FanHouse 'Experts' Pick NFL Award Winners

Posted Dec 30, 2008 2:00PM By Shane Bacon (RSS feed)

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As the regular season concluded, the FanHouse football writers all got together in a secret meeting in Will Brinson's mother's basement to discuss the players of the year. Who was the best coach? Which rookie stood out? Who was the most valuable player?

After much deliberation (and tons of meatloaf), here are the FanHouse NFL Award Winners. Only players/coaches who got votes were included in the final results.

Defensive Player of the Year

Justin Tuck, NY Giants -- 10 percent
Shaun Rogers, Cleveland -- 10 percent
Albert Haynesworth, Tennessee -- 15 percent
Jared Allen, Minnesota -- 20 percent
DeMarcus Ware, Dallas -- 45 percent

His last game not withstanding, can you really argue with 20 sacks? The Cowboys' linebacker was also involved in 84 tackles and six forced fumbles in 2008.

Offensive Player of the Year

Andre Johnson, Houston -- 10 percent
Peyton Manning, Indianapolis -- 30 percent
Drew Brees, New Orleans -- 20 percent
DeAngelo Williams, Carolina -- 40 percent

It is one thing to lead the NFL in rushing touchdowns. It is a whole other to do so when you don't score in your first four games. Williams rushed for over 1,515 yards, had had five multi-touchdown games (including two with four scores) and even caught two in the end zone.

Coach of the Year

Tony Sparano, Miami -- 20 percent
Mike Smith, Atlanta -- 80 percent

You had to do something pretty impressive to smoke a coach who took his team from one win a year ago to the playoffs. That just shows how impressive Smith and his Falcons have been. A 4-11 squad last year with absolutely no upside (Joey Harrington was the leading passer in 11 games), Smith turned Atlanta into an 11-5 team with a rookie quarterback and first-time starting running back.

Comeback of the Year

Kyle Orton, Chicago -- 20 percent
Dunta Robinson, Houston -- 30 percent
Jake Delhomme, Carolina -- 50 percent

A year after Tommy John Surgery on his elbow, Delhomme threw for 3,288 yards, 15 touchdowns and has the Panthers in the playoffs at 12-4.

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Matt Forte, Chicago -- 10 percent
Chris Johnson, Tennessee -- 10 percent
Matt Ryan, Atlanta -- 80 percent

Because 2008 was the Year of the Offensive Rookie, picking one might have been tougher if Ryan hadn't been so darn good. Composed, collected and downright cool, Matty Ice was the player that kept you eying Atlanta on the corner TV at the bar.

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Chris Horton, Washington -- 20 percent
Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie, Arizona -- 30 percent
Jerod Mayo, New England -- 50 percent

When your team is 11-5 and you are the leading tackler by nearly 50 tackles, winning an award as the top rookie is fairly inevitable. On an aging defense like the Patriots, Mayo is the one young guy the team can build around.

Most Valuable Player

Drew Brees, New Orleans -- 10 percent
Albert Haynesworth, Tennessee -- 10 percent
DeAngelo Williams, Carolina -- 15 percent
Peyton Manning, Indianapolis -- 65 percent

In terms of value, nothing comes close to Manning. Brees was fantastic but his team couldn't win. Haynesworth was a beast but the injury late in the year hurt his chances. Williams was the best rusher in the league at the end of the season but the Panthers still have Jonathan Stewart. Without Peyton, this team might have won six games. An ending run of 9-0, the Colts can attribute all their success to Manning in 2008. A truly magnificent year.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

12-30-2008 @ 2:33PM

veyron3k3 said...

No James Harrison!?!?!?!?!?

12-30-2008 @ 2:54PM

Jesse said...

I disagree with every sports writer and analyst saying Brees shouldnt get it because the Saints didnt win. What is the definition of the MVP? To me the best way to think about it is - if you take that certain person away from his team, how would the team do. Well if you really look at all the injuries the Saints had (and you may think you know but unless you really really kept up with the team you have no idea how ridiculous the injuries were this year - they lost starters at every single position except QB) it is nothin short of AMAZING what Brees did this year. I honestly think if you take him away the Saints go 1-15 or 0-16 this year. Those 8 games were won because Brees was on their team.

12-31-2008 @ 4:02AM

Drunk said...

'Amen Brother' Brees did it against all odds. He is without question the MOST VALUABLE PLAYER this year!

12-30-2008 @ 3:05PM

Daniel said...

I have no idea why Chad Pennington is not mentioned in the MVP talk. He might not have the sexy stats, but considering the turn around in Miami, does anyone really not beleive that he was very VALUABLE to there success this year, and the award is suppose to be Most VALUABLE player. For those who think I am a impartial fan. I am a diehard Jets fan, who hates the Dolphins.

If you do that to any other team with the other players you listed i think it doesnt effect them near as much. If you take away Haynesworth the Titans still win , at the very least, half those games they won. If you take away DeAngelo Williams the Panthers still win at least 9 or 10 games (if not more). Peyton is the only player that comes close to bein as important (aka "valuable") to his team as Brees. And even with him i still think if you take him away the Colts win 3 or 4 games. But with the Saints having the most injuries to starters for a team in the history of the league this year and their pass defense still being horrible, that team would seriously come very close to not winning a game without Brees this past year. So if you think about the award by its true meaning Drew Brees is more valuable to the Saints then any other player is to any team hands down. Please try to tell me someone else who is more important to their team and that a team depends on more then the Saints do Brees.......

12-30-2008 @ 3:20PM

joe said...

hello, joe flaco....

12-30-2008 @ 6:37PM

Alicia W. said...

If you think he should win an award, you should know how to spell his name. It's FLACCO.

1-09-2009 @ 1:19PM

Darnell said...

Hello ... Ed Reed ?? What are these voters thinking ??

12-30-2008 @ 3:25PM

LA26 said...

Off. Rookie of the Year Runner Up-

Steve Slaton slighted again....but at least you got the Winner right.

Steve Slaton should be ahead of Chris Johnson and Matt Forte for the simple fact that he played better and put up better numbers than BOTH of them.

Off. PoY

Michael Turner.POINT BLANK!

MVP -

Matt Ryan....no one can make a valid case as to why he shouldn't be the MVP.And get this....he's putting up better numbers than HALF the QB's in the Playoffs....ohhh this is his rookie season.

People forget the Falcons were supposed to be "lucky" if they won at least 4-5 games this season.Matt Ryan and the Falcons won almost 3X as many games as they did the previous year.And they had to settle for the 3rd. best record in the NFC...IN THE TOUGHEST division this year.

Def. RoY -

Wow Curtis Lofton gets no love.

12-30-2008 @ 11:38PM

Sandy said...

Slaton may have gotten more yards than CJ, but his numbers (YPC and YPG) are not better.

Besides, Dash sat out game 16.

12-30-2008 @ 3:28PM

Adam said...

How is Ed Reed not even mentioned in any of these? He could be the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year.

Also, Chad Pennington for Comeback Player of the Year.

12-30-2008 @ 4:08PM

PFS said...

I'll never understand why everyone just gushes and squeals over Matt Ryan, while at the same time fails to mention Joe Flacco with the Ravens. Is he not a rookie taking over a team that stunk up the room last year (the 1 in Miami's 1-15 season)? Hasn't the downfall of the Ravens been a putrid offense with lousy QBing since time out of mind? Maybe it's because he came from that college quarterbacking hotbed, the University of Delaware. Those 1-AA QBs always step right into the NFL and lead their teams to an 11-5 record and a playoff birth. . .

I'm not impressed by throwing for 5000 yards when you only get your team 8 wins, sorry Drew. Maybe they should have run the ball more. Also, to say that without Drew Brees they'd not win a game assumes that you didn't put anyone else in. I don't think it's unreasonable to think that another QB wouldn't have been able to eke out a whopping .500 record with that much offensive talent around him. . .

Yes, the Falcons turnaround has loads to do with Coach Smith and Matt Ryan. Also has a lot to do with Michael Turner. Also probably means that the Falcons weren't nearly as bad as they looked last year, and were simply undone by the fact that they had traded their backup QB before the Michael Vick situation happened, in addition to receiving a healthy dose of crappy coaching from a mercenary already looking for a way out. . .

Ed Reed and James Harrison should be getting a lot more notice for their defense this year, how they weren't even mentioned is beyond me. . .

my MVP list
1. Peyton Manning
2. Chad Pennington
3. James Harrison
4. Albert Haynesworth
5. Adrian Peterson

12-30-2008 @ 10:32PM

Ronnie said...

To leave out the #1 rated passer in the NFL is ridiculous. Phillip Rivers continues to be the most underrated player in the NFL. He led the NFL in touchdown passes, passed for 4,000 yards, had a rating of more than 10 point higher than second place, and no one discusses him. He didn;t even make pro bowl!!!!!!! He is clutch as he has now won 12 straight games in December

12-30-2008 @ 5:27PM

Hey PFS , dont comment back if you didnt read my comment all the way. I said Brees should be the MVP for leading the Saints to a .500 record with all the injuries the Saints had this year. So all that "offensive talent" your talking about that some other QB would be working with wouldnt be there. Bush, Colston, Patten, Shockey, Duece, Karney, Henderson, and 3 main O linemen were all hurt. So Brees was workin with Lance Moore, Pierre Thomas, Billy Miller, and Robert Meachem. And then the other side of the team had just as much , if not more injuries. Both starting CBs and the best 2 backups (McKenzie, Porter, A. Glenn and R. Gay), 2 starting LBs (Fujita and Simoneau), best starting DE (Charles Grant), and one starting DT (S. Ellis), And thats not even listing all the injuries. So your tellin me Mark Brunell could win 8 games with that "offensive talent" i listed and their horrible defense (when its healthy, with all those injuries they were signing guys off the street pretty much). Um no i dont think so. Brees turned those nobody's into stars this season. And if you really wanna get technical ...

12-30-2008 @ 5:33PM

Brees won those 8 games and he also positioned the team to win at least 3 more. But one game his defense failed him and 2 others he drove down the field and got the team within field goal range and the kicker missed. So if your trying to judge him by not getting into the playoffs its really not fair. He did his job. Sorry he cant kick the field goals and bat down passes. But like i said with ALL those injuries, their remarkably unfair schedule (gave us a "home" game in london so we didnt play a home game for a month and a half in the middle of the season) its incrediable that they won 8 games , and it was all because of Drew Brees.