Each NFL Team's Least Valuable Player for 2011

The biggest debate going on in the NFL right now might be the battle for the league's Most Valuable Player Award. Aaron Rodgers seemed to have everything locked up, and his five-TD performance Sunday night helped. But don’t count out record-plowing Drew Brees—he certainly has a claim to the title.

But the flip side of the Most Valuable Player debate is the Least Valuable Player debate, which can sometimes be just as interesting.

While it's certainly a relative term, each team does have a least valuable player.

Just like the Most Valuable Player Award—is it the best player in the league or the player who is most valuable to his team?—the criteria I’ve used to determine each team’s LVP are a bit diverse.

For some it's a player who has been just flat-out bad this season. For others it's a player who was brought in to make a difference and really hasn’t.

For others, the dubious title is awarded for being fairly invisible and therefore dispensable.

Chicago Bears: Marion Barber, RB

2011 Stats: 114 carries, 422 yards, six TDs

It's a bit ironic that the best game statistically Barber played in a Bears uniform—the loss to Denver—is by far his most disappointing. That fumble and decision to run out of bounds at the end of the game were disastrous.

Now, just like the Most Valuable Player Award, one game isn't necessarily enough to earn the LVP for the Bears, especially since their offensive line has again been a problem and Caleb Hanie is a backup.

But since Barber has only had two games in which he averaged more than four yards per carry, he's a huge letdown.

Detroit Lions: Maurice Stovall, WR

2011 Stats: one reception, eight yards

Maybe he's not a great player, but in that Detroit offense that has no running game, a truly great receiver in Calvin Johnson and an emerging stud quarterback in Matthew Stafford, you'd expect a bit more out of the enormous receiver.

Granted, the reason why Stovall doesn't have any catches since Week 1 is that he's not on the field—which is the precise reason why he's not terribly valuable.

Green Bay Packers: Tim Masthay, P

2011 Stats: 51 punts, 45.7 average, four TBs

Obviously this is a tongue-in-cheek pick.

The Green Bay offense is still the best in the NFL, no matter what the Saints and Patriots are doing, so if there is a player on this team who you'd say isn't valuable, it's got to be the team's punter—even if he holds for kicks.

While I am well aware that the Packers' pass defense is outright awful, I don't think the problems can be attributed to one single player.

Minnesota Vikings: Cedric Griffin, CB

2011 Stats: 65 tackles, three forced fumbles

Clearly there are more problems with the Minnesota Vikings than just the quarterback or the secondary.

But for Cedric Griffin to actually be benched in a season where the Vikings are in contention for the worst record and he's being paid $3.35 million is a sign of a really disastrous season.

Sure, the recovery from two ACL surgeries is a major factor, but still...

Atlanta Falcons: Sam Baker, G

It's tough to single out one player on an offensive line since it's a unit that requires all five players performing in unison.

But clearly Sam Baker has had some issues this season, and although it hasn't necessarily cost the Falcons offense—Michael Turner is still having a good season, and the passing game has been bolstered by the addition of Julio Jones—it's been conspicuous.

Baker started the season as a left tackle but was benched in late November and then had a stint at guard a few weeks later. That's not what you expect from a recent first-round draft pick.

Carolina Panthers: Jimmy Clausen, QB

2011 Stats: None

Here's a pick that screams "not very valuable."

I suppose you could say that the backup on most teams with a star quarterback—Green Bay, New England, New Orleans—is often expendable.

But for the Panthers, it seems even more so.

Cam Newton is a star who looks absolutely indestructible, and he is only finishing up his first season. It's amazing to think that just a few months ago there was a question of when or even if Newton would get on the field in 2011 in place of Jimmy Clausen.

New Orleans Saints: Aubrayo Franklin, DT

2011 Stats: 16 tackles

The Saints aren't perfect, but they might be the only team capable of toppling the mighty Packers. They have an offense that is truly awesome.

Having said that, it's going to be extremely difficult for the Saints to win in the postseason—especially against a team like Green Bay—given how average their defensive line has been this year.

You can't blame rookie Cameron Jordan, who was never touted as a "pass rush specialist," nor Will Smith, who has played well since his suspension. So since the Saints gave Franklin $4 million this summer and the pass rush isn't much improved (the defense is ranked 28th against the pass), he earns the unenviable award.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Freeman, QB

2011 Stats: 3,318 yards, 62 percent completion rate, 14 TDs, 19 INTs

So many players on the Buccaneers took a step back in 2011 after nearly earning a playoff spot the previous season.

But Josh Freeman is probably the best example.

Last year, he had one multi-interception game—this year he has six.

Last year, Freeman threw one pick in the team's final eight games; in his last eight games this year, he's thrown 13.

Maybe the Bucs wouldn't be a playoff team even if Freeman played well this year, but they are far worse with their signal-caller repeatedly turning the ball over.

Dallas Cowboys: Orlando Scandrick, CB

2011 Stats: 45 tackles, one INT, two sacks

The Cowboys defense is struggling mightily lately, and it's hard to heap too much blame on the pass rush when DeMarcus Ware is still a dominating force.

Dallas' bigger problem on defense rests in the secondary, and although the entire unit has had its woes, I think the pair of illegal blocks Orlando Scandrick drew on special teams in that crippling loss to Arizona is enough to put him on top—or on the bottom.

New York Giants: Antrel Rolle, S

2011 Stats: 88 tackles, one INT, one forced fumble

Teams will stomach and even ignore "troublesome" players like Randy Moss and Terrell Owens when they are playing great. Even if they were playing just decently, it would probably be OK.

But for Antrel Rolle, who misses tackles, blows coverages and draws penalties, to call out teammates and the coaching staff in the ever-present New York media is really problematic and enough to earn the LVP.

Philadelphia Eagles: Vince Young, QB

2011 Stats: 866 yards, 57.9 percent completion rate, four TDs, nine INTs

Strike 1 against Young was using the "Dream Team" phrase, which has become a punch line since the Eagles won't even make the playoffs.

Strike 2 was not even being healthy when the Eagles really needed him against the Giants and Falcons.

Strike 3 was tossing eight picks in his three-game stint—two of which Philadelphia lost—as the Eagles starter.

In terms of rehabbing his image as a starter and earning another gig in 2012, Young failed.

Washington Redskins: Rex Grossman, QB

2011 Stats: 2,895 yards, 58.8 percent completion, 15 TDs, 19 INTs

I know Grossman had some moments in 2011. He engineered two stunning wins over the Giants, almost did the same to Dallas and defeated the Seahawks in Seattle.

But you're absolutely crazy if you don't think the Redskins' No. 1 priority this offseason is finding his replacement.

Grossman turned the ball over a ton and was already benched once. If Mike Shanahan had an option better than John Beck, Grossman would have been out of a job long ago.

Arizona Cardinals: Brandon Keith, OT

The Cardinals are tied with the Rams for allowing the NFL's most sacks at 52, and while that stat doesn't ever fall to one player, Brandon Keith has been a noticeable culprit.

That's almost always the case for a blindside protector, but when you have a right-handed quarterback and the right tackle struggles as much as Keith has, it's a major flaw.

San Francisco 49ers: Braylon Edwards, WR

2011 Stats: 15 receptions, 181 yards

He may have been slowed greatly by a knee injury that kept him out of a handful of games, but even when Braylon Edwards was healthy and on the field, he wasn't contributing very much.

Sure, the 49ers are a run-heavy team, and even in their prime players like Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis weren't tearing up the NFL. But Edwards was brought in to have some presence, and he's had basically none.

St. Louis Rams: Adam Goldberg, OT

Just like the Cardinals, it's pretty simple to choose a spot where the Rams have been terrible this year—well, if you're forced to choose just one.

They are tied with Arizona for surrendering the most sacks, something borderline traumatic when you have a young quarterback like Sam Bradford.

The season-ending injury to Jason Smith made things much worse for an already bad line, but even before that, Goldberg lost his job to Harvey Dahl.

If you saw him get abused on Saturday by James Harrison, you probably agree with this selection.

Seattle Seahawks: Zach Miller, TE

2011 Stats: 25 receptions, 233 yards

Here's another case of a player being brought in with high expectations—and even higher dollars—and not producing.

Zach Miller signed an enormous contract to come over from Oakland, and although he was never in the same class as an Antonio Gates or Vernon Davis, he's been a huge letdown.

The Seahawks, already featuring a depleted receiving corps and questionable quarterback depth, really needed Miller to do a lot more.

Baltimore Ravens: Lee Evans, WR

2011 Stats: four receptions, 74 yards

Just because Evans has been hampered by an ankle injury and Torrey Smith has enjoyed a great rookie season doesn't mean Evans should be absolved of a terribly disappointing season in 2011.

Evans was expected to be the deep threat Joe Flacco so desperately needed, and he hasn't—even when he's been healthy enough to suit up.

Just take last week for example: Evans started against Cleveland and still didn't catch a single pass.

Cincinnati Bengals: Brandon Tate, WR

2011 Stats: 0 receptions

Tate's departure from New England was certainly an indication that he doesn't have a bright future as an NFL receiver. After all, Tom Brady manages to make any receiver look good.

But the Bengals were a great situation for Tate to come into. Not only did they have almost no veteran wide receivers, but they also lost Jordan Shipley early.

With all the attention A.J. Green gets, Tate could have made even a slight impact on the offensive side of the ball.

Cleveland Browns: Mohamed Massaquoi, WR

2011 Stats: 29 receptions, 368 yards, two TDs

Although several other Browns skill players (e.g. Peyton Hillis and Colt McCoy) have been tremendously disappointing in 2011, it's the lack of progress from the receiving corps that has to be most distressing for Cleveland fans and the front office.

Massaquoi will almost certainly post career lows in receptions, touchdowns and yards, and since this is his third year, that's a problem.

Sure, the rest of the offensive woes and the injuries to the offensive line haven't helped, but since a rookie (Greg Little), a special teamer (Josh Cribbs) and a tight end (Ben Watson) have been more reliable threats for Colt McCoy, Massaquoi has been a major disappointment.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Chris Kemoeatu, G

I feel pretty stupid to have thought that, prior to the 2011 season, the Steelers had a reliable guard-center combo in Chris Kemoeatu and Maurkice Pouncey. Sure, tackle was a major concern, but at least they could rely on those two.

Boy, was I wrong—and not about Pouncey.

Kemoeatu has been benched twice this year in favor of Doug Legursky and Trai Essex. Considering how desperate the Steelers are for protection right now with their quarterback banged up, for them to have Kemoeatu and his $3 million contract on the bench speaks volumes.

Houston Texans: Bryant Johnson, WR

2011 Stats: four receptions, 45 yards

When the Texans signed Johnson prior to the start of the season, it's not like people thought he would become a Pro Bowler or anything.

But couple his frame and experience with the nagging injury to Andre Johnson, and you had to think there'd be a little more production.

Not only has Bryant had chances to get on the field, but he's failed to take advantage, dropping multiple passes.

Indianapolis Colts: Curtis Painter, QB

2011 Stats: 1,541 yards, 54.3 percent completion rate, six TDs, nine INTs

By comparison—and especially in a dismal two-win season—anyone replacing Peyton Manning is going to look small.

But Painter was awful in 2011.

Kerry Collins was also bad, but he deserves a huge break considering he was retired and stepped in practically overnight.

Painter, on the other hand, had been in the offense for three years and still looked lost. Don't forget that Dan Orlovsky has come in, won a pair of games and played decently in the two losses.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Marcedes Lewis, TE

2011 Stats: 36 catches, 427 yards

Maybe the stats aren't terrible, but for a player coming off a Pro Bowl season and who was also just given a $35 million contract ($17 million of which is guaranteed), being this irrelevant is worthy of an LVP honor.

Even though the Jaguars have had their share of offensive woes (e.g. a lack of talent at the wide receiving position and a rookie quarterback), to go from 10 touchdowns to zero in one year is mildly pathetic.

Tennessee Titans: Chris Johnson, RB

2011 Stats: 247 carries, 986 yards, four TDs

Everything written in the previous slide regarding Marcedes Lewis—take that and double it for Johnson.

Yes, he'll probably finish with 1,000 yards, and yes, he is still an elite back.

But those two facts aren't enough to make you overlook the fact that the Titans have the NFL's second-worst running game.

Oh, and because it was a holdout and not an injury that probably hastened the sudden decline, Johnson is a deserved LVP.

Buffalo Bills: Brad Smith, WR

2011 Stats: 23 receptions, 240 yards, one TD

Smith was brought in to do more than just catch passes; he can run the wildcat, run reverses/end-arounds, occasionally throw a pass and contribute on special teams.

But make no mistake about it—the Bills gave him $15 million to be something of a factor as a receiver, and he hasn't.

Miami Dolphins: Phillip Merling, DE

2011 Stats: four tackles

For a player to be repeatedly disciplined—again, if he's not an All-Pro or stud—for anything is enough to earn consideration for the team's LVP. But that's especially true when it's something like being out of shape and/or overweight, plus other off-field issues.

But on a team that's clearly trying to take inventory of all the players on its roster, Phillip Merling has been especially absent, and it's hard to imagine he'll be back in 2012.

New York Jets: Mark Sanchez, QB

2011 Stats: 3,267 yards, 56.2 percent completion rate, 24 TDs, 15 INTs

I don't care that Sanchez has set new career highs in touchdowns, completions and attempts and will most likely do the same in rating and yardage next week.

His play the last two weeks (four combined interceptions in losses to Philadelphia and the Giants) has handcuffed the Jets in games they absolutely had to have to make the playoffs.

If players can win the MVP for great play down the stretch, then they can also win the LVP for poor play down the stretch.

New England Patriots: Shaun Ellis, DE

2011 Stats: 14 tackles, one sack

Ellis may have had a nice stand-in performance for Andre Carter last week against Miami, but the Patriots expected a ton more from him when they gave the veteran a $4 million contract in August.

You can blame the secondary all you want for the Patriots' woeful pass defense, but they haven't been helped one bit by the Patriots' average pass rush.

Maybe Ellis doesn't need to collect double-digit sacks like he did with the Jets several years back—that's not how that 3-4 works—but he's had almost no presence this year defending the run or the pass.

Denver Broncos: Eddie Royal, WR

2011 Stats: 19 receptions, 155 yards, one TD

Several wide receiving units across the NFL have struggled with rookies or inexperienced quarterbacks under center—take the Jaguars, Rams, Chiefs and Bears, for example.

Certainly that is the case for the Broncos as well.

But Tim Tebow has been airing it out a bit lately, and Royal has not been one of the beneficiaries.

Royal has suffered through an injured groin and a concussion, but he's really only had one significant catch (against Oakland) all season.

Kansas City Chiefs: Barry Richardson, T

The injuries to Jamaal Charles, Matt Cassel and Tony Moeaki put Kansas City's entire offense behind the eight ball this year.

But that's not exactly an excuse for penalties and poor protections—something that plagued Richardson as he filled the critical blindside spot while Tyler Palko was under center for Kansas City.

Oakland Raiders: Jarvis Moss, DE

2011 Stats: 14 tackles, 1.5 sacks

In a 4-3, not all sacks come from defensive ends. For the Raiders, a bulk of the pressure comes from inside rushers like Tommy Kelly and Richard Seymour or from the edge from Kamerion Wimbley.

But aside from one great game against the Jets in Week 3, Jarvis Moss has had very little impact on the Raiders defense, and it's been noticeable during the Raiders' recent downward spiral.

San Diego Chargers: Patrick Crayton, WR

2011 Stats: 22 receptions, 225 yards, one TD

Crayton played really well toward the end of 2010, and it was one of the reasons he earned a pretty hefty (albeit one-year) contract of $2.35 million this offseason.

But Crayton's numbers are way down this year, and although you can point to Philip Rivers' problems earlier this season and the nagging injury to Antonio Gates as the main reasons, that hasn't stopped Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd from putting up solid numbers this year.

Even rookie Vincent Brown has put up better stats and been a more consistent threat than Crayton.