2010 NFL Preseason Awards: One Step From The Sublime To The Ridiculous

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The preseason is over, and it's time to hand out some awards. Some of these awards are good, and some of these awards are bad.

There will be awards for achievements on and off the field as well as awards for things the players and coaches being "honored" would rather forget.

This will be a weekly feature with the regular season, but we'll test it out here covering the entirety of the last month of preseason football.

Yes, there will be Tim Tebow and there will be Brett Favre. You can't make an awards slideshow omelet without breaking some eggs.

Ready? Here we go . . .

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Ndamukong Suh announced his presence to the NFL this preseason with one of the most unnecessarily violent takedowns seen recently.

Suh broke through the Cleveland Browns offensive line and went all WWE on Jake Delhomme, grabbing his facemask, twisting his head and throwing him violently to the ground.

It was awesome.

While Suh rightfully was fined for his actions, that doesn't mean NFL fans didn't appreciate the spectacle.

Congratulations and welcome to the NFL, Ndamukong.

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It was a combination of people that brought Eli Manning down a few weeks ago, but Eli played human pinball, bouncing off of Jets defenders and his own offensive lineman, helmet flying, before suffering a three-inch gash to his forehead requiring 12 stitches.

The highlight can be slowed down and watched over and over again, it's endlessly fascinating.

Fortunately, Manning is just fine and already is back on the field.

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Albert Haynesworth took millions of dollars from the Washington Redskins, promised he was on-board with the new regime, and then never bothered to show up for any of the offseason workouts or camps.

Then he shows up to training camp and can't pass the physical fitness test, whines endlessly about meaningless things and generally has been a stereotypical, entitled athlete.

Outside of some sycophants and his own family, it's hard to find anyone who thinks Haynesworth in any way has a leg to stand on in his beef with the Redskins.

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While Tim Tebow may be listed third on the depth chart on the Denver Broncos official Web site, is there anyone out there who really believes it'll stay that way for more than a few weeks?

Tebow played well in his preseason snaps, and stayed true to his promise to silence all the critics who said he'd never make it in the NFL.

Head coach Josh McDaniels did not trade back up into the first round to get this guy to keep him buried at third on the depth chart.

Kyle Orton's job isn't safe, no matter what kind of contract extension he may have gotten, and Brady Quinn's agent better be working the phones because at the very least, Tebow will be the No. 2 quarterback by midseason.

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Do we really need to talk about this?

I didn't think so.

He's the winner, hands down. Now go away.

Next.

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This award was a neck-and-neck race between Vincent Jackson and Darrelle Revis, but Revis appears to have come to terms with the New York Jets.

Jackson, however, still has not signed and the Chargers have acquired Patrick Crayton from the Dallas Cowboys.

With a potential lockout looming in 2011, the Magic 8-Ball doesn't like Jackson's chances of getting a new contract.

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If Matt Leinart is surprised he got cut, he's even dumber than he looks, so this award goes to T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who went from the Seahawks leading receiver to the unemployment line in one offseason.

Houshmandzadeh didn't fit into new head coach Pete Carroll's offense, obviously, but a guy with his talent should've been able to adapt. It seems like there should be more to this story, but right now Houshmandzadeh is looking for work.

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There once was a head coach who thought Derek Anderson was the answer at quarterback over the much higher paid, first-round draft pick.

This head coach then waffled the entire preseason over what to do with the quarterback position.

I'm talking about Eric Mangini and the 2009 Cleveland Browns.

Whisenhunt may think Anderson is the answer, and no one is trying to say Leinart is getting screwed, but Anderson is not the answer, and the Arizona Cardinal' fans are in for a very long season.

Who's got odds on when Max Hall becomes the starter?

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With quarterback Ben Roethlisberger out until Oct. 17, the Steelers have been trying to find a guy to lead the team for the first four weeks of the season.

The preseason featured turns by Byron Leftwich, Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch.

The round of cheers heard from Pittsburgh fans when Leftwich went down with a knee injury spoke volumes on what that fan base thinks of the competition, and it's now down to Dixon, who one Steelers fan termed "Kordell 2.0," or Batch, who has filled in for Roethlisberger in the past and done a nice job.

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Seriously, was there any other choice?

Have you seen "Hard Knocks?"

Ok, now let's all go get a God#$%@ snack!