2009 NFL Season Awards: My Take

Every year, the entire football world has a constant argument as to who is most deserving of the individual awards for the year. Almost everyone has a different opinion, although some awards are crystal clear to everyone. As everyone else will undoubtedly do, I decided to chime in with my choices and reasons. 

 
League Most Valuable Player – Peyton Manning 
 
Runners Up – Chris Johnson, Philip Rivers, Brett Favre, Drew Brees  
 
Despite a historic season from Chris Johnson, an MVP worthy season from Rivers, and a nostalgic season from Favre, to me Manning is the only choice. No player in the NFL raises the performance of his team than he. How many times this season have we seen Manning get the ball with less than two minutes left in the half or the game and drive down the field with a level of ease that makes you wonder if he is even human?

On top of that, he has done it all with some weapons that, outside of Indianapolis, not many had heard of. Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie have proven themselves to be legitimate players in the pro game, and you should look no further than Manning to find out why. 
 
Every MVP has an individual who helped them get there, and this year it was Reggie Wayne. Despite being double covered since Week One, Wayne has managed to give Manning an outlet down field whenever the pressure reaches him. 
 
With “valuable” being the crucial word in the discussion, no team would suffer a bigger drop off in their record if they lost any single player than the Colts would if they lost Manning. This is why he is going to become the only four-time League MVP Winner. 

 
Offensive Player Of The Year – Chris Johnson 
 
Runners Up – Philip Rivers,  Drew Brees, Andre Johnson, DeSean Jackson 
 
Once again, there are several legitimate candidates for this award, but only one true winner. Manning could stake him claim for this award, but its rightful recipient is Chris Johnson.

When I consider the offensive player of the year, I look to the other side of the ball. What do they do to the opposition defence? It is all very well running for 150 yards a game when the defence is playing off the line of scrimmage to stop the pass, but to do what Chris Johnson has done this season against the eight-man box all season long is nothing short of spectacular. 
 
When I saw him at the combine in 2008, I, along with many, saw his 40-yard time and immediately labeled him a speed runner. Couple this with the 2008 season, where LenDale White was given the power inside runs, I believed that Johnson would be cemented into his role throughout his career.

Fast-forward to this season. He has shown a side of his game that has impressed me as much as any back in my tenure of watching the NFL. His combination of speed and power in breaking tackles have allowed him to put up numbers among the greats. Whether or not he continues these numbers throughout his career is another question, but for this year alone, he has elevated himself to the status of league’s best back and the Offensive Player of the Year. 

 
Defensive Player Of The Year – Darrelle Revis 
 
Runners Up – Jared Allen, Elvis Dumerville, Dwight Freeney, Patrick Willis 
 
The term “Shutdown Corner” gets used more than Tiger Woods as a punch line recently, which is unfair to the select few in history who truly deserve the label. This season Revis has shut down just about every receiver lined up in front of him. Like Jack Shephard from Lost , the receivers have landed on “Revis Island” and found no way to get off. 
 
Using the criteria of the offensive award, no player has affected the way an offense plays more than Revis. With his ability to lock out No. 1 receivers, the Jets have had the opportunity to blitz in situations where other teams would normally be beaten deep. Furthermore, instead of having to double a receiver with a safety every down, on running downs the Jets are able to stack the line, safe in the knowledge that Revis wont be beaten deep in play action. 
 
I am not saying Revis has done everything by himself, far from it, but his impact when he is on the field is so drastic that quarterbacks avoid throwing to his side of the field. While there are other worthy contenders, Revis is the easy choice for me.

 
 
Offensive Rookie Of The Year – Percy Harvin 
 
Runners Up – Knowshon Moreno, Chris “Beanie” Wells, Kenny Britt, Hakeem Nicks 
 
Questions about his personality and work ethic caused Harvin to fall in the draft in April, allowing the Vikings to select the dynamic play maker from Florida. With Favre joining up with the Vikings, Harvin was presented a rare opportunity to have a featured role in his rookie year in an offense lead by a first ballot Hall of Famer.

With his effectiveness in the passing game tailing off in the latter part of the season, his effectiveness in the return game has assured him of this award. Making an impact in one phase of the game as a rookie is challenging enough, let alone two. 

 
Defensive Rookie Of The Year – Brian Cushing 
 
Runners Up – Jairus Byrd, Brian Orakpo, Clay Matthews, James Laurinaitis 
 
This year’s defensive rookie class was full of potential stars. Byrd has done more than enough to stake his claim to the award, but I feel that Cushing has had the biggest impact of them all. He has played like a seasoned veteran in all aspects of defence. He has made an impact against the run, been effective rushing the passer, and covered as well as any linebacker in the division. Although the runners up could all be legitimate winners, to me, Cushing is the Defensive Rookie Of The Year. 

 
Comeback Player Of The Year – Cedric Benson 
 
After several off the field incidents and an ugly separation from the Chicago Bears, Benson’s career seemed to be hanging on by a thread. After getting his personal life into order, he entered training camp this year with a new work ethic. This season he has given the Bengals an effective power run game to go along with Carson Palmer and the passing game, making them a threat in the playoffs.

In my eyes, Benson has established himself as a top 10 back, which is quite a jump up from being one court judgment away from being out of the league. His comeback was not matched by anyone this season, or in the past few seasons. 

 
Coach Of The Year – Norv Turner 
 
If this award was for an entire coaching staff, the Colts would win it hands down, but unfortunately it is not. Turner has a team that, albeit talented, was in dire straights earlier in the season.

After a poor start, they lost key members along both lines, damaging their running game and run defence. Despite this, and an aging running back in LaDainian Tomlinson, Turner has managed his team into a great playoff position, as well as possibly being the best team in the league.

Going into the playoffs, the Chargers are potentially the most dangerous team, and this has a lot to do with Turner putting them in position to win. 

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