NFL MVP 2012: Why Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees Should Share Top Honor

Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees were both too good for the NFL MVP award to go to just one person in 2012. Having said that, they should share that honor.

Both men had historic seasons for their respective teams.

The Saints broke numerous records on offense, the most impressive being the all-time passing record, a record that Dan Marino had held for 28 years. 

Brees showed us what a truly prolific offense is supposed to look like. He and New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton crafted an offense that only the San Francisco 49ers defense could tame. 

Rodgers showed us the art and craft of quarterbacking as we've never seen before. His accuracy and timing with the Packers incredible stable of receivers was breathtaking, as his 122.5 passer rating indicates (NFL record by miles).

What Rodgers did in Green Bay this year is akin to what Peyton Manning has done for the Indianapolis Colts in years past. Their superhuman abilities can trump significant deficiencies elsewhere on the team, as long as they are on their game.

The Packers aren't really a good football team outside of the golden arm of Rodgers and his receiving corps. Their 15-1 regular season record speaks to the immense value Rodgers has for his team.

What Brees did in New Orleans this year won't be truly appreciated for a couple more years. Their accomplishments in the regular season are too numerous to list in this post, and you can bet this season will be the headline of a few NFL Films Presents series.

If they do share this prestigious award, it won't be the first time. In 1997 Brett Favre and Barry Sanders shared it, and Peyton Manning and Steve McNair (RIP) shared it in 2003.

MVP, as we all know, stands for "most valuable player". Both the Packers and the Saints would have been as hopelessly lost as the Colts were in 2011 if they didn't have their leaders. Instead, both teams were high seeds in the NFC playoff picture (1,3). That's what I call value.

Both men deserve the award, and the folks making these decisions need to make it happen.