Forget AP (not Adrian Peterson) and Pro Football Writers. The Flea Flicker awards are the awards that the players truly cherish. Here they are:
MVP: Adrian Peterson, RB Minnesota Vikings
Offensive Player of the Year: Peyton Manning, QB Denver Broncos
Defensive Player of the Year: J.J. Watt, DE Houston Texans
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Robert Griffin III, QB Washington Redskins
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Luke Kuechley, LB Carolina Panthers
Comeback Player of the Year: Adrian Peterson, RB Minnesota Vikings
Coach of the Year: Bruce Arians Indianapolis Colts
Executive of the Year: Ryan Grigson Indianapolis Colts
-the MVP award comes down to Peterson and Manning, for me and it sounds like for most everyone else. Besides a natural bias, a few things separate Peterson from Manning for me. The Vikings were 3-13 last year. They are now 10-6 and in the playoffs. Manning took a playoff team back to the playoffs. Peterson's running carried the Vikings in a passing league. His running was consistently successful despite a frequently absent passing threat. In short, every defense knew that he was running and they still couldn't stop him. Finally, Peterson finished the year with 2,097 yards. Second place was Alfred Morris with 1613. Peterson gained nearly 500 yards more than the next back. Nuff said.
-while not the MVP, Manning was unbelievable. He's a surgeon with the football. As a Raiders assistant coach said about him, Peyton Manning might be the best offensive coordinator in the league.
-the coaching that Bruce Arians did this year was phenomenal. The Colts were dealt a huge blow when head coach Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with Leukemia. Arians became the interim coach and led the worst team in 2011 to an 11-5 record and the playoffs in 2012. Amazing. I doubt that an interim coach has ever been named coach of the year but Arians deserves it.
2012 All-Pro Team
Offense
QB Peyton Manning Broncos
RB Adrian Peterson Vikings
FB Jerome Felton Vikings
WR Calvin Johnson Lions
Reggie Wayne Colts
TE Rob Gronkowski Patriots
T Duane Brown Texans
Joe Staley 49ers
G Marshal Yanda Ravens
Evan Mathis Eagles
C John Sullivan Vikings
Defense
DE J.J. Watt Texans
Aldon Smith 49ers
DT Justin Smith 49ers
Haloti Ngata
OLB Von Miller Broncos
Chad Greenway Vikings
MLB Patrick Willis 49ers
CB Charles Tillman
Richard Sherman
S Eric Weddle
Jairus Byrd
Specialist
K Blair Walsh Vikings
P Andy Lee 49ers
KR Jacoby Jones Ravens
The pretty much even use of 3-4 and 4-3 defenses throughout the league really makes selecting outside linebackers and defensive ends difficult. Aldon Smith of the 49ers plays linebacker in the team's 3-4 but he's pretty much a stand-up rush end on every play. He's also one of the best pass rushers in the league. Frequently, he can't be blocked. He makes my team as a pass rusher but I can't put him at linebacker. In my opinion, he doesn't play the position. Von Miller is also a tremendous pass rusher but he frequently and effectively drops into coverage. He's a complete linebacker.
Having 5 Vikings on my All-Pro team is surely a stretch. Peterson and Walsh should make everyone's team but Sullivan, Greenway and Felton likely won't. Although, Sullivan really should.
Congratulations to all those honored.
No comments:
Post a Comment