NFL MVP? I Think Not! The Case Against the Favorites for the NFL's Superlatives

With the regular season winding down, the buzz surrounding the candidates for 2008's MVP is turning into a deafening roar. Everyone's throwing their picks on the table, hoping they're right, and declaring whom they believe is most deserving of the awards.

It's a fun thing to do — heck, I did mine last week. But it's something we're all doing because we know the awards have to be given to someone.

There are players who have separated themselves from the pack, and may actually be deserving of the award. But there is no clear-cut favorite because over the last few seasons their performances have become commonplace.

This is an effort to show the pessimistic side of the NFL—the darker half. It's also an effort to shine new light on players who might be more deserving.

How many MVP candidates are only being discussed because the winners of yesteryear are a non-factor in 2008?

Tom Brady's gone, Peyton Manning is looking good against weak competition, and LaDainian Tomlinson looks like he aged at the least opportune time for the San Diego Chargers.

But is anyone doing anything out of the ordinary? A case could be made for Drew Brees and Kurt Warner, but what they're doing in 2008 is on track with what they've been doing in recent years.

Shouldn't an MVP have to excel beyond expectations in this league? Or does he deserve it for being pretty good in a year when no one's been exceptional?

Favorites for MVP

QB Kurt Warner, ARI: Warner's having a phenomenal season in Arizona, but is it out of the ordinary for him? What's changed since 2005? The Cardinals still can't run, and the soul of that team still lies in its receiving tandem.

Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald are still there to make every quarterback look half-decent. It just so happens that Warner is better than half-decent. The Cardinals finally have something that resembles a defense, allowing Warner and Co. to score more points than the other team from time to time.

Sure, his 3,741 yards and 24 touchdowns to date are valuable to the Arizona Cardinals. But to the NFL?

Whatever.

QB Drew Brees, NO: Never could a run to break a record that seemed unbreakable — single season passing yards — look so pedestrian. It's not Brees' fault that the Saints' defense can't save him, but could a man who's laid so many eggs in 2008 really be named MVP?

Statistics are pretty. They come in handy in contract negotiations.

But fans and organizations might put more stock in the quarterback who wins games and doesn't throw costly interceptions over the quarterback with gaudy numbers and disappointments in the loss column.

Who it should be: OLB James Harrison, PIT: Get over it, football fans. It's time to run from the offensive bandwagon and acknowledge the NFL's most dangerous player.

It's not about touchdowns scored this year, or yards thrown/rushed— it's about the defensive player that seems to be the catalyst for the Pittsburgh team.

Every time the Steelers are in a close game, it's James Harrison with the game-changing play. It's what he does that sends the game spiraling out of control.

People say an NFL MVP needs to do something groundbreaking — Harrison does that every time he takes a step. He also ends up breaking spirits, and games wide open.

Giving the award to a defensive player will go a long way in proving that the suits in charge of the NFL still care about smash-mouth football. It will help prove that this league isn't all about touchdowns and deep passes.

End the defensive bias!

Favorites for Offensive Player of the Year

This is where the top two MVP candidates should see an award. They're the most productive players in the offensive stat books.

But if we're being honest, it should go to Drew Brees before Kurt Warner. Give Brees the receivers Warner's had to play with all season, and Dan Marino's single-season passing record would've been broken a week ago.

Who it should be: RB Adrian Peterson, MIN: There's no need to tell you what you don't already know. Where is Minnesota's offense without Peterson?

The Vikings lead the NFC North, and it's because of him. Fans can try and make a case for the defense, and for Gus Frerotte's attempt at bringing some stability — it doesn't matter.

Without Peterson the Vikings are less than a handful of games better than Detroit.

Favorites for Defensive Player of the Year

We've already determined that James Harrison should be the league's MVP. But it might be greedy to give him the Defensive Player of the Year award, too. Sure, he deserves it — but let's spread the love.

OLB DeMarcus Ware: Ware set a new career-high against the Seattle Seahawks on Thanksgiving and jumped to the top of the NFL in sacks when he recorded his 15th sack of the season. With four more games to play, he could continue to build on that number.

Sacks are difficult to get. But there are certain situations where they become a bit easier. When a team is behind and it's late in the game, everyone knows they're looking to pass. They need to pick up yards by the chunks to try and get back in the game.

It's a pass-rusher's daydream.

And it's exactly where Ware shows up. Of Ware's 15 sacks, eight of them were recorded when the team was ahead by 15 points or more.

It's a nice statistic. But with a 15-point lead, the damage has already been done. 

Who it should be: The Detroit Lions Offensive Line: Any team's offensive woes begin and end with the men up front who are designated to block. If the quarterback has no time, plays can't develop. If the running back has no lane, drives can't last.

There are no defensive players on the field responsible for killing as many drives as the Lions' offensive line. They stop the quarterback and stifle the run all on their own.

Facing the Detroit Lions is like playing a team that's conceded defeat from the opening kickoff.

Who it should really be: S Troy Polamalu, PIT: Polamalu's pick against the San Diego Chargers should've made this clear.

And if James Harrison is worthy of MVP, it's only natural that another player on the NFL's best defense be picked for Defensive Player of the Year.

Leading the league with six interceptions, Polamalu could also be a candidate for Comeback Player of the Year at this point of the season. It wasn't too long ago that people believed he wasn't the same player he once was.

Who it could also be: S Nick Collins, GB and CB Charles Woodson, GB: Both defensive backs have been a quarterback's worst nightmare in 2008. With all the attention on pass-rushers this year, defensive backs seem to have taken a back seat.

Both players not only intercept the ball regularly, but they're legitimate threats to turn the interceptions into points. They're defensive players who do the offense's job.


Favorites for Comeback Player of the Year

No need to be irresponsible here. This award is a two-man race between Kerry Collins and Chad Pennington. And truthfully, the honors should go to Pennington.

In fact, it should go to the entire Miami Dolphins organization. Any team that goes from 1-15 to having the potential to threaten for the division, deserves to be recognized.

Who it could be: LB Jonathan Vilma, NO: He slowed down a bit in the middle of the season, but he's coming back into his own. Roaming the middle of the field, Vilma has been one of the lone defensive bright spots on a mediocre squad.

Vilma's playing like he was in his first two seasons — like the man who was Defensive Rookie of the Year, and a Pro Bowl-caliber linebacker. And he's doing it after people forgot how good he was in the 4-3 defensive alignment.

Being out of place for two years in the 3-4 scheme can do that to a linebacker that excels when he's given open space.

Favorites for Offensive/Defensive Rookie of the Year

They weren't forgotten. But similar to Comeback Player of the Year, the players deserving of the award have separated themselves from the pack.

QBs Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco are the top candidates, but the edge should probably go to Ryan. He's been playing like a veteran since week one, and has brought faith and honor back to the Atlanta Falcons' fans.

However, Flacco seems to have learned the game, and learned it quickly. His recent games make the Ravens look even more dangerous going into the back-end of the season. Their defense is always solid, but Flacco is bringing a new dynamic to the offense that's never existed in Baltimore. 

The award could ultimately go to the man that has his team in a better position when it comes down to the postseason.

Who it could probably be: RB Steve Slaton, HOU: He's fast — really fast. The Jacksonville Jaguars learned that the hard way in front of a national audience.

Slaton brings that breakaway type of running that Houston lacked. In fact, it's what most NFL analysts said the Texans would miss when they passed on Reggie Bush and selected Mario Williams instead.

How's that working out so far?

On the defensive side, LB Jerod Mayo is the runaway favorite. But I'm still not a believer.

Mayo will win because he's part of a defensive rookie class where no one has been outright dominant. His 20-tackle performance against the New York Jets is a good sign of what he's capable of, however.

Players who should be considered are S Chris Horton of the Washington Redskins, and S Kenny Phillips of the New York Giants.

If only LB Keith Rivers wasn't injured halfway through the season, he would have been in contention as well. The Cincinnati Bengals may have an emerging superstar in him when he returns in 2009.

Favorites for Coach of the Year

Jeff Fisher, TEN: He's a great person — NFL fans and analysts alike seem to really like him, and want him for this award.

Unfortunately, the Tennessee Titans are overrated. How on earth can an 11-1 team be overrated is beyond reason, but it's the truth.

They do play very good football. And they have scraped together tough wins against good teams — before it was exposed just how bad they were (see: Green Bay).

But Tennessee is not terrifying in the playoffs. Their defense can be scored on, and their offense can be stopped.

They can enjoy their week off in January because there's a good chance they'll have a few months off right after their break.

Who it should be: Tom Coughlin, NYG: He went from having his job in jeopardy in 2007, to Super Bowl champion, to head coach of a lucky team that had no chance to repeat, and now he's the glue keeping his dominant 11-1 team together through a tumultuous ordeal.

The red-nosed, rosy-cheeked little man deserves it!

When everyone predicted Super Bowl slump and saw nothing but doom after Osi Umenyiora's season-ending injury, Tom Coughlin kept his team focused week in and week out.

An embarrassing loss to the Browns sent the Giants into fifth gear. They didn't only win tough games, they obliterated their opponents. His Giants have won every single game since to prove they are the real deal.

It's a good reputation to have in what everyone believed was the toughest division in the NFL.

Angel Navedo is the Head Writer at NYJetsFan.com, featuring frequently updated news and a premier fan community. He is also the Community Leader for the New York Jets on Bleacher Report.