Belated NFL Awards: Great Minds Don't Always Think Alike

Hello, and welcome to the first ever Great Minds Awards.

After a holiday break, whether you care or not, we are back! We, if you didn't know, are Scott Eisenlohr and Christian Karcole, the authors of "Great Minds Don’t Always Think Alike."

As fine (err) writers for Bleacher Report, we are about to hand out our regular-season NFL awards, both real and unreal.

After you're done reading through our masterpiece, feel free to give us your harsh words, your tired grumblings, your huddled masses, and your POTD.

This week is a little different though, if you've seen any of our other work. We won't be debating, we'll just be "conversing," you could say. Here goes:

First, let's go into the "quickies" where there's no need for explanations.

NFC Most Valuable Player

Scott: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

Christian: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

AFC Most Valuable Player

Scott: Kerry Collins, Tennessee Titans

Christian: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

NFC Rookie of the Year

Scott: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Christian: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

AFC Rookie of the Year

Scott: Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

Christian: Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

NFC Defensive Player of the Year

Scott: Justin Tuck, New York Giants

Christian: DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys

AFC Defensive Player of the Year

Scott: Ed Reed, Baltimore Ravens

Christian: Ed Reed, Baltimore Ravens

NFC Coach of the Year

Scott: Mike Smith, Atlanta Falcons

Christian: Mike Smith, Atlanta Falcons

AFC Coach of the Year

Scott: Tony Sparano, Miami Dolphins

Christian: Tony Sparano, Miami Dolphins

Now for the awards for which we feel we need to offer our insight.

Worst NFL Coach

Scott: Wade Phillips of the Dallas Cowboys was considered, but the award goes to Romeo Crennel, of the Cleveland Browns, who turned in a terrible 4-12 record.

Christian: Does 0-16 say anything? Rod Marinelli.

Most Overpaid Athlete

Scott: Sorry T.O., it’s Chad Johnson of the Cincinnati Bengals. He signed a six-year deal for $35.5 million in 2006. He made $4.5 million this year, and although he only played 13 games, he caught 53 catches for 540 yards. That’s a half-season’s work and he wasn't even the team's primary receiver. You want out of Cincinnati? Get better production.

Christian: Ehhhh! Wrong, it's Alex Smith, the quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers. He signed a six-year, $49.5 million contract when he came into the league, and has made an average of $8.25 million a year. That's more than Ocho Cinco, and at least he started.

Best Reporter Question

Scott: Detroit News columnist Rob Parker to Detroit Lion Head Coach Rod Marinelli: “Do you wish your daughter had married a better defensive coordinator?” Marinelli ignored the question, but was fuming afterward.

The Lions defensive coordinator, Joe Barry, is Marinelli’s son-in-law. As all football fans know, the Lions lost their last game to become the first 0-16 team in the history of the NFL. Marinelli was fired after the season.

Christian: Now that is hilarious! Too bad I don't have a question of my own I've heard of. Some of Andy Reid's responses in his press conferences may earn him an award though...

Worst Reporter Question

Scott: Detroit News columnist Rob Parker. Not only were the Lions fuming with the in-law question, Parker’s newspaper editors were not thrilled. Parker went from columnist to general assignment reporter because of the incident.

Christian: Now that's even funnier!

The Earl J. Hickey Karma Award

Scott: The New England Patriots. Tom Brady goes down early in the season and Matt Cassel does a decent job of manning the ship, leading the Patriots to an 11-5 season. The Patriots are knocked out by the Miami Dolphins, who have the same record, but hold the tie-breaker to win the AFC East.

The San Diego Chargers win the NFC West with an 8-8 mark, but the Patriots lose out to Baltimore, also 11-5, and the Colts, who finished 12-4. Ouch. Spygate bites ‘em in the butt again.

Christian: Has to go to the Patriots in my mind as well. But I'm still laughing at the idea for this award, Scott! Nice job!

The Tony Romo Award for Biggest Choker of the Year (Team)

Scott: Nope, not Dallas, although the apple is wedged pretty far down the team’s throat. The award goes to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were leading the NFC South going into December and lost four straight to finish 9-7 and out of the playoffs.

Christian: Aw, Scott! You disappoint me! This has to be the 'Boys. Just look at the team. The Buccaneers were a semi-surprise team who nobody thought would really make a whole bunch of noise.

Thank you for your undivided attention tonight, folks. We greatly appreciate. See you next time!