you bitchy Birds fans. Donovan McNabb is not the problem. He's the same quarterback he was three years ago. He's the type of guy who vomits on the field in crunch time but he's still not the issue. The issue is that fat-walrus who calls the plays AND picks the players. Number five ain't the best pitcher at the sandlot but, at this point, Andy Reid makes Rick Kotite look like Vince Lombardi. The Donovan McNabb era is over but Philly would be better served to end Reid's reign of terror.

• It doesn't seem like this off-season will be a big one for the NFL coaching carousel but it's safe to say that Romeo Cornell, Jack Del Rio and Rod Marinelli should get their résumés ready.

• Potential free agent, Matt Cassell's recent excellent performances will make him a very, very wealthy man in 2009. Miami looks like it could be a good destination for Scott Mitchell 2008.

• Daunte Culpepper wanted nothing more than to start at quarterback for an NFL franchise and, now that he's under center for the Lions, he almost has.

That's all I got gang, I'm spent. I can only sustain such a fever pace in short bursts after such long inactivity (which, unfortunately, applies to more than just my writing).

Tune in next week (hopefully) when the Perspective begins its five-part look at the top 50 players in the NBA.

Until then appreciate Brad Childress' mustache.