Flea Flicker Postseason Awards

The 2020 NFL Regular Season is in the books. It’s an amazing accomplishment that all 256 games were played. It wasn’t always smooth. There were some missteps. Not all of the 32 teams did their part. Why should the teams be any different than the general public? The NFL still managed to play 256 games during a global pandemic. It’s an amazing accomplishment. With this very different season in the books, it’s time to recognize those that shined the brightest. 

MVP

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers 

Offensive Player of the Year

Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans

Defensive Player of the Year

T.J. Watt, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers 

Comeback Player of the Year

Alex Smith, QB, Washington Football Team

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings 

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Chase Young, DE, Washington Football Team

Coach of the Year

Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns

Executive of the Year

Roger Goodell

2020 Flea Flicker All-Pro Team

Offense

WR Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers

WR Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills

 TE Travis Kelce, Kansa City Chiefs 

 LT  Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers 

 LG Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns

    C Ryan Kelly Indianapolis Colts 

 RG Nate Davis, Tennessee Titans

 RT  Braden Smith, Indianapolis Colts 

 QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers 

 RB Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans 

 RB Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings 

 FB C. J. Ham, Minnesota Vikings

Defense

DE Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns 

DT Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams 

DT Stephon Tuitt, Pittsburgh Steelers 

DE Brandon Graham, Philadelphia Eagles 

LB T. J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers 

LB Eric Kendricks, Minnesota Vikings

LB Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints 

CB Xavier Howard, Miami Dolphins

CB Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams 

   S Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals 

   S Justin Simmons, Denver Broncos

Special Teams

  K  Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens

  P   Jake Bailey, New England Patriots 

 KR Cordarrelle Patterson

 PR Jakeem Grant, Miami Dolphins 

 ST Justin Bethel, New England Patriots 

Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021 Finalists

The 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021 have been revealed. Six of the 15 are finalists for the first time. Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson, Calvin Johnson, and Jared Allen are in their first year of eligibility. Rhonde Barber is in his fourth year of eligibility. Remarkably, Clay Matthews Jr. is finally a finalist in his 20th year of eligibility. The remaining nine finalists have been through all of this a time or two or eight.

Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021 Finalists

Jared Allen

Rhonde Barber

Tony Boselli

LeRoy Butler

Alan Faneca

Torry Holt

Calvin Johnson

John Lynch

Peyton Manning

Clay Matthews Jr.

Sam Mills

Richard Seymour

Zach Thomas

Reggie Wayne

The Hall of Fame fate of the 15 finalists, senior finalist Drew Pearson, contributor finalist Bill Nunn, and coach finalist Tom Flores will be determined by the 48-member Selection Committee on the eve of Super Bowl LV. From four to eight new Hall of Famers will be selected. 

The Hall of Fame experience of the 15 Modern-era finalists:

Times as a finalist:

8: John Lynch

6: Alan Faneca

5: Tony Boselli

3: Richard Seymour

2: LeRoy Butler, Torry Holt, Sam Mills, Zach Thomas, Reggie Wayne

1: Jared Allen, Rhonde Barber, Calvin Johnson, Peyton Manning, Clay Matthews Jr., Charles Woodson

Years of eligibility:

1st: Jared Allen, Calvin Johnson, Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson

2nd: Reggie Wayne

4th: Rhonde Barber, Richard Seymour

6th: Alan Faneca

7th: Torry Holt

8th: Zach Thomas

9th: John Lynch

15th: Tony Boselli, LeRoy Butler

19th: Sam Mills

20th: Clay Matthews Jr.

Here’s a guess at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021:

Peyton Manning

Charles Woodson

Tony Boselli

Alan Faneca

Reggie Wayne

Drew Pearson

Bill Nunn

Tom Flores

Peyton Manning and Charles Woodson are easy. They’re in. Tony Boselli has been waiting too damn long. Injuries cut into the length of his career but he was among the league’s best offensive tackles, if not the best, for 4-5 years. He was among the best, if not the best, during an era populated by the likes of Jonathan Ogden, Walter Jones, Orlando Pace, and Willie Roaf. Boselli should finally join his peers in Canton. Alan Faneca has been waiting too long as well. A receiver logjam is building again and Reggie Wayne is the next receiver in the queue. Ahead of Calvin Johnson. Watching Johnson from 2011-13 was watching a slam-dunk Hall of Fame receiver. His play was ridiculous. He was really good during the years before and after but he wasn’t the same receiving force that he was during those three years. Maybe it was expectations. I expected him to dominate his entire career like he did during those middle three years. Boselli had as many Hall of Fame-worthy years as Johnson and he’s waited 15 years. 

I’d love to see Jared Allen make it in his first-year eligibility. As a fan of the Minnesota Vikings, I want to see it. As a fan of the game’s history and the Hall of Fame, making it in the first year has to mean more than it has. It should be reserved for those that have no doubts. Some might debate Allen’s candidacy. There’s some debate on Calvin Johnson’s candidacy as well. Both had Hall of Fame careers. Both will make it to Canton. I just have doubts as to whether they should make it in the first year. Unfortunately, if there’s doubt they should wait. 

It’s time for Drew Pearson, Bill Nunn, and Tom Flores. 

 

AP College Football Player of the Year

Last week, Alabama receiver DeVonta Smith was named the AP College Football Player of the Year. He finished ahead of his quarterback, Mac Jones.

The voting:

1. DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama-114 (26 first-place votes)

2. Mac Jones, QB, Alabama-67 (9)

3. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson-49 (9)

4. Kyle Trask, QB, Florida-44 (3)

5. Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida-5

6. Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson-3 (1)

7. Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina-3 (1)

8. Zach Wilson, QB, BYU-3

9. Najee Harris, RB, Alabama-2

10. Ian Book, QB, Norte Dame-2

11. Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa-1

12. Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State-1

It’s no surprise that the four players with the most votes for the AP award are the finalists for the Heisman Trophy. That trophy will be awarded tonight. Will Smith take home both awards? The AP Player of the Year has gone on to win the Heisman 17 of 22 times previously. 

Trevor Lawrence has led his team to the College Football Playoffs each of his three years at Clemson. The Tigers won the National Title his freshman year and lost to LSU his sophomore year. Ohio State put an emphatic end to his most recent quest for a title on Saturday. He’s led Clemson to three ACC titles. In three years, he’s lost only two games in which he’s started. By the only standard that ever seems to matter for quarterbacks, wins and championships, Lawrence has had one of the most successful college quarterbacking careers. He’s been pegged as the first pick of whichever NFL Draft that he enters since his freshman season. His greatest individual, season award is the 3rd Team All-America tag that he earned this year. It’s remarkable that he’s received so few national awards. 

But this isn’t about Trevor Lawrence. It’s about DeVonta Smith. In being named the AP Player of the Year, he’s accomplished a few firsts. He’s the first receiver to win the award. Perhaps surprisingly, he’s the first Alabama player to win it. Smith and Mac Jones are the first teammates to finish 1-2 in the voting. It’s the first first that caught my attention. I like receivers. I like seeing receivers receive awards like this. I especially like seeing receivers receive awards like this over quarterbacks. Not all of the best football players are quarterbacks. It might be the most important position on a football team but it doesn’t mean the best players play there. Sometimes it’s receivers that make quarterbacks look good. Alabama is loaded with terrific receivers. Excellent linemen too. And running backs. No offense to Mac Jones, he’s had a fine season, but how could he not.

Here’s a look at the past winners of the AP Player (quarterback) of the Year Award:

2019  Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

2018  Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma

2017  Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

2016  Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

2015  Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford

2014  Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

2013  Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State

2012  Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M

2011  Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

2010  Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

2009  Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

2008  Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

2007  Tim Tebow, QB, Florida

2006  Troy Smith, QB, Ohio State

2005  Reggie Bush, RB, USC

2004  Matt Leinart, QB, USC

2003  Jason White, QB, Oklahoma

2002  Brad Banks, QB, Iowa

2001  Rex Grossman, QB, Florida

2000  Josh Heupel, QB, Oklahoma

1999  Ron Dayne, RB, Wisconsin

1998  Ricky Williams, RB, Texas

23 AP Player of the Year winners. 17 quarterbacks, 4 running backs, 1 defensive tackle, 1 receiver. How the hell did a defensive tackle win this award? Well, Ndamukong Suh often looked like he was playing against grade school kids that season. 

Speaking of playing against overmatched opponents, I was in the stands in 1997 to watch Wisconsin play San Jose State. Two years before he’d take home the 1999 AP Player of the Year award, Ron Dayne ran over and through players against whom he should never have been playing. It was ridiculous. I don’t think that he was ever tackled. 

Cal’s Aaron Rodgers should’ve won it over Matt Leinart in 2004. Cal and USC played a classic game that year. Rodgers was, by far, the best player on the field that day.

There was a time when Oklahoma was probably best known for the running backs that played there. Five Oklahoma quarterbacks have won the AP Player of the Year award. 

Vikings-Lions

The Minnesota Vikings put an end to the frustrating 2020 season with a 37-35 win over the Detroit Lions. It’s nice to end a season with a win. 

Despite a sad start to the game, a four-and-out and a couple three-and-outs, the Vikings offense pretty much had their way with the Lions defense.

Possessions after sad start:

Touchdown

Touchdown

Missed Field Goal

Touchdown

Touchdown

Field Goal

Touchdown 

End of game kneel downs

The Lions nearly matched all of that offensive success. They only punted twice. The difference of the game probably came down to the takeaways by the Vikings. The first was a fumble recovery on a punt return. The second was a Harrison Smith interception. Despite both takeaways occurring on the Lions side of the field, the Vikings turned them into a total of three points. It’s a disappointing point total but they took two possessions from the Lions. With the way the Lions offense often carved through the Vikings defense, taking possessions away was a very good thing. 

So, this 37-35 game was all offense on both sides. Here’s a statistical glimpse of that offense:

Vikings:

74 plays, 508 yards

Rushing: 125

Passing: 383

Lions: 

54 plays, 417 yards

Rushing: 129

Passing: 288

Taking two possessions from the Lions made the win possible.

Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins had some early issues with accuracy, thus the three sad possessions to start. Once he got dialed in he didn’t miss often. 

28/40, 405 yards, 3 TDs, 1 rushing TD

The Vikings were missing their offensive pacesetter. Dalvin Cook had some much more important concerns at home. RIP James Cook.

In Cook’s place, Alexander Mattison played well.

21 carries, 95 yards, 1 TD

3 catches 50 yards, 1 TD

Two of Mattison’s biggest plays came on fourth down.

4th-and-2, late first quarter: 28-yard catch-and-run touchdown

4th-and-1, late fourth: 16-yard, game-sealing run.

Then there’s Justin Jefferson. He entered the game within reach of some rookie receiving history. He needed 47 yards to pass Randy Moss for the most rookie receiving yards in Vikings’ franchise history. He needed 111 yards to pass Anquan Boldin for the most rookie receiving yards during the Super Bowl era. Jefferson caught nine passes for 133 yards against the Lions.

Jefferson’s rookie season:

88 catches, 1400 yards, 7 TDs

He’s my Rookie of the Year. He should be the league’s Rookie of the Year as well.

There was some babble from the game’s announcers and various talking heads that Jefferson’s 1400 receiving yards is an NFL rookie record. Many have amended that phrasing to say that it’s the most in the Super Bowl era. That’s because Bill Groman gained 1473 yards as a rookie for the Houston Oilers in 1960. The NFL officially accepts AFL stats as official stats so it’s official that Groman gained more receiving yards as a rookie than Jefferson did. 

While it was largely due to the fact that the Vikings had to dip deep into their cornerback pool, Lions receiver Marvin Jones Jr. had a terrific game. Injuries forced fresh-off-the-practice-squad Cordrea Tankersley and Dylan Mabin into this game. Jones sent Tankersley to the turf on a basic move for one of his scores. He’s had a few big games against the Vikings. This may have been his best. 

8 catches, 180 yards, 2 TDs

One could even go so far as to say that this was only a two-point game because of Jones. He had a third touchdown taken off the board by the officials. It was a questionable reversal but the Lions eventually scored on the possession. They still got the points that were supposedly taken from them. 

Speaking of questionable calls, the Lions were truly jobbed on a horrible officiating call early in the fourth quarter. On fourth-and-goal from the Lions’ one-yard line, Lions safety Tracy Walker blitzed and sacked Cousins. It was a clean tackle. Somehow, the officials saw roughing the passer. With a revived possession that shouldn’t have been revived, Cousins scored two plays later. It was a turning-point. Instead of Lions getting the ball, down two, it was Vikings kicking off, up eight. Seeing a Vikings’ opponent so completely wronged by the officials was a very foreign feeling. I’m still not sure how to feel about it. 

The Vikings’ defense has had few bright moments this year. Injuries whittled away the front-line talent throughout the season. When a calf injury took Eric Kendricks from the lineup about a month ago it was a tipping point. It was one loss too many. It shouldn’t surprise that this was the team’s first win without Kendricks. 

Of the players that started on defense for the Vikings yesterday, only three might enter the 2021 season as starters:

Harrison Smith

Jeff Gladney

D.J. Wonnum

Rookie guard Kyle Hinton had been on the practice squad all season. He was promoted to the active roster for this game. I hoped that the promotion was so that Hinton could start this game. He didn’t. Instead, Dakota Dozier started a 16th game. 

This has been a strange, mostly frustrating season for the Minnesota Vikings. Despite some defensive atrocities and a slow offensive start against the Lions, it was fun to see the Vikings end this season with a win. It’s fun to see the Vikings win football games. I can’t wait for the day in which the Vikings end a playoff run with a win. It’s coming. 

Flea Flicker Week 17 Predictions

For the first time this season, all 16 games are on Sunday. Here are some guesses at the outcomes of those games. It’s tough to pick Week 17 games. Some teams try. Some don’t.

Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions

Pick: Vikings

The Vikings put a winning cap on a frustrating season. 

RIP James Cook. 

Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills

Pick: Bills

The Bills are the better team. Who knows if the best Bills team plays?

Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals 

Pick: Ravens

The Ravens are the better team and they must win this game.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns

Pick: Browns

The Browns must win. The Steelers are waiting for the playoffs.

New York Jets @ New England Patriots

Pick: Patriots

I guess.

Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants

Pick: Cowboys

It’s an NFC East playoff game. Both teams need a win and a Washington loss. 

Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Pick: Buccaneers

The Falcons usually find a way to lose.

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears

Pick: Packers

The Packers are playing for the NFC’s #1 seed and lone bye. I’m of the opinion that the playoffs will be more entertaining without the Bears.

Oakland Raiders @ Denver Broncos

Pick: Raiders

I guess. 

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts

Pick: Colts

The Colts must win. And wait for help. It’s crazy that an 11-5 AFC team might not make the playoffs.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs

Pick: Chargers

The Chargers can brag that they beat the Chiefs. The Chiefs likely don’t care. 

Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Rams

Pick: Cardinals

Both teams need this win. The Rams won’t have their quarterback.

Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers

Pick: 49ers

I’ll always pick an opportunity to see Pete Carroll sad.

New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers

Pick: Saints

The Saints still have a shot at the #1 seed. They’ll have to win without their running backs,

Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans

Pick: Titans

The Titans are in a “Win and In” situation. 

Washington @ Philadelphia Eagles

Pick: Washington

Washington must win. 

What Might’ve Been

A sad thought bolted through my mind when the Minnesota Vikings released their final injury report of Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions. It was also their final injury report of the 2020 season. 

Out:

Eric Kendricks

Ifeadi Odenigbo

Jalyn Holmes

Cam Dantzler

Chris Jones

That’s four defensive starters and the third corner, so it’s basically five defensive starters. 

The sad thought is of what the Vikings defense might’ve been this season. The defense that had been dominant for most of the past five seasons was going to be different this year. Salary cap constraints had forced an offseason overhaul of the cornerback position. I wasn’t too worried about that seeing as last year’s corners didn’t set a high bar. Two long-time starting defensive linemen needed to be replaced. Change is inevitable in the NFL. The Vikings’ defense had defied that for a remarkably long time. What happens annually across the league was finally happening in Minnesota. Change. The Vikings’ defense was going to be different. There was no reason to think that they would be terrible. There was actually reason to believe that they would be very good. I thought that they would be very good but then I’m usually optimistic about things. This is the defense that everyone connected to the team expected to see on the field this season.

DE  Yannick Ngakoue 

3T   Jaleel Johnson

NT  Michael Pierce

DE  Danielle Hunter

LB  Anthony Barr

LB  Eric Kendricks

LB  Eric Wilson

CB  Cam Dantzler

CB  Jeff Gladney

   S  Harrison Smith

   S  Anthony Harris

-Some combination of Cam Dantzler, Jeff Gladney, and Mike Hughes would fill the cornerback positions in nickel. I’m going Dantzler and Gladney on the outside and Hughes inside. But that’s just me.

I’m of the opinion that the Vikings made the bold move in August to acquire Yannick Ngakoue to pair him with a healthy Danielle Hunter and not to replace an injured Hunter. I don’t think that the team’s decision-makers knew of the seriousness of Hunter’s “tweak” at the time of the trade. 

I like this defense. I wish that I could’ve seen this defense on the field for even one game.

This might be the defense that the Vikings will be trotting out tomorrow to face the Detroit Lions.

DE  D.J. Wonnum 

3T   Jaleel Johnson

NT  Shamar Stephen

DE  Jordan Brailford

LB  Troy Dye

LB  Todd Davis

LB  Eric Wilson

CB  Jeff Gladney

CB  Harrison Hand

   S  Harrison Smith

   S  Anthony Harris

-In nickel situations, which is damn near every situation these days, Dylan Mabin or Cordrea Tankersley might join his teammates on the football field. Should be interesting. 

-The starting defensive ends ruled out for the game (Ifeadi Odenigbo and Jalyn Holmes) are/were starters because Danielle Hunter missed the season and Yannick Ngakoue was traded. 

Come on! This is more of a fourth game of the preseason defense than a regular season defense. I can’t recall ever seeing a defense so depleted by the end of a season. 

With the progress made by rookie corners Gladney and Dantzler, the “dream” defense had the talent and potential to be one of the league’s best. The “actual” defense was too often a disaster. 

The Vikings must improve at three-technique. Whether that means incumbent Jaleel Johnson or even Armon Watts stepping up in a big way next season or selecting a difference-maker in the first round the draft, the Vikings must get much better play from the interior of the defensive line. They need better play from the ends as well but getting a healthy Danielle Hunter back on the field is a terrific start in the right direction. Vikings defensive linemen must be a constant nuisance in the offensive backfield. They rarely were this year. Getting Michael Pierce on the field will help but more, much more, is needed at three-technique. 

At least we got to see some young football players in regular season action that we probably wouldn’t otherwise have seen. In that sense, it was a season of preseason games for the defense. I believe that I’d much rather see the Vikings playing in January than seeing street free agents forced into meaningful snaps.  It’s been a very difficult season for the defense of the Minnesota Vikings. I’m surprised that Mike Zimmer survived it. I’d like to think that they will be better for this year’s struggles. I believe that the snaps and pressure given to and put on rookie corners Gladney and Dantzler will benefit them moving forward. Those two are big reason why I can’t wait to see the 2021 version of this defense. Finally seeing Michael Pierce in a Vikings uniform will be great as well. A healthy Danielle Hunter back on the field? I like that. Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr together again? Yes, please. I can’t wait to see Harrison Smith back to doing everything that he does and no longer having to baby-sit the rest of the secondary. The Vikings’ defense was a tough watch this year. They never had the opportunity to be what they were supposed to be. As soon as training camp opened, integral players were being plucked away. By the time December rolled far too much was gone. This season is a game away from being put in the books. It’s time to think about what might be rather than what might’ve been. 

Pro Football Hall of Fame In Memoriam

The Pro Football Hall of Fame posted their “2020 In Memoriam” video. These are always a tough, tearful, warm look at people that are no longer with us. The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s “In Memoriam” is usually shown at the annual Enshrinement event. The global pandemic wiped out the much-anticipated Centennial Enshrinement Celebration. With the close of this troublesome year, the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s “2020 In Memoriam” celebrates the lives of the 13 Hall of Famers that we’ve lost since August 2019. 

Gale Sayers

Bobby Mitchell

Willie Davis

Herb Adderley

Nick Buoniconti

Jim Langer

Chris Doleman

Fred Dean

Willie Wood

Paul Hornung

Kevin Greene

Don Shula

Larry Wilson

That’s some great football talent. That’s why they’re Hall of Famers.

The entire football world feels the loss of the 13 players but it’s been an especially rough stretch for those close to the Green Bay Packers and Miami Dolphins.

Packers:

Willie Davis

Herb Adderley

Willie Wood

Paul Hornung

Dolphins:

Nick Buoniconti

Jim Langer

Don Shula

Most of the 1960s Packers dynasty and all of the 1970s Dolphins dynasty took place during my lifetime. As a result, neither feels all that long ago. Maybe I’m just arguing with my own age but it’s far too soon for all of these players. 

As a Minnesota Vikings fan, Chris Doleman is a tough loss. I had the opportunity to meet and talk with him and his wife at both the 2018 and 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekends. I truly believed that he was going to beat brain cancer and the surgery that went with it. I was stunned by his passing months after I’d last seen him in Canton. It felt like seeing him had become an annual thing and I looked forward to the next time. I so wanted it to be an annual thing. Chris Doleman is gone far too soon. 

It’s so hard to believe that the Hall of Famers that played in the 1970s have become the Pro Football Hall of Fame “old guys.” It doesn’t feel all that long ago that Red Grange and Bronko Nagurski were still with us. I blink and it’s been 30 years since we lost those icons. Players from the 1950s are now few. Players from the 1960s are thinning. Thank goodness for Charley Trippi.

 Way to soon? Kevin Greene. 58 is way too soon. It feels like I just saw those blonde locks flowing from a football helmet. Greene’s lion-maned bust challenges those of Ed Reed, Randy Moss, Sid Gillman, and Dutch Clark for best in the Hall. 

My condolences to the family and friends of the Hall of Famers lost.