2010 NFL Awards

End of season awards:

Well, with the Super Bowl in the books, and this being the worst day of the year, there is no better time to announce my end of season NFL awards. There will be quite a few awards, so we shall go straight into them, starting off with the big one.

Most Valuable Player Award: Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots.

While I don’t always like the MVP award instantly going to the best quarterback in the NFL, this year must be Tom Brady’s year. To throw 492 passes and to only be picked off 4 times is stunning, and to lead a team to a 14-2 record with a patchwork defense and an offense totally transformed after the loss of Randy Moss is possibly even better. While Brady did not have a great game in the playoffs against the New York Jets, that can be ascribed more to not having the deep threat in the passing game that Moss was, and Brady is as deserving as any MVP in league history.

Offensive Player of the Year: Mike Vick, QB, Philadelphia Eagles.

Two years ago, if I had predicted this award, I would have been laughed out of every room I had entered. Mike Vick did not play in the NFL in 2008, and took very few snaps with very little effectiveness in 2009. In 2010 however he exploded, throwing for over 3,000 yards, 21 touchdowns, a completion percentage well over 60 percent and a quarterback rating of over 100. That is not to mention his 676 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns. While he is certainly not the best quarterback in the league, he is probably the most effective, and he was the main reason for Philadelphia’s surprising division win in 2010.

Defensive Player of the Year: Clay Matthews, OLB, Green Bay Packers:

THis award was very hard to give, with there being no standout candidate. Matthews may not have led the league in sacks, in fact he was 4th, 2 sacks behind DeMarcus Ware, but he did have 13.5 on the season despite not featuring in every single game, and not being healthy in every game he featured in. The main reason Matthews wins this award however is the fact that he forced offenses to change gameplans for him. Sure, a lot of players do that, but Matthews this year really forced offensive co-ordinators to spend a lot of time focussing solely on how to stop him getting to the quarterback. If not for Clay Matthews, the Packers would most likely not have had such a great pass defense either, so his overall contributions to Green Bay’s Super Bowl win will be rewarded here.

Comeback Player of the Year: Brian Urlacher, MLB, Chicago Bears:

Last year, everyone had forgotten who Brian Urlacher was. After having injured his hand in the first game of Chicago’s 2009 season, he missed the entire year, and people were writing him off. They were wrong to do so. He returned this year to finish with 125 total tackles, 4 sacks, an interception, 2 forced fumbles and an amazing 10 passes defended. Not only did he have the stats, he also was a massive part of the Bears trip to the NFC Title game, which really came off the back of their strong defense, of which he was the leader.

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

Raheem Morris did an amazing job with the Buccaneers in 2010. From 3-13 in 2009, the Buccs rose up to 10-6 in 2010, and showed a huge improvement in their offense, which is built around young players who should give Tampa Bay a huge future. To take a team with the third pick in the draft to the sixth best team in the NFC the next year is a great achievement, and Morris will be disappointed that his team did not make the playoffs. While naysayers will point to the teams the Buccs beat, that does not matter. They beat who they had in front of them 10 times out of 16, and they should push on further in 2010. While their record may be a little worse, they should still progress, and Morris’ excellent job this season will show in the next few years.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis Rams:

The best rookie year for a quarterback since Peyton Manning means that the Rams certainly made the right choice with the first overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. Bradford had a good year, despite a passer rating of a little over 75, Bradford showed the ability to run an NFL offense, with very few weapons, and showed that he could become the next elite NFL quarterback. Bradford will be disappointed to have a change in the Rams’ system next year which will mean he does not progress as well as people may have hoped, but he should still have a strong year and will have a very good career.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Ndomukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions:

It is very rare for the top two picks to take the top two rookie awards, but this year they are both deserving. While Suh may not have been the best defensive tackle in the league against the run, he penetrates from the inside like no-one in the league. Suh struck fear into opposing offenses throughout 2010, and when he learns more this offseason, offenses should have a lot to fear next year as well. Expect a Hall of Fame career from Suh, who has the potential to go down as one of the all-time greats.

Team of the Year: New England Patriots:

Who else but the New England Patriots can win this award? Once again, they start the season with a lot of people writing them off, and once again the dominate the AFC. After a loss to the Cleveland Browns in the middle the season, the Patriots became one of the most dominant teams in league history, rolling over almost every team they faced, including the runners up in both Conference Championship games. Bill Belichick seemed able to pull a great team out of thin air, although his smoke and mirrors were revealed in the playoff loss to the Jets. However, with a slew of draft picks that surely won’t be used this offseason, the Patriots should be able to keep on top in the AFC East, despite a strong challenge from the New York Jets.

Surprise Team of the Year: Pittsburgh Steelers:

Hand up, who expected the Steelers to win the AFC North? Some of you? Okay, fair enough. Right, hands up for everyone who had them in the Super Bowl? No-one? No, I didn’t think so. I had them as a 9-7 team, missing out on the playoffs and finishing third in their division. While they are still the Steelers, that team who makes the playoffs somehow and then gets started, this year they were one of the best in the league, behind an excellent defense, and they rode all the way to Dallas. Not winning the game doesn’t mire what has been an outstanding season for all concerned, and they have the tools to keep winning the AFC North for the next five years.

Surprise Player of the Year: Brandon Lloyd, WR, Denver Broncos:

Where did Brandon Lloyd come from? The league’s receiving yards leader was a 4th round pick in 2003 by the San Francisco 49ers, spent three average years there and then moved onto Washington, where he achieved precious little, as he did in his solitary season in Chicago. In Denver in 2009 he played just two games. This year, he caught 77 balls for 1,448 yards and 11 touchdowns. Absolutely no-one predicted that. As for next year. Who knows? He could emerge as a top talent or he could go back onto the scrap heap of receivers who go round and round the NFL, always being on a team, but never really having much impact.

Disappointing Team of the Year: Dallas Cowboys:

While I personally did not have the Cowboys making the playoffs, many did. With the Super Bowl in their home stadium, Jerry Jones was sure to do everything he could to have America’s Team playing in America’s Game. It was not to be, however. After a horrendous start, which saw the team fall to 1-7, the Cowboys finished a little better, crawling up to 6-10 under new Head Coach Jason Garrett. Garrett did a good job, but considering the talent in that team, the Cowboys should have been pushing for the division title at least. Next year, they must make the playoffs.

Disappointing Player of the Year: Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers:

Crabtree was a great talent coming out of college, and was expected to make a big splash in the NFL pool. Last year his holdout essentially wiped out the chance to make that splash, but big things were expected in 2010. He was part of the young group of 49ers who were going to take the team to the playoffs, but it didn’t come to pass. Crabtree ended the year with just 741 receiving yards, 44th in the league, and 6 touchdowns. The 49ers will be hoping for much greater production next year, as they look to move forward with a new Head Coach.

All Pro Team of the Year:

Offense:

QB- Tom Brady, NE

RB- Arian Foster, HOU

WR- Brandon Lloyd, DEN

WR- Roddy White, ATL

WR- Greg Jennings, GB

TE- Jason Witten, DAL

LT- Andrew Wihtworth, CIN

LG- Logan Mankins, NE

C- Nick Mangold, NYJ

RG- Chris Kemoeatu, PIT

RT- Tyson Clabo, ATL

3-4 Front Seven:

DE: Haloti Ngata, BAL

NT: Vince Wilfork, NE

DE: B. J. Raji, GB

OLB: Clay Matthews, GB

ILB: Jerod Mayo, NE

ILB: Patrick Willis, SF

OLB: DeMarcus Ware, DAL

4-3 Front Seven:

DE: John Abraham, ATL

DT: Ndomukong Suh, DET

DT: Jonathan Babineaux, ATL

DE: Jason Babin, TEN

CB: Darrelle Revis, CB

S: Ed Reed

S: Troy Polumalu

CB: Nnamdi Asamugha

Specialists:

K: Matt Bryant, ATL

P: Donnie Jones, STL

KR: LaRod Stevens-Howling, ARI

PR: Devin Hester

Keep checking every Sunday for draft articles. Team needs will being posting this Sunday, starting with the AFC East and AFC North.