Grid Iron Audible—And The Winner Is?
2012 Season Awards

After a brief mourning period for my hapless San Diego Chargers (approximately my fortieth such episode), I am finally able to look back and say: “what a season.” We’ve seen records broken, nearly broken, epic collapses, stunning turnarounds and the best crop of rookies that I can recall ever seeing come into the league (that’s right 1983, you’ve been bested).
Even as I write this, some coach somewhere is being served his walking papers from the executive version of ‘The Turk’, and perhaps a few G.M.’s are as well. Still others are preparing their teams for the show, because they did their jobs better than at least 20 others this year. While this Monday is black for some, it is merely gray for others, and even lily white to a fortunate few.
In what promises to be a controversial effort, here are my Inaugural Audible Awards.

MVP: Adrian Peterson (The Peyton Manning Trophy)
What a classic year for the man they call All Day. He played this season carrying a team on his back, and he still came within 9 yards of breaking Eric Dickerson’s single season rushing mark. He ran for over 100 yards 10 times, with 9 of those games coming in the last 10 that he played. And it wasn’t like he gained all of his yards against chump defenses either; in 5 games against the four best defenses in the league (Chicago twice, San Francisco, Seattle, and Houston), Peterson compiled 616 yards. Although his team was picked to finish last in just about every preseason poll, he will lead them onto the frozen tundra next week to play the Packers in the Wild Card round. This was an easy decision for me, in spite of Peyton’s popularity. Simply put, Adrian is the best player in football for 2012.
Also Considered: Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, J.J. Watt

Best Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers (The Joe Montana Trophy)
After a bit of a slow start (especially by 2011 standards), the discount double check dude turned it on and made a run for a second straight MVP award. He came up short there, but he once again led the league with a 108.0 QB rating. His 39-8 TD to INT ratio was the best in football, and I believe that he has done much to quell the debate of who the best QB in the NFL is, despite the fact that he has no run support from his backfield and that his best receivers battled injuries for much of the season. Still, this was a tight race and he barely edged Peyton for the award.
Also Considered: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees

Best Running Back: Adrian Peterson (The Walter Payton Trophy)
Even easier than the selection for MVP, Peterson out-distanced the other candidates by nearly 500 yards. In a season that saw 6 running back’s gain in excess of 1,400 yards, A.D. left them all behind and walked into the end zone to claim his award.
Also Considered: Alfred Morris, Doug Martin, Marshawn Lynch

Best Wide Receiver: Calvin Johnson (The Jerry Rice Trophy)
Despite Megatron breaking Jerry Rice’s yardage record, this was a tough call, if only because of so many candidates clouding the waters. In the end, it simply came down to who I believe is the best, and in that regard it is no contest. Calvin cannot be defended. He only scored 5 TD’s, and that made this a little more difficult, but Matt Stafford played horrific all season long, which makes Johnson’s numbers all the more impressive. He dominated in yardage, big plays (20+ yards), and first downs, not to mention leading the league in receptions.
Also Considered: Brandon Marshall, Wes Welker, Andre Johnson, Dez Bryant, A.J. Green, Reggie Wayne

Best Tight End: Tony Gonzalez (The Tony Gonzalez Trophy)
I had no idea that Tony would be in the running for this trophy when I decided to name the award after him, and truth be told, Rob Gronkowski was on pace to run away with it when he went out with an injury. Still, Gonzo played this season more like a man in the prime of his career than like a man on his farewell tour. He hauled in 93 balls for a 10.0 yard average and 8 touchdowns. He outplayed younger men and veterans alike in bringing home the award that bears his name. Congrats Tony and good luck chasing Lombardi.
Also considered: Jason Witten, Jimmy Graham

Best Pass Rusher: J.J. Watt (The Reggie White Trophy)
Like Reggie White, J.J. was pure disruption to the flow of offenses on the line. Not only did he lead the league in sacks and batted balls, but he netted the second most tackles (81) of any of the top twenty leaders in sacks. He also forced 4 fumble and recovered 2. He is a lot for offensive coordinators to plan for, and he makes the entire Houston defense much better.
 Also Considered: Von Miller, Aldon Smith

Best Linebacker: NaVorro Bowman (The Lawrence Taylor Trophy)

Perhaps the hardest choice for me of all the awards, NaVorro wins this by a hair over the several of the other contenders. He is a leader and a driving force behind one of the best defenses in all of football, and he played the inside backer position consistently all year long. Whether playing against the run, rushing the passer or dropping into coverage, Bowman could be counted on to do his job in spectacular fashion. This is a well-deserved award for a blue-collar player, on a blue-collar team.
Also Considered: Chad Greenway, Jarod Mayo, Luke Kuechly, London Fletcher, Daryl Washington

Best Pass Defender: Charles Tillman (The Rod Woodson Trophy)
This one is perhaps a bit of a surprise (even to me) because Tillman only had 3 picks, but he also scored 3 times and forced 10 fumbles in route to his 85 tackles. That is 3 more than any other player in the league for the ten year vet, and from the corner position (I wonder how many Dionne had in his career). A much earned award for a hard working player.
Also Considered: Tim Jennings, Richard Sherman, Patrick Peterson

Comeback Player: Adrian Peterson (The Tommy John Trophy—Soon to be renamed The Manning-Peterson Trophy)
This has been a two horse race from the beginning. The deciding factor was the nature of the injuries, rather than their location. Peyton suffered nerve damage in his neck, and although we’re talking about a pretty significant obstacle here, Adrian had damaged cartilages and ligaments, which are even more serious. Manning had a great year, Peterson had his best year. Peyton will have to settle for a second award being named after him.
Also Considered: Peyton Manning

Best Rookie Offensive Player: Robert Griffin III (The Earl Campbell Trophy)
Rookies have had better seasons (See Earl Campbell and Randy Moss), but RG3 was the best out of a stellar class that produced five starting QB’s, several quality tailbacks, and a few wide receivers who are sure to light up the league leader boards for years to come. The award isn’t indicative of who may or may not have the better career, just who had the best rookie campaign in the regular season. He edges Seattle’s Russell Wilson for the trophy, based on a league low seven turnovers, compared to Wilson’s thirteen.
Also Considered: Russell Wilson, Doug Martin, Alfred Morris

Best Rookie Defensive Player: Luke Kuechly (The Derrick Thomas Trophy)
Luke led the NFL in tackles this season with 164, 15 more than NaVorro Bowman, and 24 more than the next best rookie defender, Bobby Wagner. He added a sack, 2 picks, 10 passes defended and recovered 2 fumbles. Carolina has a lot of young talent, and Kuechly proves that it’s not all on the offensive side of the ball.
Also Considered: Janoris Jenkins, Casey Hayward, Bobby Wagner

Coach of the Year: Bruce Arians (The Tom Landry Trophy)
The job that Bruce Arians did when Chuck Pagano went out cannot be overstated. Working with a plethora of rookies, Arians took the reins of young team and guided them back to the playoffs after last season dramatic collapse. Pagano is back, but it won’t be long after the Colts season ends when Bruce starts fielding head coaching calls. Look for him to be the head coach somewhere in the next month.
 Also Considered: Pete Carroll, Mike Shanahan

That’s a wrap on the Audible Awards. Some people will not agree with some of my choices, some will not agree with any of my choices. Some will even hate the names that I’ve tagged to the trophies. To them I would say…well, I don’t know how to spell a Bronx cheer, but you get the picture.
As always, I welcome your comments or retorts with great anticipation.
I’ll see you in the playoffs.

It’s the time of year when the weather begins to turn cold, Christmas shoppers flock to malls, and NFL fans get a sort of psychological Lasik surgery, clearing their vision for better or for worse. They will soon begin to get a clearer picture of their respective teams; are they contenders or pretenders, champs or chumps, winners or wieners? It is either euphoric or hectic, depending on the individual; but there’s no denying the buzz in the atmosphere and the excitement it brings.

Some of us have already opened our Christmas gifts to discover that even though we got the Red Rider BB gun we wanted, it will not even shoot well enough to put our eyes out. Those of us that have experienced this misfortune have already turned our eyes toward next season, hoping to find redemption through free agency and next April’s draft. Others still have presents under the tree, and their hope is that they find something other than socks and shirts under the wrapping paper; their hoping to unwrap the Lombardi Trophy.

There are 16 teams that still have a shot at the post season. The Rams, Chargers, Browns and Jets are also in the hunt, but who’s kidding who, these teams are done, and I won’t consider them for this article. Here is a closer look at each of the teams remaining in the show, and some of my thoughts on their chances.

Vikings 7-6
Adrian Peterson is making a case for himself as not only comeback player of the year, but as league MVP as well. In spite of how well as A.D. is playing, the absence of Percy Harvin has hurt this team, and their remaining schedule (@Rams, @Texans, Packers) may be too difficult an obstacle for them to make the tournament.

Redskins 7-6
Rookies RGIII and Alfred Morris have put this team in a position to make the tourney, but Griffin’s injury may have derailed their hopes. Still, they’ve won 4 straight and have a favorable schedule with games at the Browns and Eagles on deck. Their chances could very well come down to the final game of the season, at home against the Cowboys.

Cowboys 7-6
It’s impossible to gauge what kind of toll the recent tragedy will take on this team. Dez Bryant’s injury is very much in play here, and their schedule (Steelers, Saints, @Redskins) is not as favorable as the Redskins. They’re hot with 4 wins in their last 5 games, but if Jerry Jones wants to see his team’s return to the post season, they’ll probably have to win out.

Bengals 7-6
The Bengals are another team that may have to run the table to stay in the show. They’ve been streaky this year, sandwiching two 3 game win streaks around a 4 game skid. Last week’s loss to the emotional Cowboys looms large. They do control their own destiny; with games @Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, before returning home to face Baltimore. If the Cats win out, they’re in.

Steelers 7-6
If history were a reliable indicator, then I’d pencil the Steel City representatives into the playoffs right now. They do, after all, have that mystique about them, not to mention a QB who has two rings. They currently hold the 6th seed in the AFC, and it’s possible that they could limp in with a 9-7 record, but I see Sunday’s game at Dallas as a must win. They finish with home games against the Bengals and Browns, neither of which is a sure bet.

Colts 9-4
It’s possible the Colts surprise me and go past the wild card round; their record thus far has sure taken me by surprise. They get a respite in Kansas City between two games against Houston, who will be playing hard to retain home field advantage against the Patriots, and 10-6 looks very plausible. I see them as Cinderella this year, but the clock is nearing midnight. Expect an early exit from the playoffs for Andrew Luck and company.

Bears 8-5
After losing 4 out of 5 the Bears find themselves reeling. It doesn’t get any easier this weekend, with the Packers coming to town and Jay Cutler banged up. Cutler was healthy when he faced the Pack in Green Bay in week 2, a 4 interception, 7 sack game. They finish the season with games at Arizona and Detroit, and could still reach the playoffs with a 10-6 record, but that would be cutting it close. They’ll have to right the ship immediately to avoid an epic breakdown.

Seahawks 8-5
One of the best teams in football when playing at home (just ask the Cards), the Hawks take their 2-5 road record and shuffle off to Buffalo this week, before finishing with home games against division rivals San Fran and St. Louis. With this defense, you never know, but I’m guessing the city that is known for the Space Needle and Grunge Rock will have to wait another year for a true contender. Still, 10 or 11 wins and a playoff berth have to be considered a successful campaign for Pete Carroll’s squad.

Ravens 9-4
We saw a changing of polarity in the Baltimore franchise this year; as the offense took the reins from the defense, and Joe Flacco, Ray Rice and Torrey Smith became the names that are featured on the marquee, replacing long time staples such as Ray Lewis and T-Sizzle and Ed Reed and Haloti Ngata. The new scheme was working well for most of the season as they got off to a 9-2 start, but 2 consecutive losses have dropped them to the 4th seed in the AFC. This week’s sudden firing of OC Cam Cameron has some people scratching their heads; it’s difficult for me to see the move as anything other than panic. Their remaining games are tough, with home games against the Broncos and Giants, before facing the Bengals on the road. They’ll make the playoffs, but they can’t compete with the elite teams in this conference.

Giants 8-5
Two tough road games await the defending champs, as both the Falcons and Ravens are fighting for position in the playoffs. The G-men finish at home with the Eagles in what may be Andy Reid’s last game for Philly. Eli plays well under pressure, and they’re facing plenty of it with the Cowboys and Redskins both knocking at the door. Tom Coughlin is a great coach, and though I admit this with some reservations, Eli has become a great quarterback, but if the Giants are to repeat, they’ll need JPP, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora to step up their play and apply some clutch pressure.

49ers 9-3-1
My preseason pick to win the NFC, the Niners have the unenviable task of facing the Patriots and Seahawks in back to back road games before finishing at home with the hapless Cardinals. Although I still believe that San Francisco has the best defense in the league, I see them losing their current 2nd seeding to the surging Packers. The reason I’ve rated them this low is Jim Harbaugh’s decision to hand the team over to Colin Kaepernick, despite Alex Smith playing so well. I know Kaepernick has performed well thus far, but he has yet to face competition like he will see the next two weeks. Perhaps Jim is a genius, and he proves me wrong with the young QB going forward, but more likely he will enter the post season with a QB controversy dividing his locker room. For this to be the year the 49ers return to the Super Bowl, their defense and running game will have to make it happen.

Texans 11-2
On paper, the Texans look like the best team in football. They should at the very least be considered one of the most complete teams. They do, however, seem to struggle against teams with elite offenses. They have faced three this year; the Broncos, Packers and Patriots, losing two by big margins and narrowly escaping Denver (which wasn’t nearly as good then) with a victory. With two games left against the Colts and a home contest with the Vikings, this team has a great chance at holding onto their number 1 seeding in the conference, but I don’t see them beating Tom Brady or Peyton Manning in the playoffs, even at home.

Falcons 11-2
Matt Ryan has plenty of quality receivers to throw to, and there have been times this year when the Falcons offense has looked unstoppable. But of late their running game has gone AWOL, and their middle of the road defense has made them one of the most beatable 11-2 teams that I can recall. They seem to be playing a brand of football better suited to the Patriots or the Packers, and that’s why I won’t give them the top rating in the NFC. They do have a favorable schedule, facing the Giants at home before traveling to Detroit, then returning home to face the Bucs. It is easier for me to see them losing to the Giants or Packers in the divisional round than it is to see them in the Super Bowl and another one and done performance wouldn’t surprise me.

Packers 9-4
Last season’s performance in the regular season has proved to be a tough act to follow for Aaron Rodgers and company, but the team has turned it on in the last two months, winning 7 of 8 and grabbing first place in their division. On paper, they are real close to the Falcons, but games are played on the field. This weekend’s game in Chicago will tell us a lot more about the Pack, who’ll return home to face the Titans before traveling to play the Vikings to finish the year. Taking the second seed from San Francisco could mean all the difference for this team in the post season, so each of their remaining games are vital.

Broncos 10-3
Peyton Manning has elevated this team from the middle of the pack to an elite status. Since losing at New England on October 7th, the Broncos have won 8 straight games, and the team’s confidence seems to grow every week. I can hardly wait for the rematch with New England in the playoffs; Peyton and Tom is a rivalry as great as any in the history of sports, and in my view, destined to occur one more time this season. With a road game at Baltimore, and home games against the Browns and Chiefs, Bronco fans can expect at least 12 wins, and still cling to hope for a bye week.

Patriots 10-3
With the most elite offense in the game, and with Gronkowski expected back soon, the Pats are poised to break the league scoring record of 556 points by the 1998 Vikings. They are on pace to post 581. Their 36.3 scoring average is 7.5 points more than the league’s next best (Broncos 28.8). In their last 6 games, New England has averaged a mind blowing 42.5 points per game, and they’ve turned the ball over less than any team in football. Barring a third upset to the Giants in a Super Bowl, I see Belichick and Brady bringing home their 4th Lombardi Trophy come February.

That’s a wrap on my playoff breakdown. It’s a subjective exercise, sports predictions, much like the weather this time of year. Perhaps I’m right and New England steamrolls through the show onto the biggest stage—or—maybe I’m wrong and the Harbaugh brothers finish one, two in coach of the year voting; stranger things have happened. Whatever the eventual outcome, the coming weeks promise to deliver some meaningful games, some exciting football, and as always when Santa gets involved, some unexpected surprises.
For those of you who disagree with my assessment, I look forward to your comments and objections, as always. For those of you who think I’m in the ballpark, I’d love to hear from you too. Feel free to use the comment box here at PSB, or give me a shout on Twitter @SteveMassey9 or Facebook.
Merry Christmas everyone.

Grid Iron Audible—Home Stretch Awards

After thirteen weeks of football, there are few surprises left; the average NFL fan can look at the sports page and know what he’s seeing. He can tell the difference between a contender and a pretender and pick the games with the analysts. He knows which coaches are destined to be removed, which G.M.’s should be shown the door, and who he thinks will take home the Lombardi Trophy this winter.

What he doesn’t know is who will win the Audible Awards for the 2012 season. There are a few clear cut choices, but some of the races; Best Quarterback, for instance, and Best Rookie, are far from decided. Some races have taken on new leaders, while others are becoming convoluted with new contenders. Without further ado, the leaders at the home stretch.

MVP: Tom Brady
The stat line says it all; 25 touchdown to 4 interceptions. He simply doesn’t turn the ball over; this is nothing new either, he’s played this well since the beginning of the 2010 season, with 100 touchdowns to 20 picks through Sunday, the best ratio in football. Brady has passed Peyton Manning in the last quarter, and Aaron Rodgers has played himself into the contest, making it a three horse race to the finish line.

Best Offensive Player: Robert Griffin III
This one’s going to shock a few of my readers. RG3 leads this because he is a hard nightmare for defensive coordinators to game plan. He has of late become a night terror for them, leading his team to 3 straight wins in the division, and into post season conversation. His unique blend of style and speed may well change the game. Griffin runs neck and neck here with the three aforementioned quarterbacks, Calvin Johnson and Adrian Peterson.

Best Defensive Player: Von Miller
I was prepared to hand this Award over to Tim Jennings for most of the year, but I can no longer ignore the season that Von Miller has put together. He may be the most disruptive player in the game today, and I would be surprised to see his lead here slip away. Miller leads Jennings, J.J. Watt, Aldon Smith, and Daryl Washington by a head.

Best Rookie: Robert Griffin III
This one looks as if it may end in a photo finish. Andrew Luck is running with RGIII, as are Doug Martin and Alfred Morris. A huge game by any of these guys could dictate the outcome of this one, but all are in it for now.

Best Quarterback: Too Close to Call
Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers are the only serious candidates, though Alex Smith certainly was on pace to be in the running before his demotion. If the season ended today, I might give the trophy to Rodgers, but I couldn’t say exactly why. Maybe someone will stumble on the way in.

Best Running Back: Adrian Peterson
ACL, MCL; it’s all TCB for A.D. If he sat out the rest of the season, there is still a chance that Adrian would win the rushing crown. It is really a pleasure to watch this man run with the football. I haven’t seen this kind of dominance at the position since Eric Dickerson was at his best. He is punishing defenders on blasts up the middle, breaking ankles in the open field and turning on the jets when he needs them. With a 300 plus yard lead, he is leaving plenty of dust to settle on Doug Martin, Alfred Morris, Arian Foster, Stevan Ridley and Marshawn Lynch.

Best Wide Receiver: Calvin Johnson
Megatron is the leader here because he makes me wonder what could have been if Matt Stafford had played as well as him all year. He’s chasing Jerry Rice’s record for receiving yards, and making a lot of grabs where it hurts, over the middle. He’s impossible to defend, but others are also in this race; Brandon Marshall, A.J. Green and Demaryius Thomas are all a half-length back, while Wes Welker, Dez Bryant, and early leader Victor Cruz are a length behind.

Best Tight End: Tony Gonzalez
Even though Jason Witten has 15 more grabs, Tony is still the lead horse at tight end. He’s been as consistent this season as he has for most of his career. He has competition though, as Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham have established themselves as favorites at this position, with Witten, and newcomer Brandon Myers also in the mix. If no one steps up in the next four weeks, then Gonzo wins the inaugural award, which may be fitting. Maybe I should name the award after him. We’ll find out in the winner’s circle.

Best Pass Rusher: Von Miller
This is a three horse race with Miller leading Aldon Smith and J.J. Watt by the edge of his nose. Everyone else is too far back to have a chance, and five forced fumbles are what has provided him with the current lead. All three of these players are only a great game away from pulling away, but the finish is getting closer.

Best Linebacker: Chad Greenway
Chad’s numbers look a lot like those of NaVorro Bowman, but with 15 more tackles, and I didn’t want to leave him on the list of contenders all season long. If the season was over, I’d give it to him, but it’s crowded in the front with Bowman, Jerod Mayo, Daryl Washington, Von Miller and Wesley Woodyard all sprinting toward the finish.

Best Pass Defender: Tim Jennings
Jennings still has a sizable lead in this race, and barring injury and a big push by someone else, it’s his to lose. He’s been a catalyst for the Bears D, with 8 picks, a touchdown and 27 passes defended. Those who find themselves still technically in the race are Richard Sherman, Casey Hayward and Janoris Jenkins.

We’ve seen most of what the league offers thus far, and I feel a little melancholy about knowing that the race is almost over. But still, the last mad sprint to the finish is where all the fun twists and turns appear, bumps lead to jumps, and heroes are made. The best races are always the ones where the jockey’s face is mud-splattered; wire to wire winners are so passé. In some corners of the world horse racing is considered the sport of kings, but in my world, football is the king of sports.

Photo Credit(s): kentuckyderby.com

Grid Iron Audible—Best in Division

Do you think your team plays in a tough division? Let’s put that thought to the test and compare each of the eight divisions. I’ll list the divisions according to my rankings, beginning with the worst, and progressing to the best.

8. AFC West
With the worst record (14-22) and a minus 103 point differential, the division that is home to four AFL charter franchises has lost some of its former glory. There is not a single top flight defense to be found here, and the wide receiver play, throughout the group (though Peyton is in the process of changing that), is as poor as I can recall. At least two, but likely three, of these teams will make coaching changes in the off-season. The Broncos are the class of the division, while the Chiefs are contending for the 2012 TP Award, given for wiping up the rear.

7. AFC South
The 19-18 record through ten weeks may be deceiving due to Houston’s 8-1 mark; the rest of the division is 11-17. Houston is a very good team, but their +107 PD can’t keep the South from posting a league worst -119 points. A couple of more losses, and this group would be challenging the AFC West for the doormat division crown. The Texans own this division, and Jacksonville is the worst team in football.

6. AFC East
Due to the 6-3 record of the Patriots, the AFC East is the very picture of average in the NFL. A 16-20 won/lost record and -42 points outs this group as decidedly un-elite, and as underachieving. It was a tossup here with the NFC East. I let playmakers break the tie, and there just aren’t many to find here. New England is in charge in this neighborhood, with Buffalo and the Jets fighting for the cellar door.

5. NFC East
Only more playmakers elevated this perennial powerhouse over their AFC counterparts. A 16-21 record and -52 points puts these guys in the bottom half of the league. The division that has long been known for dominant defenses has drastically slipped on that side of the ball. There is still plenty of firepower on offense however, and I expect some of these teams to get hot in the home stretch. The Giants are the best in the division, and the Eagles have hit rock bottom.

4. NFC West
With one and a half elite teams (the Hawks are elite at home), this pick will get some people mad. 19-16-2 is a good record, just as +45 net points rates well. The reason I’ve slotted this group here is because I only see one contender here. The Seahawks will play with anyone at home, but they are less than pedestrian on the road (no pun intended). They may make the PS, but they’ll be on the road if they do. The Niners still command this division, and I think the Cards are worse than the Rams, though both are better than last year.

3. NFC South
The Saints should move into positive points this weekend, giving 3 teams here that distinction. A 19-17 record and +64 points are more than respectable, and those numbers are likely to get better. By season’s end, this group could move up to number two, but lack of good defense will keep them from the top slot this year. The Falcons are the most complete team, but the Saints and Bucs are both red hot, while the Panthers are on the canvas.

2. AFC North
19-17 and + 35 points are a bit disappointing for this division. The Bengals, while talented, have taken a step backward from last season, especially on defense. Injury concerns have Pittsburgh slipping of late, and Cleveland…well Cleveland is Cleveland, and still in the midst of a thirty year rebuilding project. I picked the Steelers to win this division, but so far the Ravens have outplayed everyone here, and have to be considered the head of the class.

1. NFC North
The best division in football and it’s not even close. The Black & Blue is back in a big way! With a 23-14 mark, they have 4 more wins than any other division in the league, and their +172 points are +108 points more than the nearest competitor. It’s possible that the playoffs find three of these teams still around. Though anything can happen here, the Bears are in the top spot for now, with the enigmatic Lions holding to the bottom rung.

That’s a wrap on my divisional breakdown. If you don’t agree with my assessment of the Black & Blue Division as number one, there is only one thing I can say. You are wrong. However, I’m always open to dialogue, even from the haters. Please feel free to comment, rant, ramble or donate.

Week eight has come and gone, and whether you’re a glass half empty (“oh man, the season’s half over”), or a glass half full type (“right on, I still have nine weeks of football left”), it is time for the Mid-Season Awards. I’m still feeling good about my San Fran/New England Super Bowl prediction, but several of my mini awards have changed hands in the last four weeks. If you’re not satisfied with these picks, wait until after week 12, and we’ll see how they’ve evolved.
Like always, I’ve undoubtedly missed someone, likely even someone that you didn’t. And like always, I cordially invite you to comment and let me know if I dissed or missed your guy.

MVP: Peyton Manning has a QB rating of 109, while averaging 8.2 Yards per throw, with a 17-4 TD-INT ratio. The Broncos are in first place to stay, and the Sheriff is the reason why. This guy is incredible.
Also Considered: Aaron Rodgers, Wes Welker, Victor Cruz, Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin

Best QB: Peyton Manning. See Above, I told you; the guy’s incredible.
Also Considered: Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Matt Ryan

Best RB: Adrian Peterson, with 775 yards on the ground and a 5.1 yard average, is showing no ill effects after returning from ACL surgery; He’s cutting crisply on stretch plays and running the A-Gap with exceptional power. He’s added another 123 yards on pass receptions.
Also Considered: Frank Gore, Stevan Ridley, Alfred Morris, Jamaal Charles

Best WR: Victor Cruz has 52 receptions for 650 yards and 7 touchdowns, including two of 77 & 80 yards while his team trailed late in games. It looks as if we’ll see plenty more Salsa dancing before the post season.
Also Considered: Percy Harvin, Wes Welker, A.J Green, Brandon Marshall

Best TE: Rob Gronkowski has passed his counterparts with several big games this quarter. He may not be the most popular pick, but Gronk has the numbers for his position (43-580-13.5-7), and they’re undisputed.
Also Considered: Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten

Best Pass Rusher: Daryl Washington brings home this award after narrowly missing at linebacker. He is currently third in the league with 8 sacks, but has 34 more tackles than the other contenders here. For an inside linebacker, he’s a beast of a pass rusher.
Also Considered: J. J. Watts, Clay Matthews

Best Linebacker: Navorro Bowman wins this by the narrowest of margins, due to his ability to drop into coverage. His 68 tackles and 2 sacks put him in the yard with Daryl Washington, but 6 passes defended and an interception give him the edge for best backer.
Also Considered: Daryl Washington, Jarod Mayo, Chad Greenway

Best Pass Defender: Tim Jennings is running away with this award at midseason, with 39 tackles, 6 interceptions and 19 passes defended. Frequently left in man coverage, Jennings has netted 34 of those tackles by himself. Could it be time for a new island to be named?
Also Considered: Richard Sherman, Cortland Finnegan

Best Rookie: Robert Griffin III has managed to hold the position from the beginning, but his lead isn’t as commanding as it once was. With a 97.3 passer rating he is still playing above his fellow rookie passers, while adding an additional 476 yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground.
Also Considered: Alfred Morris, Doug Martin

That’s a wrap on the Mid-Season Awards, tune in again after week 12 and see who the front runners will be for the home stretch. If you think these picks are ugly, please reference the photo of the Steelers uniforms, and they should look a little sounder. The bumble bee wrappers they wore in the steel city last weekend have surpassed, in my mind, the Denver Broncos vertical sock stripes as the ugliest uniforms I’ve seen. If I owned the Steelers, I’d make them wear those every week until the clinched the division, then let them return to the always cool black and gold for the post season.

The 2012 Rookie Class is loaded with talented skill position players.

When we talk about the greatest rookie classes for skill positions, 1983 is a year we frequently hear mentioned as one of the best. Why not? Elway, Blackledge, Kelly, Eason, O’Brien and Marino were perhaps the best rookie class at the quarterback position ever. QB’s weren’t the only skill players entering the league in ’83, when the draft yielded such runners as Eric Dickerson, Curt Warner, Roger Craig and Craig James, while also producing some pretty good receivers like Henry Ellard, Willie Gault and Mark Clayton.

I have no data from the fan prospective as to where that year’s rookie class ranks with others, but I’m willing to go out on a limb here and say that it would be an overwhelming winner in a widespread poll. In all, this group produced five Hall-of-Famers from the skill positions. Does this 2012 class have the kind of talent that can rival the class of 1983? Only time will tell with any certainty, but let’s take a closer look and see what we see.

Quarterback:  Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Ryan Tannehill, Brandon Weeden, Russell Wilson

We see that we have five starting rookie quarterbacks; I can’t remember the last time that happened, but I would guess it occurred in a league other than the NFL. The USFL maybe, or the Arena League or somewhere they sing “Oh Canada” just before kickoff, but not in this league. It may have happened at some point, just not one than I can recall. In ’83 only Elway started on opening day; Marino got his first start in game six, and Kelly was playing in the USFL until ’86. The others were backups as rookies.

In this year’s group, all five have started all of their teams’ games. They are averaging 1,548 yards passing and have combined for 35 touchdowns and 33 interceptions. RGIII is playing at a different level than the others thus far, but each of these players carries a tremendous upside. Next season, they’ll come into camp with a much better idea of what they’re doing; and I expect we should get used to seeing most, if not all, of these guys for the next ten years.

Running Back: Alfred Morris, Doug Martin, Trent Richardson, Daryl Richardson, Brandon Bolden

 Sixth round pick Alfred Morris is leading all rookie rushers with 658 yards. He has been steady all season with a solid 4.8 YPA and 5 TD’s. In Tampa Bay, Doug Martin has been a nice addition to the Bucs offense with 767 scrimmage yards and 4 touchdowns. In Cleveland, Trent Richardson has 545 combined yards and 5 scores. Others are performing well in limited roles; Daryl Richardson, Brandon Bolden, and Lamar Miller are all averaging over 5 yards per carry, and a few others, David Wilson, Ronnie Hillman, LaMichael James, and Isaiah Pead are expected to be productive backs by their teams. There is probably no Eric Dickerson in this bunch, but there are some quality backs, and the potential is there for this group to be great.

Receiver: Justin Blackmon, Kendall Wright, Coby Fleener, Ashlon Jeffery, Stephen Hill, Josh Gordon, T.Y. Hilton, Michael Floyd, Chris Givens

 Wide-receiver is a position that historically has been hard to play at a high level quickly in this league. People that I know widely regard year 3 as the benchmark from which to measure these prospects. So it comes as no surprise that this group’s numbers are down. Justin Blackmon has caught only 14 passes, but we all know he will be much better than that. Kendall Wright leads all rookies with 36 grabs, but he’s netting a paltry 8.4 yards on them. Michael Floyd of the Cards has pulled in only 8 balls. These numbers will improve over time, as can be said for all of the rookie pass catchers. Fleener is the only tight-end in this group and he’s hauled in 19 balls for a 10.4 yard average, but the Colts are expecting bigger things from him as he gains experience.

So that is a look at the top rookie skill position players of 2012, there are many more that I failed to mention who should probably be listed here, and I’m sure they’ll will make me notice them over time. Will this class match up to the class of ’83? We’ll know someday, but that weighty goal is yet to be achieved. For now we get to enjoy watching them make their own histories.

There have been some famous Godfathers in this country we live in. John Gotti was a real life Mafioso, Vito Corleone was the undisputed Godfather in American Cinema, and James Brown (knock me out) will always be remembered as the Godfather of Soul.

Among National Football League players that role has been filled by one Ray Anthony Lewis.

That wasn’t always the case; when drafted with the 26th pick in the 1996 draft, Lewis was considered a talented underclassman, yet three linebackers (Kevin Hardy, John Mobley and Reggie Brown) were selected ahead of him. While two of those men went on to have good careers in the league, their NFL legacies are buried deep in the shadows cast by Ray’s.

His numbers are staggering: 17 years, 13 Pro-Bowls, 10 times All-Pro, 2 times Defensive MVP, the MVP of Super Bowl XXXV, most years and games (227) at his position, the only player ever to have over 40 sacks and 30 interceptions, and on and on. His accolades on the football field are countless, and the amount of respect he has garnered from his peers is immeasurable.

Those numbers, no matter how impressive, are not what make Ray the Godfather; what elevates him to that position is the way he has handled his journey. He has overcome a lot in the course of his career, risen to every occasion, and displayed a leadership that transcends his sport. The late Bert Sugar, the greatest boxing writer ever, once said when asked about the declining state of his sport, “Ray Lewis is the best heavyweight in the world today.”

Some purists will tell you that Dick Butkis was better, and some will contend the same about Jack Lambert. I have seen a lot of film on Butkis, and I saw Lambert play in person and on T.V. They were great, both delivering sledge hammer hits and striking fear into the hearts of ball carriers, but Ray measures up in that regard, and in my humble opinion is every bit as good on the field. It is on the sidelines where I believe Ray Ray separated himself. And those motivational speeches and dances he does before kickoff; the ones that get other players and fans alike pumped to the point of adrenaline overdoses? Well even Tony Robbins has to admire that act. I can’t under any circumstances, see leaving Ray on the bench behind anyone, those two included. He is simply the best middle-linebacker to ever play the game.

Veteran players all value what Ray has to say, young players look to him as a mentor, the press corps hang on his every word. It’s as if he has become like E. F. Hutton from those old commercials; “When Ray Lewis talks, people listen.”

He overcame his legal troubles early in his career, and he’s gone on to be respected as a player, a man, a father (6 kids), and a person of faith. He embodies the American dream and the idea that redemption is available to those who seek it. His charitable work is well documented and wide-ranging, and a section of Baltimore’s North Avenue has been renamed Ray Lewis Way in honor of his efforts in that arena.

Sadly, and to my discredit, I was one of those who judged Ray without full knowledge of the facts well over a decade ago, and his exemplary behavior since then has put my rush to judgment to shame. There is precious little chance that Ray will ever read this, but if he does, please accept my humblest and heartfelt apology, Ray.

Ray will miss the rest of the season with a torn triceps, and the Ravens defense will miss him on the field. But more than his play, I believe his leadership will be missed. He is 37 now, and he has a son that will be playing football at Miami, his Alma Mater next year. Sources close to him have said he hopes to watch his boy play. Has Ray Lewis played his last down in the NFL? I don’t know if even he knows the answer to that question. If he does decide that this is the end of his career, it is the end of a great career. He has a ring, and he’ll wear a yellow jacket in his first year of eligibility for the Hall of Fame.

Among the many definitions of the word godfather are: a male sponsor or guardian, a powerful leader, a person who is regarded as the originator or principle shaper of a movement, and a person you would leave your kids with in the event of your death.

Ray Lewis fits all of these definitions in one form or another, and he’s earned the title of the Godfather of the NFL.

We live in an age of equality. The days of dynasties and consistent dominance on the grid iron are fading, and the axiom “wait until next year” is quickly being replaced by “wait until next week”. Sure, every year seems to produce a team or two that plays better than the others in the league, but rarely do those teams go on to win it all; see the Packers from last season, the Colts of ’09, the Patriots of ’07, or the Chargers of ’06. All of those teams cruised through the regular season and were overwhelming favorites to win the Super Bowl, and they combined to bring home exactly zero Lombardi Trophies.

The days of Chuck Noll’s Steelers, Bill Walsh’s 49ers, Jimmy Johnson’s Cowboys and even Bill Belichick’s Patriots from the early part of this century seem to be forever lost to the sport. Were those Patriots, winners of three Super Bowls in four seasons, the last dynasty the league will ever see? That question cannot be answered aside from guesswork, but they certainly were the last team that could seriously be considered in that light. In the seven Super Bowls since New England’s last title, there have been five different winners, with Pittsburgh ’05 & ’08, and the Giants ’07 & ’12 each winning twice. Given the number of years between those latter titles, to suggest those teams on the fringe of dynasties is a bit of a stretch.

There are currently 11 teams in the league with 3-3 records. A glance at the standings could easily garner the response, “six of one, half dozen of another”. But are all .500 teams created equal? I’m not sure that they are, and I’ve attempted to outline why. Below are my rankings of the eleven 3-3 teams.

11. Miami Dolphins
I think the Dolphins have taken great strides on the road to rebuilding. Reggie Bush is proving that he can be an every down tailback, and Ryan Tannehill may very well be the long awaited franchise QB to finally replace the great Dan Marino, but I think they are still a playmaker or two away on defense, and maybe a premier pass catcher away from being a serious contender.

10. Buffalo Bills
This one was tough for me, because the Bills have some great talent on both sides of the ball. But serious questions still remain unanswered at quarterback, where Ryan Fitzpatrick struggles with consistency, and at running back, where injury concerns outweigh the enormous talent that Fred Jackson and C. J. Spiller bring to the table.

9. St. Louis Rams
I know they lost a tough one on the road at Miami, but I like the direction that Jeff Fisher is taking this team. QB Sam Bradford can make all the throws, and they have some good, young talent on both sides of the ball. The loss of Danny Amendola set them back, but I think they’ll only get better as the season progresses.

8. San Diego Chargers
This is another that’s tough for me because I grew up, and still am, a fan. Putting the homer gene aside, I see some serious issues on this once talented roster. On the defensive side of the ball, they struggle to get pressure on the QB, and to cover on the back end, a harsh combination for any team to work with. Offensively, the line is terrible in pass protection, the lack of talent at wide receiver becomes more apparent by the week, and something is wrong with QB Phil Rivers. His footwork is off, his decision making has been subpar, and his arm strength is now suspect. Before last year, none of these things were an issue.

7. Cincinnati Bengals
Andy Dalton is one of the hot young guns in the NFL, and he has developed a rapport with A. J. Green that promises to be something special. Consistency is still an issue for this team, however, as evidenced by last week’s loss at Cleveland.

6. New York Jets
I may be stretching on this one, but the Jets looked very impressive in all three phases of the game against the Colts last week, and their ground and pound approach worked to perfection. On defense, Antonio Cromartie is playing like he did in 2007, while matching the aggressive nature of the rest of the unit. This week will tell us a lot more about Rex’s team than we now know.

5. Philadelphia Eagles
With their rate of turnovers, I can’t believe I have them slotted this high; it must be the tremendous amount of talent on this roster. The potential Pro-Bowlers here are too many to list, and Andy Reid is still a top-notch head coach. This team can quickly move either way on this list in the next few weeks.

4. Washington Redskins
I’ve seen the future of the NFL, and his name is RGIII. I’m not only drinking the Kool-Aid, I’m buying it by the pallet at Sam’s Club. I really like what Mike Shanahan is doing with this club on offense; I’ve never seen a team run as effectively out of the Shotgun as the Skins do. And about that option that has received so much criticism from football pundits everywhere? It is very efficient, and gives defensive coordinators headaches with the match-up problems it creates. Rookie Alfred Morris has been consistently one of the better backs in the league, and RGIII has already developed the best play-action fake in the game. A suspect defense keeps this team from being great, but they’re on their way.

3. Denver Broncos
Peyton Manning makes this team much better. For those of us who doubted that, we were wrong…period. Willis McGahee is still bucking the RB after 30 odds, and Peyton is quickly making Pro-Bowl caliber receivers of Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker. On defense, Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller present a fearsome pass rush, while Champ Baily remains a shutdown corner, and shows no sign of slowing down.

2. Green Bay Packers
2011’s performance was a tough act for any team to follow, and the Packers have already dropped two more games this year than last. But last week, Aaron Rodgers showed why is widely considered the league’s best QB, by tossing 6 touchdowns. On defense, they have a few playmakers, but lack the cohesiveness to be considered great. The thing that keeps this team from taking the top slot on this list is their lack of a consistent running attack. I expect we’ll see them into the post season.

1. New England Patriots
I think the Patriots abandoned the running game altogether in 2007, when Tom Brady and Randy Moss rewrote a bit of the record books. But the running game is back in New England, and in a big way. Halfback Stevan Ridley is the most exciting rookie I can remember on a Bill Belichick coached team, and fellow rookie Brandon Bolden is almost as good. But the passing game is still as strong as ever, with Gronk, Aaron, Wes and new addition Brandon Lloyd giving Brady the best compliment of targets he’s had in his career. The defense struggles at times, but with this offense, who cares? My pre-season pick to win the Super Bowl, I see no reason to back off of that prediction.

For all the talk of the league belonging to the quarterback, for the notion that offense produces success, for the modern perception that three yards and a cloud of dust is an archaic adage, let’s look at the tale of the tape, and add up the numbers.

That passing yardage has risen exponentially in the last few years is evident; to find evidence of this, one has to look no further than the 2011 season, when four of the top six seasons for quarterback passing yardage was recorded.

Until the last few years, the common school of thought has been that ‘offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships’. For those who’ve never subscribed to this axiom, I would suggest that you look at Dan Fouts led teams of Air-Coryell, or the Dolphins of Dan Marino’s day, or Warren Moon’s run-and-shoot teams of the Houston Oilers. If that’s not enough, then please reference the Lions of the early ‘90’s, with three one thousand yard receivers and Barry Sanders, great offenses all, but no Lombardi Trophies to speak of between them. None of these teams had the defense to carry them through the grind of the playoffs, and onto the biggest stage of them all.

But Steve, what about the 1980’s 49ers? What about the Cowboys of the 1990’s? You forgot about them.

No I didn’t. What separated the Niners and the Cowboys was balance; both teams had great offenses, but they also had great D’s as well. The names are too numerous to list, but if you do a little research you find many defensive players from both teams are now members of the Hall of Fame.

But Steve, that point is now moot because this isn’t your father’s NFL, things have changed, just look at the numbers.

Okay, let’s look at the numbers.

We’ll begin on offense, and we’ll look at the top six teams in the league in each category. We’ll leave scoring out of the equation for obvious reason, but for those of you with inquiring minds, the top six teams in scoring on both sides of the ball have combined records of 24-6. I told you; obvious.

On offense, the top six in passing yardage have a combined won/lost record of 11-16. The top two, New Orleans and Detroit are a combined 2-7. Perhaps running the ball gives us a truer reflection; the top six rushing teams have a winning record at 17-13. Or maybe balance is the best barometer of what’s really going on. The top six in total yards have a net record of 13-16.

That can’t be right, can it? If it is, surely it’s an anomaly. We can learn the answer to that by examining the defenses with the same criteria. The top six defenses against the pass are 18-10, the top units against the run are 17-12, and the top overall defenses are a combined 20-6.

Let’s go one step further and do the math in all categories. On offense, leaders are 41-45 for a .427 winning percentage, while the defensive leaders are 55-28 for a winning percentage of .663.

While I’m not a mathematical wizard, and I’ll probably never share anything in common with Albert Einstein other than the occasional improperly buttoned shirt; that seems a no-brainer to me. Give me a great defense over a prolific offense every day of the week; this is a proven way to win.

So while we all know that Eli and the Giants offense got hot in the home stretch last year, it was their defenses’ ability to apply pressure to the quarterback that ultimately won them the Super Bowl.

There will always be exceptions to every rule, and clutch performances and intangibles can change a golden rule to a soft lead, lending hope to alchemists everywhere, but tried and true is always a good policy. Look for a great defense to surprise some experts at some point this year, by taking down an offensive juggernaut when no one gives them a chance.

I welcome your retort, but as for my case, the defense rests.

In the spirit of Wednesday’s presidential debate, let’s take a look at a couple of young quarterbacks with promising futures.
On one hand we have the incumbent, second year starter, Cam Newton, of the Carolina Panthers. On the other side of the argument is rookie sensation, Robert Griffin III, of the Washington Redskins.
Both are young African-American players that were highly touted and publicized coming out of college. Both won the Heisman Trophy after their senior seasons, had exceptional professional debuts, and both are expected to lead their respective teams for the next decade.
Assuming for a moment that you are the general manager of an NFL franchise, and by some fortuitous stroke of luck you had the chance to land one of these two players to build your team around; who’s it going to be?
Unless you’ve had a chance to see them both play a lot, don’t answer until we’ve had a chance to go over some more facts.
Cam Newton is the bigger of the two; at 6’5’’ tall and 245 pounds, he has prototypical size for the position. Griffin is not small, but can be considered smallish for an NFL quarterback. His 6’2”, 217 pound frame does allow for phenomenal speed (4.38 40 time *), and oftentimes he is the fastest player on the field.
Newton has the advantage of having his rookie season under his belt, and it was a great rookie season by any standards; 4,051 yards and 21 TD’s passing, 716 yards and 14 scores rushing. He was awarded the Rookie of the Year Award for this effort, but his team struggled to a 6-10 record.
Griffin has only 4 games of experience, and we have only those games by which to compare them. To date, Cam and the Panthers are 1-3, while RG3 and the Redskins are 2-2.

Cam Newton has passed for 1,013 yards, while completing 63.6 percent of his throws. He has managed 4 TD’s against 5 INT’s, for a rating of  87.5. On the ground he has gained 167 yards for a 5.1 average with 3 scores. He has fumbled 4 times.
Robert Griffin III has amassed 1,070 yards through the air on 69.4 passing. He has thrown 4 touchdowns and 1 pick, with a rating of 103.2.  He has rushed for 234 yards, with a 5.7 yard average and 4 touchdowns. He has fumbled 5 times.

We have the stats and the numbers and the measurements, and that leaves us with only their personalities left to examine before we make our decision.
Let’s leave the gossip and pre-draft sound bites off the table for the purpose of this exercise, and go by what we see on the field. What type of player are you looking for?
Cam is very vocal and boisterous, exuding confidence every time he makes a play with his Superman bit in the end-zone. RG3, on the other hand, is cut from a more humble cloth, quietly taking a knee and crossing himself after scoring. They both display good leadership qualities, but they are very different styles to say the least. If these guys were cars we might be talking about a Ferrari and a Maserati; both high dollar, high performance machines, that are rarely seen on the streets of suburbia; and when they are, they cause quite the stir. We can’t really make a bad choice given our two options, but we do want to make the right choice.

Only one of these men can win the starting job. And the winner is…

*NFL Combine 2012