Most Valuable Player - not flashiest player

by DevilsReject on Dec 3, 2009 5:09 PM EST

Your NFL candidates for MVP of 2009.

I put this together after reading a pretty decent article by Asher H here on Stampede Blue. Coincidentally, this has been a big topic of discussion by sports writers, analysts, and of course, fans everywhere across the world.

I'd like to remind everyone that MVP stands for MOST VALUABLE PLAYER, not the flashiest or highest profile name, but most valuable. This means that stats are not always the truest indicator of how valuable a guy is to your team. Stats can be very misleading because you can have huge stats but still be a losing team. Drew Brees is only the second QB in over 20 years to throw for 5,000 yards, but his team finished 8-8 last year.

So having said that.....on to the discussion...

Obviously, the first question is why are several people left off this list. Honestly, most of those guys are playing for middle of the pack teams and really do not belong here. Some have been flash in the pan for parts of the year but haven't been consistent. Others are playing on teams where there are so many problems that their value is diminished because of how bad the team is. One of the players in this list actually shouldn't be but that's why I've listed him so I can discard him...

I'm going to rank the players based on the order that I feel they should finish in...starting with the last place player and ending with who I feel should win.

Fifth Place - Chris Johnson - Tennessee Titans

I'm really only including this guy because everyone is hyping him up to be something special. Unfortunately for Titans fans, this guy has zero chance of even being in the discussion at voting time. I don't have a problem with the guy, but the truth is that he's having a great year on an already bad team.

The Titans were 0-6 despite him rushing for roughly an average of about 120 yards a game. He rushed for 117 yards in a 59 pt blowout loss to the Patriots. He rushed for less than 40 yards in a 31-9 blowout loss to the Colts. The guy is perhaps the best offensive weapon his team has, but his inability to score TD's has hurt his team more than helped.

To put it in perspective, 3 of the top 5 rushers all play for teams that are 6-5 or 5-6. Chris Johnson only has 9 rushing TD's for the year. Overall he has 10 TD's. Joseph Addai on the other hand, is like the 23rd leading rusher in the NFL. He has half the yards rushing, but also has 7 rushing TD's and 11 TD's overall (he threw for one TD). So who's really more valuable here? Addai or Johnson??

As a running back, you have to be truly dominant in this league to really have a shot at winning the MVP in this league of passing the ball. Johnson's stats are nice....but compare his year right now to Jamal Lewis of a few years ago....he went over 2,000 yards...but he wasn't the MVP. The last 2 RB's to win the MVP put up over 28TD's in a single season rushing...

Fourth Place - Drew Brees - New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees is a great story. He's shown that injuries don't always derail a career. He's not the biggest or tallest QB in the league. He simply works hard and does throw a great football. He has thrown for more yards in the last 3.5 seasons than any other QB, in fact, as much as some QB's have for career totals.

Here's the thing that hurts Brees however. Turnovers.

He has almost 20 total turnovers for the year. He has 2 games where he failed to throw 200 yards/touchdown. You simply cannot have that kind of problem as an MVP candidate. Sure, he deserves to be in the conversation for what he's doing with the Saints as their QB, but that doesn't mean he should win it. This is the same QB who threw for the most yards since Marino's magical NFL record last year and his team finished 8-8. Stats sometimes lie to people.

Third Place - Adrian Peterson - Minnesota Vikings

This is last year's NFL leading rusher, and he is currently #3 overall this year. He's arguably the best individual running back in the league and he's playing on one of the top 3 teams in the NFL. He's the NFL single game rushing record holder.

He also has some of the worst case of fumble-itis in the NFL. His stats this year are down from last year as the passing game of the Vikings is more improved over last year. Edgerrin James of the Colts was one of the best RB's every year, but was never included in MVP discussions because of his QB and how good his team's offense was. This unfortunately is what is happening to AP this year.

Second Place - Brett Favre - Minnesota Vikings

This is easily a fan favorite, a nostalgic choice given his age and how well his year has been. The guy is a 3-time MVP. He's playing on one of the top 3 teams in the NFL. He's got an insane TD to INT ratio, for a guy who's the NFL INT leader. All in all, this is most likely his single best year in his almost 20 years of playing in the NFL. The guy is 40 years old and is playing fantastic.

What hurts Favre in this discussion is the team he is playing for.

This is a guy who did not do any spring training, who had off season surgery, who retired from the last team he was on. This is also a guy who came to a team that went 10-6 with Adrian Peterson and an average QB at the helm. The Vikings have one of the best offensive lines and one of the top defenses in football. Favre put this team over the top, but this team could have easily been in the same position with Tavaris Jackson at QB. They have quality WR's and a front runner for Rookie of the Year in Harvin.

It also really hurts Favre in some capacity that he plays with arguably the best RB in football. If you remember, Warner and Faulk really screwed each other in voting as both were considered MVP's those years.

Winner - Peyton Manning - Indianapolis Colts

Call me a Homer if you want, but this guy is your MVP of the league. He has done more and meant more to the success of his team this year more than any single player in this list.

The Colts rushing game is one of the worst in the league, worse than any team of any player on this list. Peyton Manning still manages to force teams to respect the run and establish the play action fake despite this very cold hard fact.

The Colts have lost their #2 and #3 WR's from last year, essentially starting rookie WR's at the positions all year. Despite that, the Colts offense is ranked in the top 3 for most of the year, has a WR and a TE in the top 3 of their positions, and has managed to be one, if not the most, efficient offenses in of all football. No other team has had to replace the amount of losses on offense that the Colts have faced and managed to duplicate the Colts success this year. That is not just because of the talent of the players.

The Colts defense has lost 4 starters for the year, several being out most of the season anyhow.

Despite all this, Peyton Manning has managed to get this team to 11-0. He has rallied his team from 17pts down twice. He has been kept off the field for all but 15 min of a game and managed to guide his team to victory. If you took Manning out of the Colts lineup this year, this team would be LUCKY to finish .500. The amount of effort that Manning puts into this team is why he is simply put, the MVP.

You want further proof that Manning is your MVP? Look no further than last year. The Colts were 3-4 with a one legged Peyton Manning. He gets healthy, the Colts rip off 9 straight wins and while losing in the wildcard playoffs, they still looked like a completely different team with Manning healthy. This is a Colts QB who has missed the playoffs in his career only twice. One of those times was his rookie year.

You can probably make a case for any of these players over Manning. He's already won 3 times. He's one of the best QB's in the league ever year. He's always on a good team. However, you'd be forgetting that Manning is one of the major reasons why those facts exist. It's not just the talent of the players around him, but in who Manning is.

Please feel free to discuss this...

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.

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Comments

For exactly the reasons you stated,

he has my vote.

I wish more of the MSM would realize what MVP actually stands for.

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Dec 3, 2009 5:28 PM EST reply actions

Come on

Now anyone who disagrees with you doesn’t understand what the award means?

by eltharion_doa on Dec 5, 2009 11:03 AM EST up reply actions

Um...

yes, of course.

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Dec 5, 2009 6:39 PM EST up reply actions

I always laugh at that picture of Peyton.

Looks like he’s struggling with the weight of the ball and is about to spike it into the ground.

"I am in favor of censorship ‐ not against what is supposed to be sexy or dirty, but against what is idiotic." -Jean Renoir

Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: What should you do if a hot dog vendor gives you a free hot dog? Why, throw it on the ground, of course.

by Cassieper on Dec 3, 2009 5:40 PM EST reply actions

or fall backwards...

hey! Maybe that’s how he hurt his tush!

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Dec 3, 2009 5:43 PM EST up reply actions

Right on!

Absolutely 100%

by Coltstar18 on Dec 3, 2009 5:57 PM EST reply actions

Measuring/defining "value" is the real problem

Often enough, it’s the “story” that carries the votes. 16-0 is a good story. A 40 year-old having his best statistical year (ignoring the weak SoS) is a good story. A giant mountain of stats is a good story. Manning last year carrying his team after the injury-recovery period in the first 6 games was a good story.

I say right now Favre’s story is winning and a 10-1 record helps it a lot. If Manning had his string of 300-yard games to close the season rather than open it, that would be a story. If Manning exceeds Marino’s 5,084 yards and is undefeated at the time of voting (which is one week early, no?) … maybe. Brees also had a great public stage to have a perfect game—timing couldn’t have been better for him. It will erase a lot of turnover doubts, or “he has a great running game” issues.

It’s early yet, but Indy taking their foot off the gas will likely hurt 18 as well. Unless he racks up a Bradyesque 850 yards and 12 TDs against the Titans this week, with three passing TDs in the last minute to “protect their lead.”

I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.

by Bobman on Dec 3, 2009 6:03 PM EST reply actions

Agree 100%

Very well thought out, and most logical argument I’ve read yet. The only thing I would add about Drew Brees’ chances are the sentimental ones. The bumbling Saints haven’t had a good team for years and years etc. He’s their saviour, and all around great guy. Sweet and sugary, but I think a lot of people feel that way.

"You can't defend the perfect throw, what can I say?" Peyton quoting Marino
"As I grow older, the list of people who can kiss my ass grows longer"-Ancient Hoosier Proverb.

by Indy Lori on Dec 3, 2009 6:08 PM EST reply actions

I like it

And i COMPLETELY respect your opinion. Manning, however is the most valuable player on his team. But who does the most for this LEAGUE? The 2 highest cable ratings on television in this order.

1. Vikings vs. Green Bay, Oct 5
2. The saints-patriots game

Without manning, we would struggle to win eight games. But i don’t know if he’s doing the most for the league right now. That’s the debate, is this an award for MVP of the team? Or of the league?

by Ashar H on Dec 3, 2009 6:59 PM EST reply actions

MVP is the player that is most valubale to there team. is manning more valuable to his team than

farve is to the vikings, than brees is to the saints that is the question

GO COLTS!!! 09 IS OURS!!!

by TheAngelsColts on Dec 3, 2009 7:12 PM EST up reply actions

I agree

But remember, people have got to be sick of hearing Manning winning the MVP award. People are really hyping up brees as the best QB in the NFL right now, most of the time the best QB will win an MVP award. I agree that Manning should win, but Brees is just more realistic.

by Ashar H on Dec 3, 2009 9:02 PM EST up reply actions

as long as farve doesn't cause he in no way should be the front runner ill be sorta ok

with brees getting it if he does

GO COLTS!!! 09 IS OURS!!!

by TheAngelsColts on Dec 3, 2009 10:49 PM EST up reply actions

Who, exactly, is hyping Brees as the best QB in the NFL?

I haven’t seen a single decent writer or analyst come even close to that. Even the ones that “hate” the Colts will acknowledge that Manning’s ahead of the rest.

by eltharion_doa on Dec 5, 2009 11:06 AM EST up reply actions

MVP rarely is given correctly

Drew Brees should have won in 2006, taking over a 3-13 team, leading them to 10-6, bringing life to an area of the country. Now, Manning is the one who definitely fits the “valuable” part of the award the best. I’m all for Manning, but honestly, I would have no problem if Brees got it. He’s mearly as valuable (he’s not really throwing to Moss/Welker/Stallworth/Gaffney circa 2007), and he deserves one after the awful awarding back in 2006.

EVH+DLR=BFFr........ God I Hope So!!

by dmstorm22 on Dec 3, 2009 8:09 PM EST reply actions

Really?

Sure, what brees did was great, but let’s compare the stats…

LT: 14-2 team record. 1815 rushing yards, 508 receiving. 31 total TDs

DB: 10-6 team record. 4418 passing yardes, 26 total TDs

oh, and brees turned the ball over THIRTEEN more times than LT. 14-1
Did brees have a fantastic season? Yes. But Runningbacks just don’t score that much, it’s not right. Tomlinson really dominated defenses that year. He had 10 100 yard games, and he ran off 9 straight. THAT is consistency.

by Ashar H on Dec 3, 2009 9:00 PM EST up reply actions

That's why they have a seperate award for the best player

the Offensie Player of the Year award.

Brees had to be the Most Valuable. His value ran so much further than just on the field. He was the main reason for the Saints success, and what that did for the region is unmeasurable. LT had a great year, Brees was more valuable.

EVH+DLR=BFFr........ God I Hope So!!

by dmstorm22 on Dec 3, 2009 9:17 PM EST up reply actions

Another way to look at it, and i don't have the time to rsch it,

Is what did the teams do the year before and what changes led the Chargers to 14-2 and Saints from 3-13 to 10-6? A seven game turnaround, if he is the primary roster change, is pretty impressive (on top of his stats). If the Chargers improved by a few games, was it LDT stepping up hs game, or the addition of a key new player or two? Merriman was 05, as we all know (grrrrr). Did Castillo arrive the same year?

The reason I don’t value the LDT or Shaun Alexander (thief!) MVPs in 05 and 06 was that a lot of fuss was made about the TD record, but at that point it was a record that was broken annually—not such a massive record in that case. Whereas Manning’s 49 TDs broke an “unbreakable” record that stood for two deacdes. That’s a little more significant, IMO. (And yes, I thought Manning should have won his third in 2005, but there must have been a ton of anti-Manning backlash after two consecutive years. I guess since he’s moved on to another MVP plus a SB win while #37 and #21 are out of football and nearly done, he’s got the last laugh anyway).

I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.

by Bobman on Dec 3, 2009 10:09 PM EST up reply actions

I think RB's can win, even though they are probably one of the least valuable positions in the NFL

Faulk and TD definitely deserved theirs in 2000 and 1998. Those were teams dependent on them. 2000 was the year Warner was hurt for like 5 games, and Denver’s running game definitely overshadowed the Elway passing game.

I too don’t think Alexander deserved his. As that year’s divisional game proved, Hasselbeck was just as important to their success as Shaun. LT was definitely the most valuable to his team, but how could you not give it to Brees?

EVH+DLR=BFFr........ God I Hope So!!

by dmstorm22 on Dec 3, 2009 11:04 PM EST up reply actions

RB's

can win…but its more likely that Chris Johnson will win AFC Offensive Player of the Year rather than MVP

Bob Sanders does not play Hide-and-Seek, He plays HIDE and PRAY-HE-DOES-NOT FIND-YOU!

by coltsfan723 on Dec 4, 2009 4:40 PM EST up reply actions

I think it's likely that Manning and Favre split it

I can live with that, so they share the record for most MVPs as well. Of course, it’s all a vote so a split is pretty unlikely.

by slash196 on Dec 4, 2009 9:23 AM EST reply actions

Did I just contradict myself in two sentences?

“It’s likely. It’s unlikely”. FML.

by slash196 on Dec 4, 2009 9:24 AM EST up reply actions

Actually....

I could very much live with and be quite alright with Favre/Manning sharing the MVP vote.

You’d have two former winners sharing the trophy, as well as 2 former winners sharing it for the second time.

Instead of one 4-time winner, you’d get 2…..would be a great story!

by DevilsReject on Dec 4, 2009 10:54 AM EST reply actions

I think Peyton sharing the award with anyone is a BONEHEAD idea.

"You can't defend the perfect throw, what can I say?" Peyton quoting Marino
"As I grow older, the list of people who can kiss my ass grows longer"-Ancient Hoosier Proverb.

by Indy Lori on Dec 4, 2009 2:12 PM EST reply actions

And I agree with that

Lori, I completely agree with you…..

However, I’d rather see him share it than lose it outright…to a sentimental choice..

by DevilsReject on Dec 4, 2009 3:32 PM EST up reply actions

From a Manning fan:

While I believe that Peyton should win, the fact is that league MVP is tied to “records” more than how valuable a player is to their team most of the time. The truth is, Chris Johnson is a lock IF he breaks the single season record for yards. Only five other running backs have ever even passed the 2,000 yard mark. This, coupled with the QB dominance of the MVP award would turn the votes in favour of Johnson. Besides, it is his play in the last five games that is giving a mobile QB like Young his streak of wins. I love Peyton but Chris is on the verge of doing something really historic also. This article has completely missed what Johnson is doing this season.

by colt_monger on Dec 4, 2009 4:32 PM EST reply actions

Here's to hoping the Colts make Chris' pursuit of 2000 much more difficult

That said, I can’t deny how incredible his accomplishment is, especially in what has become a passing league.

How can you not love a team that does this?

by LovinBlue on Dec 4, 2009 4:37 PM EST up reply actions

Question:

What IF Peyton breaks Marino’s passing yards record? Big if, I know.

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Dec 4, 2009 4:49 PM EST up reply actions

He will probably need either 1 or 2 of those 400 yard games,

or 350 yards for the rest of the year. That’s just a rough estimate.

"I am in favor of censorship ‐ not against what is supposed to be sexy or dirty, but against what is idiotic." -Jean Renoir

Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: What should you do if a hot dog vendor gives you a free hot dog? Why, throw it on the ground, of course.

by Cassieper on Dec 4, 2009 5:05 PM EST up reply actions

Wrong

While I believe that Peyton should win, the fact is that league MVP is tied to "records" more than how valuable a player is to their team most of the time. The truth is, Chris Johnson is a lock IF he breaks the single season record for yards. Only five other running backs have ever even passed the 2,000 yard mark. This, coupled with the QB dominance of the MVP award would turn the votes in favour of Johnson. Besides, it is his play in the last five games that is giving a mobile QB like Young his streak of wins. I love Peyton but Chris is on the verge of doing something really historic also. This article has completely missed what Johnson is doing this season.

Drew Brees had the best stats of any single QB last year, yet did not even really factor into the discussion really for MVP.

Jamal Lewis, who has the 2nd most rushing yards ever in a single season (also setting the then NFL single game rushing record) did not win the MVP. In fact, two QB’s shared the NFL’s MVP award that year…

Here’s the thing you also overlooked. Chris Johnson was already averaging roughly 120 yards per game BEFORE Young was put back in the lineup. Since Young came back, Johnson has increased his totals about 25-50 yards per game.

Why did that happen? The defense is trying to contain Vince Young and it has to pick and choose between the QB or the RB (Think the Dolphins Wildcat vs. Colts Defense)

So while what Johnson is doing is quite impressive, it’s not a lock for the MVP.

by DevilsReject on Dec 4, 2009 6:31 PM EST up reply actions

I am with Ya!

I hope our Colts can hold him under the 100 mark. If I were Indy, I would shut down Johnson and force Young to beat us in a shoot-out. Not likely against Manning.

by colt_monger on Dec 4, 2009 4:40 PM EST reply actions