Backyard Banter 2012 Season Awards
By: Matt Harmon
MVP: Adrian Peterson RB, Minnesota Vikings
This was very tough for me between Adrian Peterson and Peyton Manning. I even had Manning in this spot for a long time and didn’t plan on wavering. However, Peterson just completed one of the best individual seasons by a player we have ever seen. He came up just nine yard short of the single season rushing record, but he still carried a team with a suspect quarterback. I mean come on this guy tore his knee up just over a year ago and he came back to have his, and of the best seasons ever. He deserves this award because he is the most valuable player to his team. Where would this team be without AP? Sitting at home next week and wondering what player they would be picking in the top-10, that’s where.
Offensive Player of the Year: Peyton Manning QB, Denver Broncos
Peyton edges Tom Brady just slightly for this award. Manning came to a totally new team after spending his entire career with the Colts and has completely revolutionized this team’s culture. He coached up a bunch of young inexperienced players that were stuck playing in the Tim Tebow wacky system and have them running his timing and precision based offense to perfection. His mere presence also made this a professional team that expects to be more than just in the playoffs. He has transformed this team completely and oh by the way, he also had a ridiculous year on the field after being out of the game last year.
Defensive Player of the Year: Von Miller LB, Denver Broncos
If JJ Watt had come away with the sack record I may have picked him, and Aldon Smith disappears too much for my liking. Miller is the best and most well rounded defensive player out of the three. Miller can do it all, cover, play the run, and rush the passer relentlessly. During the long win streak for Denver, Von Miller had several games where he singlehandedly destroyed the offenses’ rhythm and game plans. After watching Miller blowup several plays and humiliated a ton of offensive blockers on a much-improved Denver defense, he is my defensive player of the year.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Russell Wilson QB, Seattle Seahawks
Russell Wilson has defied all odds this year. They said he was too short, the Seahawks had Matt Flynn, he isn’t RG3 or Luck, and he couldn’t beat tough defenses in the NFC West. None of it mattered for Wilson. I thought he could win the award when he was named the starter but after his somewhat slow start I did have my doubts. But after the Chicago game when he drove his team to win, I have been beating the drum louder than anyone. It is a tough race between the top-3 quarterbacks (RG3, Luck, and Wilson) and it is very, very close, but I believe Wilson has earned the award the most. He didn’t come to this team thinking he would be the starter, he had to earn everything that he got and he surely did. The last four weeks of the season Wilson and the Seahawks outscored their opponents 170 to 43. That’s just does not happen in the NFL. He certainly plays with the best defense of the rookie quarterbacks, and he has Marshawn Lynch, but I would take the weapons in Indianapolis and Washington over the guys in Seattle. When the coaches opened up the playbook for Wilson no one could stop him. Pete Carroll deserves a ton of respect for going with Wilson (more on that to come). This can be argued, but in one of the best OROY races we have seen in a long time, Russell Wilson should be the offensive rookie of the year.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Luke Keuchly MLB, Carolina Panthers
The Panthers had a disappointing season, but their top draft pick was one of the bright spots. Keuchly led the league in tackles for most of the year and had a tremendous impact on a defense that actually performed pretty well at times. Keuchly has Brian Urlacher type potential and showed that he can be a leader on a team that sorely needs them. Look for him to remain in the middle even when/if former stud Jon Beason returns from another injury. He is the new quarterback of this defense. Great start to what will be a great career for this young man.
Comeback Player of the Year: Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson
This is not a cop out. They have split the MVP award before so why can’t we split this award? We have seen two of the all time great comebacks by two elite, future hall of fame level players. These guys both deserve this award and far be it from me to not give it to either one of them. What is more impressive, coming back from four neck surgeries that cost a player a whole year, or coming back from a torn ACL and MCL in the final weeks of the previous season? Please, it’s picking between apples and oranges. They are both damn impressive and lets properly honor both of these incredible players.
Coach of the Year: Bruce Arians/Chuck Pagano, Indianapolis Colts
This is a unique way to give the award, but this is a very unique situation. Everyone knows the Pagano story. Diagnosed with Leukemia early in season, the first year head coach had to step away from the team for much of the year. During his absence offensive coordinator Bruce Arians took over a team that was the worst in the NFL in 2011. They won nine games after that and finished as a playoff team. Many teams, especially a young one such as this, would have folded under these circumstances. The inspirational leadership these two men provided a team that is undermanned and young is deserving of serious recognition. This video alone probably sealed the deal for me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I9UsfDZLyQ) #CHUCKSTRONG
Biggest Disappointment: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles were billed by many to be an incredibly talented and loaded team that would rebound from a disappointing 8-8 season in 2011. Instead the ship began sinking quickly after a 3-1 start. Mike Vick was terrible (long before being injured again), the defense was a complete disgrace, and Andy Reid looks finished in Philly. With a house cleaning likely coming it could be a very long time before we see the great-sustained success from the Eagles that we saw in the Reid years. To top it all off, Vick and the Eagles stunk it up big time in the season finale against the Giants. Despite Nick Foles showing that he belongs in the NFL at least in some capacity, this team personifies disappointment.
Biggest Surprise: Minnesota Vikings
Its tough not to have the Colts here, but I am personally more surprised by the Vikings. I had them as one of the four or five worst teams headed into the season and to see them in the playoffs is just unbelievable. I thought we would see Peterson at 100% around midseason, maybe, but he is the MVP and had a totally legendary season. Leslie Frazier had a great year as a head coach and despite average, at best, quarterback play this team has a shot to upset their rival Packers for a second straight week.
Most Improved Offensive Player: Michael Crabtree WR, San Francisco 49ers
Crabtree came into the league being touted as the nest Larry Fitzgerald. His early career was mired with contract disputes, personal problems, and spotty play. He was just another clown in the Mike Singletary circus. In his second year under Jim Harbaugh Crabtree has been reborn and has been a total animal, to paraphrase his new quarterback Colin Kaepernick. When the move to CK was made Crabtree completely took off. He began to use what I always thought was his best attribute. He can take a short pass and break a ton of tackles. He is just bigger and more physical than most defensive backs and it showed when guys were covering and attempting to tackle him. He now has a legit argument to be a top-10 player at his position. Not a soul would say that about him before the season.
Most Improved Defensive Player: Greg Hardy DE, Carolina Panthers
The book on Hardy was that he ha a world of talent, but was lazy and injury prone. Well, Hardy put it all together this year by piling up 11 sacks in 15 games rushing in a tandem with stud Charles Johnson for an improved Panthers defense. Hardy can do it all, speed rush, bull rush, and can even rush from the inside of the defensive line. One can only hope that this player continues to give maximum effort every year going forward. He is a freak of nature and is handful for offense to block. Charles Johnson and Hardy give the Panthers two dangerous ends that set up Carolina to be a good pass rushing team for several years to come.
Thug4lifer of the Year: Tommy Kelly DT, Oakland Raiders
Tommy Kelly started off the year with a bang when in the season opener he was caught laughed after prolonging a San Diego drive with a pair of offside penalties. Kelly was a classic Al Davis era overpaid bum. Kelly has a world of talent, and has played well at times in the past, but he is unbelievably sluggish this year in particular and has been abused on the field. His quotes about wanting to “take out” Cam Newton in the wake f the bounty scandal really summed up how much of a thug he is. Expect him to be cut very soon after the end of the season.
Backyard Banter Man of the Year: Jamal Charles RB, Kansas City Chiefs
First of all, Charles has a tremendous season. However, the adverse circumstances this player has been under this season are nothing short of astounding. Many forget that Charles is also coming off of a torn ACL injury from the 2011 season. While playing on a Chiefs team that has been the bottom dweller all year he has been used strangely and inconsistently by a clueless coaching staff, and is basically the only threat teams must key on in the Chiefs’ offense. And finally, Jamaal Charles, whose wife is a cousin of the late Kasandra Perkins, was one of the Chiefs hit particularly hard by the tragedy involving late teammate Jovan Belcher. All of this said, Charles cannot be given offensive player of the year or MVP, but I feel he needs to be honored for his unreal performance this year under excruciatingly difficult circumstances, so he is the Backyard Banter Man of the Year.
Biggest Balls Award: Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks
So many coaches play it safe and go with what they know. Many coaches have lost their jobs because they were too afraid to take a risk and roll with the unknown. Seattle head coach has been the opposite of normal since he came to the NFL for a second run. He and General Manager, John Schneider, have massive corners over 6’3 feet tall, d-lineman who “wouldn’t fit in others schemes”, and castoff players on offense, and they have all worked to perfection. This year Carroll took the biggest gamble when he put the exciting, but unknown, rookie Russell Wilson in as the starting quarterback over high-priced free agent Matt Flynn. Wilson was casted as too short and not ready. It would have been easy for Carroll to go with the safe guy in Flynn and maybe they still would have been successful. However, no way are they this dynamic with Flynn under center. By making the risky choice, Pete Carroll has set his team up for not only a playoff run, but is set up to be a force in the NFC for years to come.
MVP: Adrian Peterson RB, Minnesota Vikings
This was very tough for me between Adrian Peterson and Peyton Manning. I even had Manning in this spot for a long time and didn’t plan on wavering. However, Peterson just completed one of the best individual seasons by a player we have ever seen. He came up just nine yard short of the single season rushing record, but he still carried a team with a suspect quarterback. I mean come on this guy tore his knee up just over a year ago and he came back to have his, and of the best seasons ever. He deserves this award because he is the most valuable player to his team. Where would this team be without AP? Sitting at home next week and wondering what player they would be picking in the top-10, that’s where.
Offensive Player of the Year: Peyton Manning QB, Denver Broncos
Peyton edges Tom Brady just slightly for this award. Manning came to a totally new team after spending his entire career with the Colts and has completely revolutionized this team’s culture. He coached up a bunch of young inexperienced players that were stuck playing in the Tim Tebow wacky system and have them running his timing and precision based offense to perfection. His mere presence also made this a professional team that expects to be more than just in the playoffs. He has transformed this team completely and oh by the way, he also had a ridiculous year on the field after being out of the game last year.
Defensive Player of the Year: Von Miller LB, Denver Broncos
If JJ Watt had come away with the sack record I may have picked him, and Aldon Smith disappears too much for my liking. Miller is the best and most well rounded defensive player out of the three. Miller can do it all, cover, play the run, and rush the passer relentlessly. During the long win streak for Denver, Von Miller had several games where he singlehandedly destroyed the offenses’ rhythm and game plans. After watching Miller blowup several plays and humiliated a ton of offensive blockers on a much-improved Denver defense, he is my defensive player of the year.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Russell Wilson QB, Seattle Seahawks
Russell Wilson has defied all odds this year. They said he was too short, the Seahawks had Matt Flynn, he isn’t RG3 or Luck, and he couldn’t beat tough defenses in the NFC West. None of it mattered for Wilson. I thought he could win the award when he was named the starter but after his somewhat slow start I did have my doubts. But after the Chicago game when he drove his team to win, I have been beating the drum louder than anyone. It is a tough race between the top-3 quarterbacks (RG3, Luck, and Wilson) and it is very, very close, but I believe Wilson has earned the award the most. He didn’t come to this team thinking he would be the starter, he had to earn everything that he got and he surely did. The last four weeks of the season Wilson and the Seahawks outscored their opponents 170 to 43. That’s just does not happen in the NFL. He certainly plays with the best defense of the rookie quarterbacks, and he has Marshawn Lynch, but I would take the weapons in Indianapolis and Washington over the guys in Seattle. When the coaches opened up the playbook for Wilson no one could stop him. Pete Carroll deserves a ton of respect for going with Wilson (more on that to come). This can be argued, but in one of the best OROY races we have seen in a long time, Russell Wilson should be the offensive rookie of the year.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Luke Keuchly MLB, Carolina Panthers
The Panthers had a disappointing season, but their top draft pick was one of the bright spots. Keuchly led the league in tackles for most of the year and had a tremendous impact on a defense that actually performed pretty well at times. Keuchly has Brian Urlacher type potential and showed that he can be a leader on a team that sorely needs them. Look for him to remain in the middle even when/if former stud Jon Beason returns from another injury. He is the new quarterback of this defense. Great start to what will be a great career for this young man.
Comeback Player of the Year: Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson
This is not a cop out. They have split the MVP award before so why can’t we split this award? We have seen two of the all time great comebacks by two elite, future hall of fame level players. These guys both deserve this award and far be it from me to not give it to either one of them. What is more impressive, coming back from four neck surgeries that cost a player a whole year, or coming back from a torn ACL and MCL in the final weeks of the previous season? Please, it’s picking between apples and oranges. They are both damn impressive and lets properly honor both of these incredible players.
- Honorable Mention: Thomas Davis OLB, Carolina Panthers. This guy won’t win the award over the two big names, but his comeback is equally impressive. Davis has torn an ACL in three consecutive years (2009-2011) but the Panthers never gave up on a guy who was an elite player when he played. Davis has come back very strong for an improved Panthers defense and deserves serious recognition for it.
Coach of the Year: Bruce Arians/Chuck Pagano, Indianapolis Colts
This is a unique way to give the award, but this is a very unique situation. Everyone knows the Pagano story. Diagnosed with Leukemia early in season, the first year head coach had to step away from the team for much of the year. During his absence offensive coordinator Bruce Arians took over a team that was the worst in the NFL in 2011. They won nine games after that and finished as a playoff team. Many teams, especially a young one such as this, would have folded under these circumstances. The inspirational leadership these two men provided a team that is undermanned and young is deserving of serious recognition. This video alone probably sealed the deal for me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I9UsfDZLyQ) #CHUCKSTRONG
- Honorable Mention: Mike Shanahan, Washington Redskins. Shanny has long been one of the best offensive minds of our era, but his schemes and play calling this year has been particularly outstanding. He has been able to manufacture offense despite some injuries on that side of the ball. He has transformed Pierre Garcon into a legit top receiver and Alfred Morris is his latest running back success story. If it wasn’t for the Colts story, Shanahan may have won this award in a landslide in my opinion. The coach of the year doesn’t just have to be the coach of a team that was supposed to suck and then ended up doing well. It can be a guy who actually did a great coaching job.
Biggest Disappointment: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles were billed by many to be an incredibly talented and loaded team that would rebound from a disappointing 8-8 season in 2011. Instead the ship began sinking quickly after a 3-1 start. Mike Vick was terrible (long before being injured again), the defense was a complete disgrace, and Andy Reid looks finished in Philly. With a house cleaning likely coming it could be a very long time before we see the great-sustained success from the Eagles that we saw in the Reid years. To top it all off, Vick and the Eagles stunk it up big time in the season finale against the Giants. Despite Nick Foles showing that he belongs in the NFL at least in some capacity, this team personifies disappointment.
- Honorable Mention: Detroit Lions. These guys were supposed to be an upstart young team. Instead they came crashing down right back to where the Lions are used to being. Their undisciplined nature should lead to coaching questions.
Biggest Surprise: Minnesota Vikings
Its tough not to have the Colts here, but I am personally more surprised by the Vikings. I had them as one of the four or five worst teams headed into the season and to see them in the playoffs is just unbelievable. I thought we would see Peterson at 100% around midseason, maybe, but he is the MVP and had a totally legendary season. Leslie Frazier had a great year as a head coach and despite average, at best, quarterback play this team has a shot to upset their rival Packers for a second straight week.
Most Improved Offensive Player: Michael Crabtree WR, San Francisco 49ers
Crabtree came into the league being touted as the nest Larry Fitzgerald. His early career was mired with contract disputes, personal problems, and spotty play. He was just another clown in the Mike Singletary circus. In his second year under Jim Harbaugh Crabtree has been reborn and has been a total animal, to paraphrase his new quarterback Colin Kaepernick. When the move to CK was made Crabtree completely took off. He began to use what I always thought was his best attribute. He can take a short pass and break a ton of tackles. He is just bigger and more physical than most defensive backs and it showed when guys were covering and attempting to tackle him. He now has a legit argument to be a top-10 player at his position. Not a soul would say that about him before the season.
Most Improved Defensive Player: Greg Hardy DE, Carolina Panthers
The book on Hardy was that he ha a world of talent, but was lazy and injury prone. Well, Hardy put it all together this year by piling up 11 sacks in 15 games rushing in a tandem with stud Charles Johnson for an improved Panthers defense. Hardy can do it all, speed rush, bull rush, and can even rush from the inside of the defensive line. One can only hope that this player continues to give maximum effort every year going forward. He is a freak of nature and is handful for offense to block. Charles Johnson and Hardy give the Panthers two dangerous ends that set up Carolina to be a good pass rushing team for several years to come.
Thug4lifer of the Year: Tommy Kelly DT, Oakland Raiders
Tommy Kelly started off the year with a bang when in the season opener he was caught laughed after prolonging a San Diego drive with a pair of offside penalties. Kelly was a classic Al Davis era overpaid bum. Kelly has a world of talent, and has played well at times in the past, but he is unbelievably sluggish this year in particular and has been abused on the field. His quotes about wanting to “take out” Cam Newton in the wake f the bounty scandal really summed up how much of a thug he is. Expect him to be cut very soon after the end of the season.
Backyard Banter Man of the Year: Jamal Charles RB, Kansas City Chiefs
First of all, Charles has a tremendous season. However, the adverse circumstances this player has been under this season are nothing short of astounding. Many forget that Charles is also coming off of a torn ACL injury from the 2011 season. While playing on a Chiefs team that has been the bottom dweller all year he has been used strangely and inconsistently by a clueless coaching staff, and is basically the only threat teams must key on in the Chiefs’ offense. And finally, Jamaal Charles, whose wife is a cousin of the late Kasandra Perkins, was one of the Chiefs hit particularly hard by the tragedy involving late teammate Jovan Belcher. All of this said, Charles cannot be given offensive player of the year or MVP, but I feel he needs to be honored for his unreal performance this year under excruciatingly difficult circumstances, so he is the Backyard Banter Man of the Year.
Biggest Balls Award: Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks
So many coaches play it safe and go with what they know. Many coaches have lost their jobs because they were too afraid to take a risk and roll with the unknown. Seattle head coach has been the opposite of normal since he came to the NFL for a second run. He and General Manager, John Schneider, have massive corners over 6’3 feet tall, d-lineman who “wouldn’t fit in others schemes”, and castoff players on offense, and they have all worked to perfection. This year Carroll took the biggest gamble when he put the exciting, but unknown, rookie Russell Wilson in as the starting quarterback over high-priced free agent Matt Flynn. Wilson was casted as too short and not ready. It would have been easy for Carroll to go with the safe guy in Flynn and maybe they still would have been successful. However, no way are they this dynamic with Flynn under center. By making the risky choice, Pete Carroll has set his team up for not only a playoff run, but is set up to be a force in the NFC for years to come.
