Best of 2010: Mr. Heck's NFL Regular Season Awards

With a crazy 2010 regular season finally in the books, it's time for Mr. Heck's annual Regular Season Awards. The awards, obviously given out before the start of the playoffs, reflect the accomplishments of the given players and/or coach. I have included runner ups for each category as well, to allow for any debate that readers may want to add to the discussion. Enjoy.

Most Valuable Player: Tom Brady

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 02: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates the touchdown by teammate BenJarvis Green-Ellis in the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins on January 2, 2011 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by El

Everyone seems to wanna give this award to Michael Vick. But, the truth is Brady was far more consistent throughout the season than Vick. While Vick went his first seven games without an interception, he threw six in the last five games of the season.

Brady threw four all season and ended up playing the final 11 games without an interception. 12 of Brady's 16 games he threw for multiple touchdowns and had a quarterback rating of 100 or better in 12 games. Vick was an all-around solid player this season, but Brady put up numbers reminiscent of New England's undefeated regular season in 2007.

Runner-ups: Michael Vick, Phillip Rivers

Offensive Rookie of the Year: LeGarrette Blount

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TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 26: Running back LeGarrette Blount #27 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs the ball against the Seattle Seahawks during the game at Raymond James Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

For Blount, the road to the NFL was a rocky one after his punching incident in week one of the college football season last year after his Oregon Ducks fell to the Boise State Broncos. He was suspended indefinitely and his chances at going pro were put in jeopardy.

Tampa Bay, looking for a consistent runner who could play on first and second downs, claimed Blount off waivers (from the Titans) on September 6. It wasn't until week four against the Cardinals that Blount broke out and raised some eye brows with a 120 yard, two TD performance. He went on to break 1,000 yards rushing with four 100-yard games and a couple of highlight reel plays (jumped completely over two defenders on two separate occasions this season). Blount's Bucs just barely missed out on the playoffs this season, unfortunately.

Runner-ups: Sam Bradford, Mike Williams

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Ndamukong Suh

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 12: Ndamukong Suh #90 of the Detroit Lions rushes 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 Jonathan Daniel/G

Suh, a Heisman trophy finalist in 2009, made an immediate impact in the NFL this season. The 6'4'', 307 pounder was first among defensive tackles with 10 sacks as he started all 16 games this season. Suh's 66 total tackles was seventh-best among defensive lineman.

The former Nebraska Cornhusker forced fear in to his opposition with a big hit he put on Cleveland Browns' quarterback Jake Delhomme in the preseason. Suh was fined $7,500 by commissioner Roger Goodell for the hit in which he slammed Delhomme down to the turf. Suh, unlike my Offensive Rookie of the Year Blount, was awarded a Pro Bowl selection this season. This is the first of what should be many in the years to come for Ndamukong.

Runner-ups: Eric Berry, Joe Haden

Breakout Player of the Year: Arian Foster

Bob Levey/Getty Images

HOUSTON - JANUARY 02: Running back Arian Foster #23 of the Houston Texans rushes for major yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Reliant Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Houston seemed to be lost for words as soon as they learned that their rookie running back Ben Tate would miss the rest of the season after suffering a leg injury in the very first preseason game. A couple weeks later, they would discover a guy who would carry the workload for a majority of the season.

Foster, who ran the ball just 54 times for 257 yards and three touchdowns in his rookie season last year, ran all over the Indianapolis Colts in week one (a franchise-record 331 to be exact). Foster put up seven 100-yard games and five multiple TD performances throughout the season, ending the 16 game schedule with a league-high 1,616 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground. Foster is on the radar in 100 percent of fantasy leagues after this season.

Runner-ups: Peyton Hillis, Cameron Wake, Brandon Lloyd

Comeback Player of the Year: Michael Vick

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 28: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks to pass against the Minnesota Vikings at Lincoln Financial Field on December 28, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

He didn't get my MVP vote, but the fact that he went from not playing in the league at all in 2007 and 2008, to 13 pass attempts and 24 rush attempts in 2009, to a Pro Bowl selection and an MVP-type performance in 2010 warrants this award.

Vick's career-high 3,018 yards and 21 touchdown passes showed the NFL world that Vick can—and will—throw the ball. His 676 rushing yards and nine TDs sure did help too. I look forward to seeing what he and the Eagles do in the playoffs.

Runner-ups: Brian Urlacher, Braylon Edwards

Biggest Disappointment: Brett Favre

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 02: Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings talks at a post game press conference after a 13-20 loss to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on January 2, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

What can I say? After last season's career year, we probably should have been expecting a letdown in 2010, but yet we're still all disappointed that it had to end this way. His consecutive games played streak was ended and the last image we may have of Favre is of him being slammed in to the turf by a rookie defensive lineman, causing a concussion on a rock solid Soldier Field surface in a 40-14 loss.

Favre's 19 interceptions and Minnesota's 6-10 record sure didn't help matters. There's still a chance he could come back in 2011, but I really do not expect it to happen. I think he has finally discovered that his body can't take the beating any longer.

Runner-up: Donovan McNabb

Coach of the Year: Chicago's Lovie Smith

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 26: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears watches as his team takes on the New York Jets at Soldier Field on December 26, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Jets 38-34. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Green Bay and Minnesota made all the headlines and front pages this off-season, but it was in Chicago where all the hard work finally paid off during the 2010 season.

Quarterback Jay Cutler put up over 3,000 yards and 20 touchdown passes for the fourth straight season and was able to protect the ball a little better than last year, going from 26 INTs from '09 to 16 this season. He had to adjust to yet another offense, as Mike Martz was brought in as the coordinator. But it was really Lovie's defense that was able to get the Bears its first division title since the year they played Indy in the Super Bowl back in 2006.

Good luck to Lovie and his Bears in the playoffs.

Runner-up: Todd Haley (Chiefs)

Any Others I've Missed??

If you have any other awards you'd like to "hand out" or you feel I may have missed a key player or coach, feel free to debate in the comments section.

I have an NFL blog that I'd love to hear some feedback on as well: http://bensalloutblitz.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading.