Claim: Chad Pennington Is the NFL MVP, Only Lemmings Pick Peyton Manning

When the sportswriters' votes are counted and the NFL MVP is announced, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning will almost certainly get the award.

But one sportswriter in Miami thinks it's his hometown team's quarterback who deserves the MVP award -- and he doesn't think highly of his colleagues for failing to see that the correct vote would go to Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington. Greg Cote writes in the Miami Herald:

Chad Pennington, the Dolphins' quarterback, should be the NFL's Most Valuable Player for 2008. ...

This isn't to say Pennington will win MVP honors. He won't. The Colts' Peyton Manning probably will win. He has the name and pedigree. He is the predictable, safe pick, and the football writers who vote are a march of lemmings.

Cote goes on to make his case for Pennington, and it's not a bad case. Pennington's stats are, after all, fairly comparable to Manning's this year -- although Pennington got the advantage of playing against a lot of weak defenses.

But my vote would go to Manning. I just think that, over the course of 16 games, no player has been as valuable to his team as Manning has been to the Colts. If that makes me a lemming, so be it.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

1-01-2009 @ 9:17AM

Laura said...

I really don't think Chad Pennington did anything spectacular this season.....if it weren't for the big storyline of how the Dolphins went from a 1 - 15 team to becoming AFC Champions I wouldn't even know who Pennington is. And as far as Manning goes...they shouldn't allow one player to have the title more than once...give someone else a chance at it!!

1-01-2009 @ 4:49PM

Sue said...

I think your very wroug about Chad Pennington He did a lot for the Dolphins. Maybe you need to start watching the Dolphins games and you will see what he can do.

1-01-2009 @ 9:48AM

Chris said...

Well Laura to argue against your point, no one in the league really did anything spectacular. No records were broken, so does that mean no one should win the MVP? Oh, the Dolphins are not AFC Champions, they're AFC East Division Champions, to be precise. If this storyline is the only reason you know who chad pennington is, then you my dear, are not a real football fan. Finally, to totally smash your last point to pieces, why should someon be discounted form winning the award more than once. If their performance deserves it, they should so be allowed. Let me see, Peyton split one MVP with Steve McNair, won another for breaking a 20 year old record, how at all does that discount him from ever being able to win again. So you're telling me Joe Montana, Kurt Warner, and Brett Favre didn't rightfully earn their multiple MVP awards?

1-09-2009 @ 2:06PM

mmmagriff said...

neither Manning deserved to be Superbowl MVP last year and the year before. In both cases, their defenses won the game. But because of their last name, everyone is so quick to give it to them.
Eli did not win the superbowl last year, Michael Strahan and company did....give a defender the mvp award already!!!!

1-01-2009 @ 9:53AM

Gene said...

Manning was overrated this year. yess he helped lead them to 9 straight wins and back into the playoffs but it was also his poor play that brought them to 3-4, also they really got lucky in alot of games. Rosenfels gave them the houston game, they would have started 1-3 and i dont think they would come back from that. granted the collapse in the begining was not entirely his fault, but also he did not have a particularly great season. his brother won't get the award because he's Eli, for all of the Giants fans out there no Brandon Jacobs will not win MVP because he doesn't DESERVE the MVP. Chad was pretty good this year and he was the key cog in the dolphins turnaround, but also this team had Ronnie Brown and Ricky "Pineapple Express" Williams return from injury with a rebuilt O-Line. Brees #'s are downright amazing but i think the award should go to Phil Rivers. He lead the tem back from 4-8 and into the playoffs, granted this was because of a Bronco collapse but his #'s were amazing all year long, they're playing in January, and he steped up when his team needed him the most,,when thier Super Star started sucking

1-01-2009 @ 9:55AM

jvsiii3 said...

Laura,
If the Dolphins didn't have Chad Pennington they would have won 8 games at best. He took the helm of the team as their leader and helped everyone to get up (or back up in Joey Porter's case) to where they are now. If he wasn't there they wouldn't have had nearly the succes that they have had.
That said, the Colts are on a 9 game winning streak attributable directly to Manning. When he got healthy, they got hot. VERY hot. I think we might see a Manning/Manning Super Bowl. You heard it here 1st.

1-01-2009 @ 10:27AM

Clayt said...

Manning vs. Manning? Sorry jvsiii, your not the first to suggest that. I've been hearing that since week one, maybe i believe it a little more now then I did on week 7.

1-01-2009 @ 10:49AM

H from Fla said...

This was interesting to read. I used to read Greg Cote alot in the Miami Herald and the guy is not a homer....he was actually annoying to read cause he was always blasting the Dolphins. So I'm glad to hear he is giving props to Chad for the season he has achieved. Not being able to see the dolphins play this year- I was amazed at his stats. I thought it was more defense and Ronnie Brown. But let's think about this....Chad Pennington got picked up by the dolphins a month before the season. New Coach for the dolphins this year. The top 2 defensive stud for the past 10 years Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor are gone...oh vs Peyton Manning - who has had the same coach and same system for 10 years. Playing with bums like Reggie Wayne, Joseph Addai, Marvin Harrison, and Darren Clark ...how can you not think Chad is not deserving. Peyton is famous for his precision timing and practice with his WRs and running backs. He is fantastic and a class act to boot. But please take a look at the all stars Chad was throwing too this year...Ted Ginn - yes former #1 pick that is finally coming alive with 56 catches...Greg Camarillo - who? 55 catches...Anthony Fasano 34 catches as the tight end, and Davone Bess who ends up with the most catches for an undrafted rookie in league history. The last game of the year against the Jets...the phins had 3 active Wideouts for the game - Ginn, Bess, and a guy who was on Giants practice squad all last year. Definitely not a stable of pro bowl wide-outs - Wayne (3) and Harrison(8) - which Peyton is fortunate enough to throw too every year.

It was a magical year for Chad and the phins...winning the division with a 1-15 team last year. Beating the Jets in the meadowlands last game of the year. Why not the MVP? He has been a magician all year...maybe he might pull that award out of the hat as well.

1-01-2009 @ 12:16PM

LMC in FLA said...

brilliantly stated. there's just no competition here. end of debate!

1-02-2009 @ 12:08PM

Mike Demary said...

Did anybody see Matt Cassell play this year? He lead the Pats to 11-5 not bad??

1-01-2009 @ 6:29PM

Dave Martin said...

Somebody did something spectacular this season and his name is Philip Rivers. Even though the Chargers lost 4 games in the last 30 seconds by a combined total of 7 points, Rivers brought his team back from 4-8 to make the playoffs. Not only is it the first time a 4-8 team made the playoffs, but they also came back from 3 games behind with 3 left to play. Rivers has led the Chargers to 107 points scored in the last 122 minutes of game time. And MOST impressively he led the NFL in QB rating and beat Manning in EVERY statistical category. So they can give MVP to Manning and Rivers will settle for beating him this Saturday. Just like Rivers beat the "pro bowl" Cutler last Sunday. Only 8-8 team to win a SuperBowl?? Keep watching.

1-01-2009 @ 5:04PM

h from Fla said...

Dave, You don't have to sell me on Phillip Rivers or the year he had. I'm a big fan. Watched him play college ball at NC State...just bought my son his jersey. One of the nicest guys in the league (Jay Cutler might disagree). If the game's on the line I want Phillip with the ball in the fourth quarter. He's a gamer. But this year - they went 8-8. 5 of his wins came against the AFC West - Broncos, 2 Raiders, 2 against the Chiefs. The phins beat them as well - including a win against Phillip and the Chargers. They also beat New England on the road.

The award will probably be Peyton...which is annoying...I would take Phillip any day typically. I just think Chad came into Miami on Aug. 8, 2008. He had a month to figure out where he lived and who the security guard was at Dolphins stadium - oh and learn a new play book and 53 new players. Just a phenomenal year....give he man his due.

1-01-2009 @ 4:18PM

Omar from NYC said...

Chad Pennington and the Miami Dolphins are a great story for the NFL, and he won his rightful award "comeback player of the Year", he was not spectacular or MVP caliver, just solid...Peyton had some good numbers later in the season, but this was not his best year..Phillip Rivers did not single handedly carry the Chargers to the playoffs, it was the whole offense, especially the running game and easy schedule late in the season, he actually had some tough to watch perfomances during the regular season..MVP is and should be Adrian Peterson from the Vikings..without him, they would probably be a 5-11 team at best..He leads the league in rushing, and carry the team often.

1-01-2009 @ 5:43PM

Mike said...

Let's see Peyton played his college foortball in Knoxville & Chad played his high school in Knoxville. I'm good with either one. :)

1-01-2009 @ 6:25PM

Chris,

Because I don't watch a team that I don't care for I am not a true football fan?? Get real, my dear. Does watching every team and being a huge fan of every team make you a true football fan?? What my statement meant was that the Dolphins success came when Bill Parcells took over...they'd still be 1 - 15 today if it hadn't been for that fact. NOTHING Chad did was spectacular to the point to make him the MVP, as you said...no records were broken. And secondly, I didn't say Manning didn't deserve the award....I said give someone else a chance at it. Thirdly, I stand corrected on calling them AFC Champs.....totally my mistake...I don't know what came over me to think that they actually are going to make champs! Lastly, don't call me dear...you are no better than I.

1-01-2009 @ 6:26PM

Why argue about this anyways?? Miami will not be in the Super Bowl so this is really nonsense isn't it?

1-02-2009 @ 6:07AM

EdgeryWorthy said...

The last person to win the MVP AND win the Super Bowl was Kurt Warner, so it doesn't really matter if the make the Super Bowl or not, the MVP award only applies to the regular season.

1-01-2009 @ 6:34PM

I agree that aside from Rivers the choice should be Pennington. Winning the division after a 1-15 season with a bunch of no names is pretty, pretty impressive. If it were up to me Manning would get an Oreo cookie with the "stuff" licked out.

1-02-2009 @ 6:34AM

Edgarworthy,

The comment of mine that you replied to was not a statement saying that Pennington had to be in the Superbowl to win the award....I was just actually taking a dig at Miami. But thanks for the comment anyways!!

1-02-2009 @ 9:09AM

danny said...

to comment on this is easy. Peyton is a great QB but,look who Peyton is throwing too. and then look who Chad is throwing too. the only WR you can name for the dolphins is Ginn Jr. and he is not that great yet. the rest are rookies and nonames.The dolphins are a great story like someone said. you take a so called weak armed and washed up QB, and throw him in with a bunch of rookies and no names and you win 10 more games than you did last year. that whole team deserves the MVP. and the coach deserves the coach of the year.

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