NFL Year-End Awards Preview: 2010 Edition

As the NFL regular season approaches its finale with 10 games played and the final six weeks of the schedule remaining before the playoffs, it’s time to start sorting out the stats and comparing the accolades by this year’s best.  We’ve seen unheralded breakouts by a few new faces, young guns resiliently manning ships, QB-eating defensive monsters and record-breaking pace passer yardage rampages.

As is every year, some teams and players were consumed by their own hype, others stood up to the challenge, while a few took the insult of underestimation and raged back in a full-on attack.

The year has brought us huge game-play by some of the league’s greatest players, nonetheless, some unknown and forgotten names returned for glory, and nothing less.  Here is an early look at the year-end awards for the 2010 NFL season.

Defensive Rookie Of The Year

This year’s Defensive Rookie of the Year Award is being fought for by probably the most competitive group of players we’ve seen in years.  The 2010 NFL Draft was stacked with defensive players, particularly noticeable when 12 of the first 20 chosen players were on defense, including 9 of them being a part of the front-seven.

The biggest name coming into the league this year was Nebraska’s 6’4, 307 lbs Defensive Tackle, Ndamukong Suh, who was arguably the best pound-for-pound player not only in his position, but in the entire draft.  Being the second overall choice by the Detroit Lions behind Sam Bradford, who was chosen by the QB-needy St. Louis Rams, Suh is meeting expectations with seven recorded sacks, 41 total tackles with 31 solo and 10 assists, complimenting with an interception and another pass deflection.  He also included a sack in each of his first two professional games, with his first two-sack game on Donovan McNabb versus the Washington Redskins in week eight, the same day he recovered his first fumble for a touchdown.

The Seattle Seahawk’s 14^th overall and second first-round selection went towards Safety, Earl Thomas, of the BCS National Championship runners-up, the Texas Longhorns.  Thomas was the second Safety picked up this season behind Eric Berry of Tennessee, yet has entered the league with a furious 55 total tackles with 46 solos, seven deflected passes and five interceptions, including one against last year’s Super Bowl MVP, Drew Brees, and two against this season’s current pass-yardage leader, Philip Rivers.

My third top prospect for the award is the former Rutgers University Cornerback, Devin McCourty.  He was selected as the 27^th-overall pick by Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots and has so far contributed 54 total tackles with three interceptions.  Two of his interceptions came from passing-giants Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers, and another against future Hall of Famer, Brett Favre.  McCourty’s also contributed another 10 deflected passes in 10 games this season.

Last, but most definitely not least is former Tennessee Volunteer Eric Berry.  His 58 total tackles, including 44 solos, two sacks, one forced fumble, and two interceptions with another four pass deflections make him a a serious contender.  His two sacks came via the Oakland Raiders’ Jason Campbell.

My Pick: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions

Runner Up: Earl Thomas, FS, Seattle Seahawks

Honorable Mention: T.J. Ward, SS, Cleveland Browns

Offensive Rookie Of The Year

The 2010 Draft seemed to come a bit weak at offense this year, but hasn’t come short of great seasons by some young guys in the NFL.  Despite the fact that only four quarterbacks were highly spoken of this season, Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy have managed to solidify starting spots in their respective franchises.

The 1^st-overall draft pick was used on Quarterback, Sam Bradford, and he’s continued on to prove himself as the prospective franchise-QB he was slated to become.  With 14 touchdowns and 9 interceptions in a depleted offense, stricken with wide-receiver injuries, he’s turned the team into a contender for the NFC West title, regardless if the division lacks a dominant franchise or not.  The former Oklahoma Sooner was doubted due to an injury sustained early in his senior year that side-lined him for the remainder of the season, but managed to overcome adversity and silenced the naysayers at the NFL Rookie Combine, earning praise from head coaches from top to bottom in the league.  He is currently on pace for a 20-TD, 3,000+ passing yard season.

The University of Arizona’s former Tight End, Rob Gronkowski, has proven to be a 2^nd-round steal by the New England Patriots.  His 12.3 reception yard average with 6 touchdowns is making Tom Brady a very happy man.  He caught a TD in his very first pro game, and caught another 3 against the notoriously stout Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense, making him a deadly future asset for his quarterback.  Despite having only 20 receptions in the season and only 245 yards total, Gronkowski has managed to make enough noise for himself as one of the top rookies this season, bar-none.

Dez Bryant’s professional career got off to a very rocky start.  First, he had issues with attending the Combine, and then he was selected behind Demaryius Thomas of Georgia Tech as the second wide receiver in the draft.  Later, he would cause issues during off-season practices when he did not want to carry his team-mates pads, and later ended up getting hurt for a bit as well.  The season started slow for Bryant, but he has since caught his first touchdown as an NFL player with a 31-yard reception from Tony Romo in Week 6 versus the Minnesota Vikings.  His staple performance came the following week on the Monday Night Football national stage with a 2 TD performance, including one for a 93-yard punt kick-off return, the longest by a Cowboy since 1974.  His 2010 accolades currently stand at 12.4 yards per catch, 44 receptions, 547 yards and 6 touchdowns, having at least 1 TD in his last 3 games.  Not bad for the former Oklahoma State Cowboy, now Dallas Cowboy.

My dark-horse pick this year is Colt McCoy.  Although I honestly feel as though he may not win the award, I would’ve felt worse for not including him at all.  The stats may not speak in volumes, with only 3 TD’s and 3 INT’s in the 5 games he’s played the season, but he’s played with a determination worth serious consideration.  He’s thrown for over 50% in each of the games he’s started, with a 63.8 completion percentage and an 85.3 passer rating.  He has managed a 2-3 start, in what has always been considered to be a lack-luster team in Cleveland.  He’s been paired up against teams with the likes of the Steelers, Patriots, Saints, Jets and Jaguars, and shooting-off against top-tier QB’s like Roethlisberger, Brady and Brees, but his job as the QB in this run-first team has proved to be beyond exceptional.

My Pick: Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis Rams

Runner-Up: Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Honorable Mention: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Cincinnati Bengals

Coach Of The Year

Andrew Burton/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 31: Rex Ryan, head couch of the New York Jets walks off the field at the end of a game against the Green Bay Packers on October 31, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Packers defeated the

I have personally dubbed 2010 “The Year of the Coach, or, How I Can Keep My Job And Make Sure My Players Stop Getting Carted Off The Field”.  Sadly, this is a win-now league, and we’ve already seen some high-profile head-coaches get the axe.  Wade Phillips was fired a few weeks ago, Brad Childress just Monday of this week, and both of these guys led playoff teams last year.  Yet, I feel as though a major contribution to these firings have been player injuries.  Players have been getting knocked out of games at an alarming rate this season, and whether people would like to believe it or not, a coach can’t keep an even-flow of cohesion on a team that has to constantly swap its players in and out.  Looking at it now, my top choices consist of gentlemen who have had the luck of not losing very many guys, veered away from bone-headed decisions, and controlled the behaviors and actions of their players.

Rex Ryan came into this season as boisterously annoying as anyone’s ever seen before.  His “now let’s go get a god-damned snack” outbursts on the Hard Knocks series on HBO put a bulls-eye on the backs of the entire New York Jets franchise in the span of a 6-episode mini-series.  Despite a one-point, ego-crushing Week 1 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Jets were able to bounce back with a 5-game winning streak, currently sitting at 8-2, tied for first place of the AFC along with division rivals, the New England Patriots.

The Kansas City Chiefs had the fifth worst record in the NFL, and were rock bottom in the AFC.  Todd Haley was heavily criticized last year for making what seemed to be absurd personnel changes, including getting rid of Pro-Bowl and future Hall of Fame Tight End, Tony Gonzalez.  Now, KC stands at 6-4 and atop the AFC West.  Despite the fact that the team may seem a bit unstable in what appears to be a questionable division, Haley has managed to get this team together to not just produce, but win.  He got them off to a 3-0 start in 2010 (including an early MNF upset over division-nemesis San Diego Chargers), but even if they have gone 3-4 as of their bye week, they still have a winning record, most noticeably with their most recent game in a 31-13 blowout against Arizona.

Lastly, we have the man to beat in the NFC; Mike Smith.  The former 2008 NFL Coach of the Year recipient took the Atlanta Falcons from a disappointing 4-12 in 2007, to a respect-earning 11-5 playoff run in the next year.  Last season, the Dirty Birds fell to an understated 7-9 record, due mostly to a heavily injured offense, but Smith has re-energized the team, as they stand atop the conference with an 8-2 record, having one of the toughest QB-to-WR combos in Matt Ryan and Roddy White.

My Pick: Rex Ryan, New York Jets

Runner-Up: Mike Smith, Atlanta Falcons

Honorable Mention: Eric Mangini, Cleveland Browns

Breakout Player Of The Year

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 21: Arian Foster #23 of the Houston Texans celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets during their game on November 21, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al

This year’s been more of a season geared towards rookie performances and veteran re-establishments than stars that have risen out of obscurity.  But there have been a few faces who have come from the shadows and into the limelight. They have become significant factors to their teams’ success, and will likely continue to do so in the ensuing years.

Running Back Arian Foster has probably had the most relevant, and surprising, breakout season of any other player in the NFL.  A team that was expected to throw bombs all year long with the attack of last season’s passing-yard and receiving-yard leaders QB Matt Schaub and WR Andre Johnson, is now most effective when running the ball. 

The undrafted free-agent in 2009 from Tennessee went from the practice squad last season to the league’s rushing-yard leader with 1,004 yards, the only player in the NFL with over 1,000 at the moment.  He’s currently beating out league giants Adrian Peterson (who’s on a team that has unexpectedly been unable to pass the ball all season) and Chris Johnson (the self-proclaimed most-electrifying player of the league).  His 5.4 yards per rush along with his 12 touchdowns and 1,261 all-purpose yards may very well easily hand this award off to him.

Jerod Mayo of the New England Patriots deserves recognition here.  He currently has 120 combined tackles, 21 more than anyone else in the league.  His deflected pass and fumble recovery have also earned him league-wide respect this year as well.

Alphonso Smith of the Detroit Lions is in his second year in the league.  He has been making a relative mark on the team with five INT’s and a 42 yard pick-six with eight pass deflections in the last 10 games.  His 37 combined tackles have made him a legitimate threat in the Lions secondary.

My Pick: Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans

Runner Up: Alphonso Smith, CB, Detroit Lions

Honorable Mention: Antonio Garay, NT, San Diego Chargers

Comeback Player Of The Year

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 26: Quarterback Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates with offensive linemen Todd Herremans #79 and Mike McGlynn #77 after throwing a touchdown pass in the first quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Eve

There is no discussion when it comes time to speak about this award.  Michael Vick has had one of the most unprecedented, astonishing comebacks in sport’s history.  He has managed to combine his natural physical ability with a renewed understanding of the game, leading him to 11 passing and five rushing touchdowns, 1,608 passing yards, 375 rushing yards, a 62.8 completion percentage, and a 108.7 passer rating.  Despite having four fumbles (in two games he won against D-lines containing the likes of Kyle Vanden Bosch, Ndamukong Suh, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyoira), Vick has not managed to throw a single INT in the seven games he’s played in.  Vick has yet to even lose a game he has started in from beginning to end since the start of the season.  His stamp on 2010 came with the Monday Night Football massacre during the Week 10 rematch of his former Eagle team-mate, Donovan McNabb, where Vick took hold of a new record for throwing four touchdowns and rushing for another two before the end of the first half.  What you see every game out there is not a man, but a MACHINE.

:END TRANSMISSION:

My Pick: Michael Vick, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

Defensive Player Of The Year

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 31: Clay Matthews #52 of the Green Bay Packers tackles LaDainian Tomlinson #21 of the New York Jets on October 31, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Packers defeated the Jets 9 - 0. (P

This season’s defensive players have been largely accountable for a majority of the concussions endured by players this season.  A few good men have stood out throughout the season as clear-cut contenders, while others started off strong and have fallen short.

Clay Matthews has been the most consistent defensive player all year long.  He currently has 36 combined tackles, three pass deflections, one pick-six for a 62-yard INT return, and one forced fumble.  He has also contributed 11.5 sacks, leading everyone else in the league at the moment.  Matthews, a second year rookie out of the University of Southern California, is making his family football dynasty proud, having notched up these numbers in nine games (missing a week six loss against the Miami Dolphins).

The former two-time CFL Defensive Player of the Year was brought in by the Miami Dolphins in 2009.  Since then, he has become Defensive Coordinator Mike Nolan’s most vital chess-piece in his game plan.  He trails Matthews in the sack race with 9.5, also putting in another 38 combined tackles, two forced fumbles and four pass deflections.  Yet, people still ask why Miami let go of Joey Porter and Jason Taylor…

I seriously considered Cornerbacks DeAngelo Hall and Asante Samuel as possible winners of the award as well.  Yet, they’ve been exposed on extreme levels this season already.  In the Week 10 Eagles/Redskins matchup on MNF, we saw both of the teams' receivers equally beat out these cornerbacks, despite the fact that they still both have a chance at making a coming back in the final six weeks.

Samuel leads the league with seven interceptions, 23 total tackles and a fumble recovery in nine games after missing week five against San Francisco.  Hall stands at six interceptions with one for a 92-yard return for a touchdown, 73 combined tackles, one forced fumble, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown, but I keep getting that reoccurring vision of Desean Jackson blowing right passed him.

My Pick: Clay Matthews, OLB, Green Bay Packers

Runner-Up On Paper: DeAngelo Hall, CB, Washington Redskins

Runner-Up In Reality: Cameron Wake, OLB, Miami

Honorable Mention: Jerod Mayo, ILB, New England Patriots

Offensive Player Of The Year

Bob Levey/Getty Images

HOUSTON - NOVEMBER 07: Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers throws over defensive end Antonio Smith #94 of the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium on November 7, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Quarterback Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers is currently on pace to break Dan Marino’s single-season passing-yard record, a feat no one has been able to break in over 25 years.  The closest person to achieve the mark was the 2008 MVP, Drew Brees, who threw for 5,069 yards, only 15 yards short of Marino’s 5,084. 

What makes this effort even more respectable (whether he accomplishes it or not) is that the Chargers offense appears to be heavily depleted.  They missed Pro-Bowl Left Tackle Marcus McNeill for the majority the season, and Pro-Bowl Wide Receiver Vincent Jackson has been out via suspensions and contract hold-outs since the start of 2010.  To make matters worse, Antonio Gates, who can be considered as arguably the best tight end in the league right now, has been out with an injury he sustained in week eight and his return is questionable.  Despite all of these issues, he is still on pace to SHATTER Marino’s record.  He’s thrown for 23 touchdowns, nine INT’s, 3,177 passing yards, a 65.2 completion percentage, and a 105.0 passer rating.  Give ‘em hell, kid.

The man trailing his heels is a Peyton Manning, whose reputation can be argued as the best quarterback of all-time.  His 3,059 yards plus another 20 touchdowns and 7 INT’s would rival anyone any other year.  Manning is also suffering from injuries on offense, having lost his own Pro-Bowl tight end, Dallas Clark, as well as other receiving contributors in Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie, yet still manages to keep his team relevant.  Never count this man out.

I’ve also been considering Arian Foster and Michael Vick for this position, for their huge contributions to their respective teams.  Foster, for being the unexpected stand-out of the year, and Vick, for being nearly impossible to prepare for on defense.

My Pick: Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego

Runner Up: Michael Vick, QB, Philadelphia

Honorable Mention(s): Brandon Lloyd, WR, Denver Broncos/Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons

NFL MVP

The MVP award goes to the most clutch, deadly, unstoppable player of the year.  As much as I would like to say it’s one person taking a lead in this race at this point, I can’t really give you anyone dead on.  As far as today goes, the three most difficult players to contain in the 2010 season are Philip Rivers, Clay Matthews and Michael Vick.

Rivers has been a relentless leader throughout the year.  His record-breaking pace is turning heads around the nation to take notice of his physical ability.  He can lead this team, star-studded or not, to victory despite not having a single stand-out name on the roster.  Depending on whether he does or doesn't manage to cross the 5,000 yard mark, he will take the award.

Matthews is in the running for being the most brutal defensive player this year.  Do you even know how many concussions he’s handed out in 2010?  He’s been almost impossible for offensive lines to contain with his 11.5 sacks in the year.  At this rate, he will cross the 15 sack line by the end of the year if all goes well.  Daddy, uncle, grandpa, little bro and cuz should all be very proud of him.

Michael Vick is trying to prove something.  He’s not saying it, he can’t be quoted for it, but through his actions, he is saying, “I’m sorry.”  This performance is not an exhibition of what he can do on a physical or mental level; it is a testament to his appreciation of a second opportunity.  He spent 23 months in federal prison, paid his debt to society, is currently on probation, waited an entire year on the bench after Donovan McNabb convinced Head Coach Andy Reid to give him a second shot, and got his lucky break Week 1 of this season after the Eagles’ original starter, Kevin Kolb, when out with a concussion.

Since then, he has not bothered looking back.  He is trying to show the world he acknowledges that he did something that was inexcusably wrong, and for that, he is taking his God-given talents and displaying them at his most maximum capability in every game. 

This isn’t about stats, this isn’t about winning; it is about the appreciation of what you have in life.  Michael Vick was born with the ability to evade tacklers, to out-run pursuers, to throw long, to aim accurately and to lead.  What he has done differently today from what he didn’t do from the start of his career in 2001 was dedicate his life to the game he fell in love with; football.  Vick is on a campaign to prove to the nation that he truthfully recognizes the horrible course of actions he took, and whether he wins the MVP award or not, if he doesn't succeed in convincing everyone, he will never stop striving to do so.

My Pick: Too close to call...