Michael Vick or Peyton Manning? Predicting MVP and Other NFL Awards

The 2010 NFL season has seen its fair share of offense.

Each week sees new dominant names emerging as stars: Jacob Tamme replaced the injured Dallas Clark and filled in right where he left off; Seyi Ajirotutu, a fifth stringer broke out with a 111 yard, two score performance against the Texans.

A few names have remained the same all season long.

As the end of the regular season approaches, it's time to look at who takes the seasonal awards.

Who are the best players in the NFL in a season so full of talent and marred by injury?

2010 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

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FOXBORO, MA - AUGUST 26: Sam Bradford #8 of the St. Louis Rams calls out the play as Jason Brown #60 holds the ball in the first half against the New England Patriots on August 26, 2010 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty

2010 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: Sam Bradford, St Louis Rams

In my eyes, there are only two candidates for the award, Dez Bryant and Sam Bradford.

Dez Bryant has proved he was worth the jump in the draft for the Cowboys with 539 receiving yards, seven TDs (including two punt returns), through Week 10.

On this pace, the rookie could finish with over 1000 yards receiving, and approaching Randy Moss's previous record of 17 TDs.

Sam Bradford, however, takes the title.

17th in yardage, tied for 14th in TDs, with a 60.2 percent completion rate, Bradford has turned a corner for the Rams and proved his worth in the decade to come as a premier NFL QB.

If he can average two TDs and 270 yards per game for the rest of the season, he could beat Peyton Manning's TD and yardage records.

For what he has managed to do working with a young, unproven team, Bradford wins NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

2010 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

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CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 12: Ndamukong Suh #90 of the Detroit Lions awaits the start of play against the Chicago Bears during the NFL season opening game at Soldier Field on September 12, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Lions 19-14. (Photo by

2010 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions

There are only a handful of standouts for the Defensive Rookie Award, and Ndamukong Suh's anchoring presence in the middle, and proving he can be a solid foundation for the Lion's defense, pushes him to the top of the list.

Suh's 33 tackles puts him at third best this season at Defensive Tackle, also leading the position in sacks. Lets not forget his 20-yard interception and fumble recovery for a touchdown.

Other candidates include Earl Thomas (47 tackles, four INTs), Devin McCourty (48 tackles, two INTs), TJ Ward (75 tackles, one forced fumble) and Eric Berry (50 tackles, two INTs, one forced fumble.)

2010 NFL Offensive Player of the Year

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ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 11: Roddy White #84 of the Atlanta Falcons pulls in this reception against Lardarius Webb #21 of the Baltimore Ravens at Georgia Dome on November 11, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

2010 NFL Offensive Player of the Year: Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons

The NFL Offensive Player of the Year award goes to the player with the most outstanding season. In my mind, there are three candidates: Michael Vick, Arian Foster, and Roddy White.

Michael Vick is doing some incredible things this season, but has only played six games. Averaging 225 yards passing, and under two TDs per game, is not enough to win him top offensive player honors, even when you include over 50 yards rushing per game.

Arian Foster has come out of nowhere to be the most dominant Running Back in the NFL, with 137 all purpose yards per game and already 11 TDs. However, he is following the year of Chris Johnson, which makes his achievements a little less extraordinary. If he continues on his 150 yards per game clip, and manages 10 more scores, he stands a chance.

Although the Offensive Player of the Year award is almost always given to a QB or RB, this season Roddy White's outstanding performance will not go unnoticed. White would become the first Wide Receiver to win the award since Jerry Rice did it in 1993. That season, Rice had 1503 yards, 98 receptions and 15 TDs. This season White is on pace for 1650 yards, 126 receptions and 13 TDs. That would put him eighth all-time in receiving yards and second all-time in receptions.

2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 12: Osi Umenyiora #72 of the New York Giants forces a fumble against Matt Moore #3 of the Carolina Panthers during the fourth quarter on September 12, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The

2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year: Osi Umenyiora, New York Giants

Only two players have shown they could walk away with the Defensive Player of the Year Award: Clay Mathews and Osi Umenyiora.

Clay Mathews has a league leading 11 sacks, and lets not forget his 62-yard touchdown rumble off an interception. He has been a force for the Green Bay defense.

Osi Umenyiora is right behind Mathews with nine sacks, but the statistic giving him the edge is seven forced fumbles.

That is complete dominance on the line and puts him at the top of the list.

2010 NFL Coach of the Year

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CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 10: Head Coach Raheem Morris of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers watches his team play the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

2010 NFL Coach of the Year: Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Raheem Morris knows how to flirt with the fine line between confident and crazy.

Calling the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the best team in the NFL was bold and borderline laughable, but you can't say that Morris hasn't done everything in his power to turn this young team around.

Morris has taken his 3-13 team from a year ago and led them to a 6-3 record going into Week 11.

He has shaped Josh Freeman into a quarterback to build around, and his draft class of Aurelius Benn, Mike Williams, and LeGarrette Blount has put the Bucs on the NFL map, and made them a potential powerhouse in 2012 and beyond.

2010 NFL Comeback Player of the Year

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LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 15: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks to pass against the Washington Redskins on November 15, 2010 at FedExField in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

2010 NFL Comeback Player of the Year: Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles

I honestly don't see how it could go to anyone else.

Injury is all that is keeping Michael Vick out of my Offensive Player of the Year talks, but he is a lock for Comeback Player of the Year.

We all know the story of Vick's past, and it is obvious that he has accepted and learned from what he has done, and has become a better man.

He has fully immersed himself in Eagles' offense and it shows.

His last complete season was 2006, and he is coming off a year with six completions, 86 pass yards and one TD.

This season, in just six games, he has thrown over 1350 yards for 11 TDs, no INTs, and a league-leading 115.1 passer rating.

He also has 341 yards and four scores on the ground.

No one holds a candle to Vick in this department.

2010 NFL Most Valuable Player

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LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 17: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts throws a pass against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on October 17, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

2010 NFL Most Valuable Player: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

No surprises here, Peyton Manning takes the award for a record-setting fifth time in his career and for the third consecutive season.

How could it be anyone else?

Manning is second in the NFL in completions, third in yardage, tied for fifth in TDs, just four interceptions and a 6-3 record.

All of this with a team riddled with injury.

Manning is dominating the league again, this time without his starting tight end, with three receivers out, and having four different starting running backs.

Peyton Manning has carried the team on his shoulders, and proved that he is the not only the best quarterback in the NFL, but arguably the best in history.