Post by TheShadow on Dec 31, 2006 10:42:04 GMT -5
www.contracostatimes.com
CAM INMAN: INSIDE THE NFL
BEFORE WE RING in the New Year, let's review the best and worst of the old year:
Most Valuable Player: LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers running back. He broke the single-season record for touchdowns and points with two games to spare in the Chargers' winningest season ever.
Offensive Player of the Year: Drew Brees, Saints quarterback. In his first season in the Saints' system and less than a year removed from shoulder surgery, he's passed for over 4,300 yards and delivered the NFC South title.
Defensive Player of the Year: Shawne Merriman, Chargers linebacker. Go ahead and gripe about his failed steroid test, but the NFL let him keep playing after a four-game suspension, and his presence (NFL-best 16 sacks) is ever-menacing.
Comeback Player of the Year: Chad Pennington, Jets quarterback. After his second rotator-cuff surgery, you figured he'd have a hard enough time flipping burgers, much less leading the Jets into playoff contention.
Coach of the Year: Sean Payton, Saints. He brought discipline, creativity, leadership and hope to a moribund franchise, two years after the Raiders interviewed him as their possible savior.
Top Offensive Rookie: Vince Young, Titans quarterback. He's 8-4 as a starter, has led them to six straight wins, has four late comeback victories and has revitalized that club.
Top Defensive Rookie: DeMeco Ryans, Texans linebacker. The first pick of the second round is a tackling machine, and a nice makeup call for the first overall pick used on Mario Williams rather than Reggie Bush.
Top Special Teams Rookie: Devin Hester, Bears returner. Yes, this category is a new addition, but you can't ignore Hester's record of six returns for touchdowns. He's a game changer like no other rookie.
Executive of the Year: Mickey Loomis, Saints general manager. He not only brought in Payton and Brees, but also three new starting linebackers and some swift draft picks (running back Reggie Bush, wide receiver Marques Colston).
Best 49ers play: Quarterback Alex Smith bounced off a blitzing cornerback and threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Frank Gore in a Dec. 14 upset win at Seattle.
Best Raiders play: Chris Carr intercepted a Ben Roethlisberger pass and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown in the Raiders' second victory.
Typical 49ers play: Gore carries behind left guard Larry Allen and pulling right guard Justin Smiley, slips out of a few defenders' grasps and bursts down field for 10, 20, 30 yards.
Typical Raiders play: Quarterback (insert Aaron Brooks or Andrew Walter's name here) takes seven-step drop, can't find Randy Moss or Jerry Porter on the field and gets sacked.
Best trade: The 49ers' Aug. 20 export of Kevan Barlow to the Jets, where he got to play for a playoff contender while Gore stole the show as the 49ers' feature back.
Worst trade: It's still not too late to pin this award on the Raiders' 2005 acquisition of Randy Moss.
Worst fad: The Colts defense has allowed over 100 yards rushing in every game and a league-worst 174.5 yards rushing per game.
Best fad: Changing quarterbacks. It hasn't worked for the Raiders, but we've witnessed the births of the Cowboys' Tony Romo, Titans' Young, the Cardinals' Matt Leinart and the Broncos' Jay Cutler.
Best rebirth: Jeff Garcia, Eagles quarterback. He replaced an injured Donovan McNabb and put the Eagles into the playoffs.
Saddest rebirth: Junior Seau, Patriots linebacker. He returned from a short-lived retirement and broke his right arm Nov. 26.
Best kick: Matt Bryant, Buccaneers. His 62-yard field goal, the third longest in NFL history, resulted in a 23-21 win over the Eagles as time expired.
Worst kick: Albert Haynesworth, Titans. His stomping on the helmet-less head of Cowboys center Andre Gurode resulted in a five-game sitdown.
Most overlooked: Peyton Manning, Colts quarterback. How dare we say this of America's chief pitchman? If not for him, the Colts would be 4-11, not vice versa. Of his 29 touchdown passes, 18 came on third down.
Most overblown: Terrell Owens, Cowboys wide receiver. Oh, as if you didn't notice the latest channel: ESPNTO.
Best free agent: Brees, Saints. See above. Runner-up: Steve McNair, Ravens quarterback.
Worst free agent: Take your pick of these Redskins: wide receiver Antwaan Randle El, safety Adam Archuleta, defensive end Andre Carter.
Biggest surprise (team): Saints, from tragedy to triumph.
Biggest surprise (player): Gore, for challenging to win the NFL rushing title.
Biggest bust (team): All of the NFC, minus the Bears and Saints.
Biggest bust (player): Daunte Culpepper, Dolphins quarterback. From opening-day starter to more rehab for his bum knee.
Biggest fraud (team): Cardinals. Neither Leinart, Edgerrin James nor a new stadium could prevent a fifth straight season of 10 or more losses.
Best first-round draft pick: Young, Titans quarterback. Was taken No. 3 overall.
Best non-first-round draft pick: Colston, Saints wide receiver. Was taken in the seventh round, 252nd overall.
Worst first round-draft pick: Williams, Texans defensive end. His team is more at fault for this, drafting him No. 1 overall instead of a franchise quarterback or running back.
Our best preseason prediction: Tomlinson for MVP.
Our worst preseason prediction: Dolphins and Cardinals as "teams on the rise." Or else (pending late magic): Colts 31, Panthers 10 in Super Bowl XLI.