NFL 2009 Midseason Awards

Now that we have officially reached the midseason mark of the 2009 NFL season, I will now present my selections for all of the major NFL awards at this point in the NFL season:

 

MVP: Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts, QB)

His great head coach is gone. His Hall of Fame wide receiver is gone. His defense was supposed to be too small. His kicker is out with an injury.

And yet, Peyton Manning has led his team to an undefeated record at the midway point in the season. I won’t even list his numbers, because as good as they are they don’t even do him justice.

Peyton Manning is the NFL’s MVP, and may one day be recognized as the best quarterback of all time.

Offensive Player of the Year: Matt Schaub (Houston Texans, QB)

This is absolutely no question that Matt Schaub is the most underrated player in the NFL today. Currently, he leads the league with 2,653 passing yards, and his 17 passing touchdowns and 98.1 passer rating are right along the top as well.

He’ll lose out on the MVP award largely because of what Peyton Manning means to his team, but it can be argued that no quarterback has played better than Matt Schaub thus far in the season.

 

Defensive Player of the Year: Darren Sharper (New Orleans Saints, FS)

He leads the league with seven interceptions and has completely transformed the New Orleans Saints defense. That looks like a defensive player of the year to me.

 

Special Teams Player of the Year: Josh Cribbs (Cleveland Browns, KR/WR)

In 2009 thus far, Josh Cribbs has put together one of the most well rounded special teams performances in recent memory.

As of this date, Cribbs has recorded a touchdown on both a kick return and punt return, as well as three tackles as a gunner on special teams. Not to mention, Cribbs has managed to do all of this while playing wide receiver and wild cat quarterback at the same time.

What more could you ask the guy to do?

 

Rookie of the Year: Jairus Byrd (Buffalo Bills, FS)

Talk about name discrimination.

While Darren Sharper is making a name for himself as the best defensive player in the league this year due to his big time interceptions, Byrd has just as many picks as Sharper and only three less tackles. This award belongs to Byrd, hands down.

 

Comeback Player of the Year: Brett Favre (Minnesota Vikings, QB)

Despite having a comeback of sorts last year, there is no question that Brett Favre did not meet his lofty expectations by season’s end. However, with 16 touchdowns compared to just three interceptions thus far on the season, Favre is suddenly having one of the best seasons of his career.

If Brett can hold up through the end of the season, this award is his.

 

Breakout Player of the Year: Cedric Benson (Cincinnati Bengals, RB)

Last year, Cedric Benson was being looked at as a monumental bust after being released by the Bears several years after his first round selection in the NFL draft. However, things have changed since his arrival in Cincinnati, as Benson now boasts 837 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns at the half way point in the season.

I don’t think anyone would have said this at the beginning of the season, but expect to see Benson in the Pro Bowl as season’s end.

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Should The New York Giants Trade For Anquan Boldin?

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Ever since the premature ejection of the New York Giants from the NFL playoffs last season, there has been one looming question on the mind of each and every fan of the Big Blue; should the team make a trade for All-Pro wide receiver Anquan Boldin?

 

This is a tough question that no single individual can answer with absolute certainty, as the great benefits to enacting such a move are matched almost symmetrically with equally potent deterrents. Therefore, I will now assess the pros and cons of such a trade in an attempt to definitively determine whether or not the New York Giants should trade for Anquan Boldin.

 

 

The Pros

 

The pros for trading for Anquan Boldin are relatively obvious. First of all, Anquan is arguably one of the top three wide receivers in the NFL today.

 

Furthermore, at only 28-years old, Anquan is still in the prime of his career and would likely provide Eli Manning with the game-breaking receiver that he has missed since the departure of Plaxico Burress.

 

In addition to his great hands and ability to excel in traffic, Anquan is an above average run blocker and would aid the Big Blue running backs in reaching the outside and breaking away for big gains.

 

It should also be noted that Anquan Boldin played quarterback in college and as a result, he could certainly be utilized in the wildcat formation should Tom Coughlin opt to incorporate it into his offensive scheme.

 

 

The Cons

 

In spite of the incredible gains that await the Giants should they make a trade for Anquan Boldin, the cons of such a deal should certainly be noted.

 

First off, the primary reason why the Giants are searching for a new star receiver in the first place is because the previous incumbent to the position displayed character and discipline issues that made his presence on the New York Giants football team a distraction.

 

Unfortunately, Anquan is beginning to exude some similar character traits. While no aspect of Anquan Boldin’s behavior has ever ventured into the criminal realm like Mr. Burress, Boldin’s selfish and unrelenting demand for a new lofty contract is the very type of distraction that the New York Giants want to avoid.

 

While Anquan’s talent does warrant additional value to the salary with which he is currently provided, the demands that he has put forth since the end of last season are too hefty for the Cardinals to cope with. Even with his All-Pro quarterback, Kurt Warner, offering to give up money in order to assist in compensating Boldin, the finances still simply haven’t checked out in a manner that would be sufficed for Anquan Boldin.

 

Not only does this serve as a red flag in respect to Anquan’s character traits, but it also suggested that the New York Giants may not be able to financially afford him. In the past several years, the Giants have had success largely because they have acquired quality players who are willing to play with contracts that will keep the team comfortably under the salary cap.

 

However, with the addition of Anquan Boldin, it would become incredibly hard to sign him to an extended contract without breaking the bank beyond repair. In addition, any New York Giants fans who followed the Cardinals during last year’s playoffs have witnessed the bickering that went on between Anquan and his offensive coordinator.

 

Do the Giants really need a receiver who is that tough to get along with? Shockey and Burress both received their pink slips for a similar reason. Therefore, I do not think that a trade for Boldin would be the prudent move to make.

 

Finally, it should also be noted that the Giants would have to compensate the Cardinals quite heavily in order to obtain Boldin. After all, 28-year old football players don’t grow on trees, and the Cards would likely require as much as two first-round picks in order to complete such a deal.

 

Between the high compensation requirements, heavy contract demands, and ever illuminant contract issues that inheritably come with the acquisition of Anquan Boldin, would it really be worth it to trade for him?

 

As much as I would like to see him in a Big Blue uniform, the logistics of the case simply indicate that it wouldn’t be wise for the Giants to pursue any such trade. At least under the current set of circumstances that the Giants are presented with.

New York Giants Won’t Limit Travis Beckum to Tight End Position

In the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected Travis Beckum, the 6’3″, 243-pound tight end out of Wisconsin. While the jury is still out on how Beckum will fare in the NFL, scouts have called him a solid receiving tight end with almost no run-blocking skills.

However, after carefully reviewing statements on Beckum by both the New York Giants as well as the general media, I’m beginning to think that he isn’t quite a tight end at all.

Beckum isn’t the ideal size for a tight end. In fact, in an era in which 270-pound tight ends are the standard, Beckum can actually be viewed as more of a wide receiver than a tight end, at least in terms of his body size. However, that may be his most familiar role anyway.

After reading up on several scouting reports on Travis Beckum, it appears that the position at which he will hold the most in game value is as a slot receiver. With speed that can best be quantified within the approximation of a 4.5 forty, Beckum has sufficient speed to beat defensive backs to the ball and serve as a solid zone-busting third-down receiving option.

It could be compared to the way Steve Smith has been used in thus far in his career.

Furthermore, Beckum has the heft and power to block out defensive backs that are unlucky enough to be assigned to him on a running play. Travis’ impressive bench press results of 28 repetitions of 225 pounds are a solid indicator of the strength that he possesses, providing further reason to believe that he could become a nightmare matchup against smaller defensive backs.

So, what would happen if the defense decides to cover Beckum with an outside linebacker? Well, with his above-average speed and superior route-running abilities, any linebacker in the league would likely have his hands full trying to cover Beckum.

While the official roster may list him as a tight end, it is this role as a slot receiver that I expect Beckum to take on most commonly in his first year with the New York Giants.

While Beckum’s skills almost certainly will translate effectively to the role of slot receiver, it is not the only role at which Beckum’s abilities are expected to be utilized. As a solid receiver with great strength, some Giants insiders believe that Beckum’s skill set will fit in well at the H-back position.

For those who are unfamiliar with this essentially unofficial position, the H-back can best be described as a receiver who plays out of the position spot typically reserved for the fullback. While Madison Hedgecock is arguably the best blocking fullback in the NFL, his receiving skills are sub-par at this point in his career.

Having a receiving specialist who can fill in for Hedgecock in appropriate situations would make for a very dangerous weapon for the New York Giants. With a fullback, or H-back who can receive out of the backfield, the defense is forced to reconstruct their scheme to compensate for this unusual offensive attack. As a result, more holes will inherently open up for both the passing game and running game, as both linebackers and defensive backs will be forced to take on additional and arduous responsibilities on defense.

While the addition of Travis Beckum to the New York Giants may not have received as much publicity and fanfare as the additions of Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden, I believe that Beckum will have the greatest impact of the trio on the Giants’ receiving game in 2009.

As a physically talented receiver who can fit in at three very different positions, opposing defenses will always be forced to pay attention to where he lines up on the field. So, it seems almost certain that Travis Beckum will make his mark on the NFL in 2009; the only question is, at which position will it take place?

Ten Questions For Rashad Barksdale Of The New York Giants

While most New York Giants fans are familiar with the likes of Aaron Ross and Corey Webster, only the most devout of fans have ventured far enough down the depth chart to pay attention to the likes of Rashad Barksdale, the young and raw cornerback out of the University at Albany.

As a recent graduate of Albany, I have had the pleasure of studying along side Barksdale, working out in the same facilities, and even watching him play up close for Albany’s Division 1 football team.

Therefore, it’s safe to say that I have an unusually strong knowledge of this player’s game as well as his unusual ascent to the NFL, and I don’t think there is a single player on the Giants more worthy of a quick interview than him.

With that said, here are 10 questions that I would like to ask him if I am given the opportunity to conduct such an interview:

1. I understand that you only played one year of college football. Why did you wait until your senior year until you gave football a try? Also, how did you become good enough to garner NFL attention in such a short period of time?

2. Prior to your brief college football career, I understand that you were a pretty good college baseball player. If you would have stuck primarily with baseball, do you think you would have had a shot at being drafted into Major League Baseball?

3. As I’m sure you know, getting drafted after playing only one year of college football at a relatively insignificant football school is quite rare. What kind of 40-yard dash time did you run to grab the attention of NFL scouts?

4. After bouncing around between NFL teams, you are now finally back in New York. How does it feel to be playing with your hometown team?

5. What kind of impact do you think you can have on the New York Giants in 2009?

6. What are your long term goals for yourself in the NFL, both as an individual as well as a member of a team?

7. What aspect of your game do you consider to be your greatest strength? Conversely, what aspect of your game do you consider to be your greatest weakness?

8. In order for you to make the New York Giants roster at the crowded cornerback position, you will likely have to excel on special teams. How would you describe your game as a special teams player thus far in your NFL career?

9. As I’m sure you know, there has never before been a player out of the University at Albany drafted into the NFL. With that said, what made you choose to play football there? Overall, how would you describe your experiences there?

10. As anyone who has ever attended Albany would attest to, the university is undoubtedly one of the top party schools in the entire country. With that said, I must ask which of the local bars was your nightlife option of choice (During the offseason, of course)?

 

Are NFL Linemen Too Big for Their Own Good?

As an athlete for the majority of my life, I have always believed that a key component to the life of an athlete was to work towards an optimal level of health and conditioning so that you are best able to succeed in sport as well as in life.

For the most part, this basic principle seems to hold true, as a great number of the world’s best athletes are in incredible physical shape, regardless of their sport.

However, it has come to my attention that one of the sports that I love the most may be encouraging a lifestyle that simply doesn’t put its athletes in a position to live a healthy lifestyle.

The sport is football, and the victims are the offensive and defensive linemen.

It is my firm belief that these athletes are being forced to reach a size that simply isn’t fit for most human beings, and as a result, their quality of life is being dramatically cut short.

Therefore, I now intend to explore this deeply disturbing issue in hopes of identifying the problem, as well as formulating a solution that can save the lives of countless NFL athletes.

In the most recent issue of Sports Illustrated, an article was written in which the lives of several college linemen were explored following their departure from football. In most cases, it was found that these linemen ballooned up as heavy as 400 pounds, and many of them suffered some severe health problems following their graduation.

For the lucky few who managed to lose the weight that they had to gain during their football days, they made it clear to those who covered the story that they felt much happier and healthier in their natural state.

In fact, Brett Byford, a former center at Nebraska, actually turned down an NFL tryout because he never wanted to have to gain back the weight that was required to play on an offensive line in football.

While many of these linemen held playing weights that exceeded 300 pounds, their natural weights often lie between 200 and 230—significantly less than the playing weight that they were essentially forced to maintain.

However, what about the players who make it to the NFL? In the NFL today, both offensive and defensive linemen commonly exceed 300 pounds, with the largest players weighing in close to 400 pounds.

In fact, in the contemporary NFL, it is almost impossible for a lineman under the playing weight of 290 pounds to make it in the league, regardless of talent level.

So, in order to gain a better understanding of the super-sized offensive lines that are found all across the NFL landscape, let us take a look at my favorite NFL team, the New York Giants.

The left tackle of the Giants is David Diehl, who weighs in at a hefty 319 pounds.

At left guard the Giants have Rich Seubert, who can almost be considered skinny for an NFL guard at 310 pounds. At center the Giants have captain Shaun O’Hara, who weighs in at a mere 303 pounds.

At right guard the Giants boast All-Pro guard Chris Snee, who weighs in at 317 pounds. Finally, we find right tackle Kareem McKenzie, who packs a punch at 327 pounds.

Notice anything unusual about the measurements on the New York Giants’ offensive line? That’s right—every single starting lineman weighs over 300 pounds. Unfortunately, this is becoming an overwhelming trend in the NFL, as coaches continue to look for bigger and bigger offensive linemen to counteract the effects of ever-growing defensive linemen.

While the size of these players may help win ball games, accounts by many of them indicate that their standards of living are not as high as they should be, and following their NFL careers, their health will almost certainly fall into jeopardy.

This issue has not been seriously discussed by NFL officials at this point in time, but I believe that this is an issue that needs to be addressed quickly. Otherwise, the NFL will be forced to mourn the loss of some of its most beloved athletes much sooner than any of us would like.

Now that the problem has been sufficiently identified, how may we go about fixing it? Well, I have a couple of suggestions.

 

1) Place a weight limit on offensive and defensive linemen

I believe that taking this action would save the lives of countless athletes. By placing a weight limit at these positions, the unnatural growth of these athletes will be limited, and their physical health, as well as the quality of football that they play, should increase as a result.

After all, if an NFL center doesn’t have to worry about blocking a 350-pound defender, then he would be freer to utilize his speed on pulls and counters at a lean 280 pounds. For me, this would be a win-win situation.

However, certain obstacles would likely prevent this from happening. For instance, what would the weight limit be? I would suggest 300 pounds, but a case could be made for a lighter weight. In that case, what should be done about very tall athletes who naturally come in at a higher weight?

Also, what should be done about shorter athletes who are able to make the weight limit but are still what one would consider fat? This brings me to my next suggestion.

 

2) Establish a maximum body fat percentage, or height to weight ratio

By stating that NFL players may not have a body fat percentage over a certain amount, offensive and defensive linemen would no longer be able to eat themselves to death.

Also, by establishing a height-to-weight ratio on such requirements, 7’0″ athletes won’t have to worry about slimming down to an unnecessary extent, while a 5’8″ lineman wouldn’t be able to get around any loopholes by gaining 50 pounds of bulk.

However, some issues apply here as well. What would be done about non-linemen who happen to exceed the required weight limits? Some fullbacks, such as Jon Bradley, actually reach 300 pounds in weight.

Also, one trend that is forming in the NFL today is the use of extremely large running backs to pave their way through the defense. Should their weights be limited as well? As a big-time fan of the likes of Brandon Jacobs and Reagan Mauia, I would like to say no.

However, with smaller defensive lines, opposing coaches will inevitably start to take advantage by searching for bigger running backs, both for the purpose of running through the defense as well as for extra blocking help.

If this happens, some type of regulation would have to be made to counteract any unfair advantages that opposing offenses would gain as a result.

 

In the end, I believe something absolutely has to be done about the weight of NFL offensive and defensive linemen.

While size has always been a positive advantage in football, the obesity of today’s linemen is ruining the game of football, and even more so the lives the players who work in the trenches.

By slimming down, the offensive line in the NFL can once again become a position of skill in which centers sprint towards the outside of the hash marks to make blocks, and guards run towards the secondary to take out a safety.

In order to effectively establish the necessary changes, the NFL should take the example of the sport of Sprint Football.

In this college-level game, football players of all positions are required to weigh in at under 172 pounds, and as a result, the speed of the game is faster and more exciting. Sprint football teams have had an extensive history of beating even full-sized Division I football teams in exhibitions.

In today’s NFL, there may be no more important issue than the size of its linemen. Let’s just hope Roger Goodell gets the message before it’s too late.

Who Will Be The New York Giants’ MVP For The 2009 Season?

While football is undoubtedly a team sport first and foremost, it seems as though every team within the National Football League has one true MVP; namely, that one player who can carry the team to victory, and that one player whom that team certainly wouldn’t be successful without.

With that said, I will now assess the players who I believe will be candidates for the title of the New York Giants’ MVP for the 2009 football season.

 

Eli Manning, Quarterback

Any MVP discussion in football always has to begin with the team’s quarterback.

Eli put forth a solid 86.4 passer rating last season, complemented by 21 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. However, following the suspension of Plaxico Burress last year, Manning’s numbers took a serious dip as a result of missing his No. 1 target.

Physically speaking, Eli features an above average arm with solid mechanics and good touch on the deep ball. Furthermore, Eli has grown to become extremely proficient passing out of the play action and many of his greatest passes last year were a result of exactly that.

All in all, if the Giants’ are to have success this year, Eli Manning will have to be a major part of it, and for that reason I would say he is a solid team MVP candidate.

 

Brandon Jacobs, Running Back

With my second nomination, I will now take a look at Brandon Jacobs, the 6’ 4″, 264 lbs running back who can literally carry his teammates on his back.

Despite his massive frame and reputation for not being one of the faster running backs in the game, Brandon averaged an outstanding five yards per carry last season, and can be expected to put up similar numbers next season.

Brandon’s totals of 1,089 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns are simply a sneak peak of what he can accomplish if he can stay healthy for a full NFL season.

In more qualitative terms, Brandon is a bruising running back who has the ability to both run around defenders as well as run over them.

Not only does he help his team by accumulating yardage and touchdowns, but the physical damage that he inflicts on the opposing defense benefits his team in ways that cannot be quantified.

However, Brandon’s receiving game does have much room for improvement, and his pass protection abilities could certainly be better for someone of his size.

If Brandon Jacobs can stay healthy next season and continue to improve in both his receiving and blocking duties, he will certainly be one of the most valuable members of the Giants’ 2009 squad.

 

Chris Snee, Right Guard

While the quarterback may be the most important individual on a football team, there is certainly no more important unit than the offensive line.

On the New York Giants’ offensive line, there is no better player than the 6’ 3″, 317 lbs Chris Snee.

Chris, who is actually the son in law of head coach Tom Coughlin, is a bruising road grader who helped pave the way for the New York Giants’ rushing game last season. In 2008, the Giants led the entire league with 157.4 team rushing yards per game, and Chris Snee certainly deserves a great deal of credit for that statistic.

In terms of his actual game, Chris Snee is the type of guard that running backs dream of. Chris is one of the best in the game when it comes to opening up lanes for the running back to run through, which is probably why so many different running backs have seemed to have success behind the Giants’ offensive line.

In pass protection, Chris is certainly above average, and Eli seldom seemed to feel significant pressure from his side of the line. At the same time though, it should be noted that a right guard certainly has an easier assignment in terms of pass protection than a left tackle.

While Brandon Jacobs and the other running backs on the Giants’ squad get most of the credit, it would be hard for any of them to have the same kind of success without Chris Snee’s prolific run blocking.

For that reason, Chris undoubtedly deserves his nomination as team MVP.

 

Justin Tuck, Defensive End

In 2008, Justin Tuck absolutely exploded onto the NFL scene, becoming one of the most dangerous and well-rounded defensive ends in the game. Last season, Justin recorded 12 sacks, 67 tackles, three forced fumbles, and even one interception. These numbers rightfully placed Tuck in his first ever Pro Bowl.

On the gridiron, Justin features a solid repertoire of pass rushing moves that gives him a chance to get to the quarterback in any situation.

Not only can Justin rush the passer off the edge, but on third down he is even sometimes put in as a defensive tackle to rush the passer from the middle. Justin has had great success in this role, making him one of the most versatile defensive ends in the game.

Furthermore, at 6’ 5″ and 274 lbs, Justin has the size to hold his own anywhere on the defensive line.

In 2008, Justin Tuck was arguably the best player on the New York Giants. While the Giants’ defense as a whole can be looked at as the key to the team’s success, I firmly believe that Tuck’s contributions to this side of the football will be key in determining how far the Giants go in 2009.

 

Jeff Feagles, Punter

With my final nomination for the honor of team MVP for the New York Giants in the 2009 season, I will take a look at a very special teamer. This nominee is the 43-year-old punter, Jeff Feagles.

Despite his age, Jeff may still be the best punter in the NFL today. While several punters around the league have greater leg strength than Jeff, there may never be a better punter at pinning the football within the 20 yard line of the football field.

In fact, Jeff’s ability to place the ball exactly where he wants it is so prolific that he can sometimes carry his team towards victory on his leg alone. I believe Jeff is the only punter in NFL history, other than the great Ray Guy, to be that important to his football team.

While Jeff isn’t exactly a physically imposing guy, he does measure in at a formidable 6’ 1″ and 215 lbs. Jeff’s longest punt in 2008 was a whopping 61 yards long, which is certainly impressive for any punter, let alone one at 43 years of age.

With 23 of his 64 punts last year placing the opposition within their own 20 yard line, Jeff can certainly be said to have been one of the better players on the Giants last year, and I expect to see more from him this year.

So, if Jeff Feagles continues to help the Giants win football games by pinning opposing teams in the tightest of corners on the field, he may very well come to be the team’s 2009 MVP.

Who do I think the New York Giants’ 2009 MVP will be? I could tell you, but my opinion really isn’t that important. The question is; who do you think the New York Giants’ 2009 MVP will be?

The Five Most Intriguing Players in the 2009 NFL Draft

Yes, we all know by now that Matthew Stafford was the number 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. However, as a fan of the game, is he one of the more interesting picks from this year’s draft? Not by a long shot. For better of for worse, several players will be entering the NFL whom posess abilities that we haven’t really seen much of in the NFL before. With that said, here are 5 such players whom NFL fans should take notice of in 2009:

2009 New York Giants Draft Analysis

The 2009 NFL Draft was undoubtedly one of the more exciting ones in recent memory. The Jets traded up to obtain their franchise quarterback, the Patriot’s worked their usual draft- day magic, and the Oakland Raiders confused each and every one of us at least a few times during the process. However, their may be no more impressive feat in this year’s draft than the body of work put forth by Jerry Reese and the New York Giants. With that said, here is my analysis of the New York Giants’ 2009 draft picks:

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