Every NFL team has now played eight games, meaning the season has reached the halfway point. So this week we're presenting our NFL FanHouse Midseason Midtacular.
Least Valuable Player of the Half-Season nominees:
David Carr, QB, Panthers
Carr must have been an awful person in his previous life, I don't know how else to explain an NFL career that can best be described in four words: sacks and bad decisions. Through five-plus seasons, Carr has been sacked 261 times. That's about 250 more times than Peyton Manning and Tom Brady over that same period. After the Texans released him last off-season, Carr signed with the Panthers where he has battled poor play, concussions and Vinny Testaverde for playing time. That Carr can't beat out a 43-year-old guy with a Jheri curl automatically qualifies him for this list.
Larry Johnson, RB, Chiefs
Johnson his coming off back-to-back 1,700-yard rushing seasons, and last year, Kansas City head coach Herm Edwards looked like he was going to run LJ until his legs fell off. Johnson had 416 carries in 2006, making him the honorary Curse of 370 spokesperson this off-season. Through eight games, LJ is averaging just 69.9 rushing yards, at 3.5 yards per pop. And after injuring his ankle against the Packers next week, it's not clear when he'll return to the lineup.
Sorry, No Photos
Steve McNair, QB, Ravens
It's sad watching a once great player devolve into a has-been in the time it takes to ask, "Brian Billick ... he's supposed to be an offensive genius? Really?" But that's where we are with McNair, who has yet to throw a pass more than 20 yards down field since coming to Baltimore last summer. Against the Steelers on Monday night, McNair set an NFL record for the fewest passing yards (63) of any player with at least 13 completions. To be fair, he has been recovering from a groin injury suffered in Week 1, but anytime there's a quarterback controversy and Kyle Boller is the potential beneficiary ... well, that's not good.
Shaun Alexander, RB, Seahawks
Alexander is a two-year member of the Curse of 370 club. If you thought last year was bad, man, were you wrong. Alexander had exactly 370 carries in 2005, and missed six games last season with a foot injury. He finished '06 with only 896 rushing yards and a 3.6 YPC average. He's started every game this season, but his yards per carry are down to 3.3. And the one-time fantasy-football gold mine now has trouble getting back to the line of scrimmage. Kinda sad, actually.
And the winner is...
Shaun Alexander. McNair had a shot here, but Alexander has been in decline for two seasons now. If Mike Holmgren trots him out next year, Alexander could actually end the season with negative yards.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-08-2007 @ 11:58PM
George B Vieto said...
David Carr has probably never gained his confidence to play quarterback in the NFL.
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11-09-2007 @ 9:58AM
joe said...
Uh...I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but Shaun hasn't actually declined. His offensive line has. Ever since Steve H. was lost to the vikings, the O-line hasn't been able to maintain continuity (sp?. And looking at what Peterson is doing in Minnesota, I would have to say that Hutch was a lot bigger of a contributor than people give him credit for. I don't know, maybe it's because I'm from Seattle but I refuse to believe that Alexander is washed up. He isn't earning his money because his blockers don't want to earn theirs.
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11-09-2007 @ 11:09AM
Justin said...
It's kinda surprising that Carr could beat out Sage whathisname in Houston but couldn't beat out Vinny Testaverde, who by the way will be 44 soon.
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11-09-2007 @ 4:49PM
nyc said...
Joe,
Great point!!! You hit the nail on the head, except for one thing.... He's never been that good. It was Hutchinson and Walter _____ (the LT). Without them he's proving to be what he is - Mediocre. I am a Giants fan and I watched that whole game in 05, where the Seahawks won in OT. Every single handoff was to the left side (Shocking), and though Alexander gained 110 yards, he did it in 35 carries. (For a robust 3.14 ypc average).
Alexander was benefitting from the Emmitt Smith effect (Tremendous O-line for an above average runner to put up mvp numbers). Now, unfortunately, they're both gone and tho I don't expect him to slip under 3.0 ypc, I can assure you, Seattle will never see their MVP again.
As an aside, this works for ALMOST all RB's. Only Barry, Tomlinson, and Gale Sayers have proved they don't need much of an O-line. And Shaun Alexander, you are no Barry, LT or Gale
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11-11-2007 @ 6:58AM
John said...
David Carr could go down as the worst QB to ever lace them up (drafted starters only, of course)
He has an ability to find the sack that nobody can match.
As a Panther fan, his play is so painful to watch, that I would rather Matt Moore start so we could at least see what we have for next year's backup or potential starter if Jake is done.
Marty Hurney gets a big red dumbass ribbon for bringing in Carr to "challenge" Jake Delhomme. I mean for God's sake Houston gave up on him in favor of an unproven QB from Atlanta.
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