After seeing some of the various awards handed out the past few days, I have to say that I'm a miffed and confused. I don't understand the logic behind some of them. I won't go into each award; just the ones that I felt didn't make sense.
James Harrison is fine player who had a great season. Is he on my Fave Five of defensive players? Not at all. I look around the league and guys like the Titans' Albert Haynesworth, the Cowboys' DeMarcus Ware, and the Ravens' Ed Reed all deserved to win this award. You may disagree, but I always felt that Harrison benefitted from the Steeler's 3-4 scheme more than anyone else on that team. I won't say he didn't deserve it based on the stats, but when I think of the great defensive players in the NFL, Harrison simply doesn't come to mind. Maybe a few more years like this one will change my mind.
Look I know Matt Ryan of the Falcons is destined to become the new Favre in time. The Great White Hope had a great year for a rookie QB. But anyone who thinks he would have had that type of season without RB Michael Turner is crazy. On the rare occasion when the running game was stopped, Ryan got exposed like the rookie that he is. What about Texans' RB Steve Slaton who was simply a beast at times? These days everything is so driven by stats, that we overlook players like Broncos' LT Ryan clady who had a Walter Jones/Jonathan Ogden (in their prime) type of season.
Falcons head coach Mike Smith did a nice job this year with a squad that wasn't nearly as talented as their 11-5 regular season record suggests. But I believe it was an injustice when Tony Sparano didn't win. The man took over the worst team in the NFL from last season in terms of talent and record and won the AFC East. Sparano helped turn around a recent culture of losing in Miami and imporved by TEN WINS! Maybe Sparano didn't get the full credit he deserved because he had the luxury of Bill Parcels to help out in the front office. Not even Vegas could have predicted this.
While I'm pretty much in agreement with the other awards, I still feel that some things need to change. I would like to see more than just 50 sportswriters from the Associated Press vote for the awards since most media members have an agenda when it comes to certain players. I certainly don't want to see fan votes factored in, but maybe the coaches should have a voice as well since they actually KNOW something about the players.
I am telling you both Matt Ryan and Joey Flacco are frauds
What about Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo as Defensive Rookie of the Year, thoughts?
Peyton Manning only won because of popularity. Everyone mentions how at one point during the season they were 3-4. That's nothing but one game below .500. Who cares? The Chargers, (the same team that beat Manning in three straight playoff games) were 4-8 and had to win out just to get in the playoffs. That was because of Drew Brees. But nobody considered him for the award. Why not? Because he is not doing any of those DAMN Capitol One commericals, that's why.