Is The MVP Award Becoming Overrated?

   Hopefully I'm not the only one on this one, but it appears to me that the MVP Award is slightly lop-sided and maybe a little overrated as the Pro Bowl selection seems to be becoming that way also. As it stands right now in the 2009 season it appears that Peyton Manning is once again in the running for MVP. Also mentioned in line are Drew Brees, Phillip Rivers, Brett Favre, Chris Johnson has had some mention, and even Vince Young at one point. Everyone has their own opinion of what the most valuable player award is about. My own personal opinion is that it's a player that is most valuable to their team NO MATTER WHAT THE TEAM's RECORD IS, because the record is a TEAM effort and it's about how that team would manage without that player. Just like when people talk about greatest quarterbacks of all time they look down upon the guys that have no Super Bowl rings, when that is a crock due to the fact that a Super Bowl victory is a team effort and not an individual effort.

    So if a team had an elite quarterback that lead's his team to a 12-4 record would he be the MVP if the backup was decent enough to bring the team to a possible 10-6 record? Maybe not, if other players contributed more to the team. Since 1957 there has only been 5 different positions win the MVP Award, Quarterback (34), Running Back (14), Defesive Tackle (1), Linebacker (1), and Place Kicker (1). See what I mean? Thiry-four quarter backs since 1957. In the last 10 seasons there's only been two running backs and hasnt been a defensive player since Lawrence Taylor in 1986. I agree the quarterbacks are probably one of the more important positions being that other than the center they touch the ball more than anyone, but they need to spread the love. In 2007 Tom Brady won his first MVP award after tossing a record breaking 50 touchdowns. He'd never won it before even after leading his team to 3 Super Bowl wins and several respectable winning seasons. Why did Brady get it? How was he able to toss 50 touchdowns in '07 and never come close before? Was it because they acquired Randy Moss arguably one of the better wide receivers in history? Could be. A wide receiver has never won MVP. The credit is always given to the quarterback. Would Brady do it without Moss? Doubtful. Would Manning have thrown 49 without Clark, Wayne, and Harrison? Doubtful. So who was the true MVP? If Vince Young had continued his winning streak though out the course of the season I guarantee you that he'd be over Johnson in the race for MVP even if Johnson broke the 2,000 yard mark. In 2008 Peyton Manning won his 3rd MVP with Drew Brees coming a close 2nd. The Colts finished 12-4 and have won at least 12 games since 2003, so Manning has had success but the team record is a TEAM effort and with players like Wayne, Harrison, Clark, James, and Addai during those seasons it came fairly easy. So the question is, having those players around you would the team at least be slightly successful? Possibly. What about Brees and the Saints going 8-8 in 2008 after throwing for over 5,000 yards? He threw for over 5,000 yards with no elite players and the leading receiver was an undrafted 3rd string player that had only 928 yards. Is that an indivual effort? More so than most. And with an 8-8 record what would they have done without Brees and his 5,000 yards passing???

    I understand awards such as the MVP are  tough decisions to make and I respect most people's opinions until they bring in things that are actually a team effort instead of an individual effort and don't include what the team would be like without that particular player. So would Vince Young be MVP with his top receivers Kenny Britt or Justin Gage without Chris Johnson and his near 2,000 yards? Would Manning be MVP with his elite players like Clark and Wayne and one of the easiest schedules in the league? Then who is? Should we change the MVP to MVQB? MVRB? or MVwhatever-the-hell? Let me know who you think it should be....