NFL MVP race - week 14

Updated rankings after past week's games...

(8)  Roddy White - really beginning to tick me off that Matt Ryan is getting all the love right now.  Don't get me wrong, Ryan is excellent, but White has been phenomenal this season.  For those who claim he's doing what he's doing b/c of Ryan, last year he caught 80 rec for 1200+ yds... with Chris Redman throwing to him.  Falcons' playoff push will determine where White ends up.   ****UPDATE 12.12.2008 - after writing this, I watched several more Falcons' games I had recorded and completely changed my view on Ryan.  He'll be on the list next week, and he will be very high.  In fact, if I had to pick one player right now to build my franchise around, I would pick Matt Ryan.

(7)  Anquan Boldin - I rethought position last week and concluded it was too difficult to separate Boldin from Fitzgerald from Warner from even Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who as a rookie has established himslef as one of the better shutdown corners in the game.  Still heart and soul of team.

(6)  Chad Pennington - henceforth to be known only as "Chad."  Great passer and leader for this team.  Alot of the Dolphins' credit goes to Parcells for improving roster spots 1-53, but Chad deserves a ton of the credit for bringing stability and leadership to a rudderless team.  His play-action and accuracy fits very well with Ronnie Brown.

(5)  James Harrison - currently my pick for Defensive Player of the Year.  Would garner more MVP consideration if not for Troy Palumalu.  Tenacious pass-rusher who is always disrupting the rhythm of the opposing offense.  Turnover machine.

(4)  Ed Reed - heart and soul of Ravens team and main reason they are now a top-3 overall team.  One of the smarter players in the league.  Has played hurt most of the season.

(3)  Wes Welker - for further proof of MVP-worthiness, see this past week's game against Seahawks.  Once again, he was the best player on the field and the reason the Pats were able to move the ball and keep the ball.  Leading the league in receptions for 2nd year in a row... proving this year he was not a product of Tom Brady, like most of the media has declared.  Finally beginning to shut them up.

(2)  Adrian Peterson - fully expect to end year as #1, especially now that Frerotte is hurt and the Williams' could be going on suspension any day now.  Best player in the league at any position.

(1)  Peyton Manning - still hate to give the award to him given how inferior his stats and wins have been compared to prior years, but he's still going to end up leading Colts to 12-4 record with so many key players hurt and no running game.  I can't shake the feeling though that the Colts aren't that good this year.

NFL MVP race

If all you followed was Peter King, Mike & Mike, and ESPN, then you would come to the conclusion that only QBs were eligible for NFL MVP.  Which is ironic b/c this might possibly the worst year in the last 20 years for MVP-caliber QBs.  And yet that's all you ever hear about.  Think about it - how many times have you heard Matt Ryan's name for MVP over the last several weeks.  He's become a chic pick.  But don't tell me he's more valuable than Roddy White, who it seems has 5 steps separation from his nearest defender on every TD rec he catches.  And don't tell me he's more valuable than Michael Turner, who is making San Diego look pretty stupid for letting him go and instead keeping LT.  They're all MVP-worthy, yet Ryan is the only one you hear about from the media.  Makes you wonder.

Well, here's my rundown of MVP candidates that I feel much better represents the NFL landscape in 2008.  (in reverse order; all rankings based thru Week 13)

(5)  Wes Welker - has essentially become the Pats' running game.  Provides Matt Cassel the safety valve he needed to get comfortable in the Pats offense.  Only needs 2 seconds to get open, which is vital for young QB.  Toughest player on the team.

(4)  Eddie Royal - missing link for the Broncos this year.  Much like Welker, provides quick option for Cutler when pressure is on QB and there's no time to wait for the play to develop for Brandon Marshall.  With Tony Scheffler being out half the year, the RB position depleted, and defenses rolling coverage to Marshall deep, Royal has been biggest playmaker for Broncos.  Couple that with outstanding punt returns, he has made all the difference in field position for a team that has struggled on defense.

(3)  Adrian Peterson - may be at the top of the list by year end, especially with Williams boys suspended on defense.  Already with over 1300 yards and averaging nearly 5 yards a carry against defenses stacked to stop him, he's carried the Vikes who otherwise would be below average on offense with Gus Frerotte at the helm.  Leader of a very solid team, he should lead Vikes to playoffs even in wake of Williams' suspensions.  SIngle-handedly beat Green Bay earlier in the year to take control of the division.

(2)  Peyton Manning - will most likely win actual MVP award for leading Colts to playoffs despite the rest of the team being extremely mediocre.  He has a good case, but it's hard for me to justify giving him the award when he's going to end up with his worst season statistically in 7 years (for virtually every pass category).  That coupled with the fact that the Colts have barely won this year.  All but one of their 8 victories has been by 6 points or less.

(1)  Anquan Boldin - No, I don't think the Cards are serious contenders, but they will host a playoff game and Boldin is the heart and soul of this team.  I don't like how he's been completely overshadowed by the media constantly heaping praise on Kurt Warner... see earlier comment on Matt Ryan.  Not only is Boldin FAR AND AWAY the best WR in the NFL this year, but he has clearly established himself as the toughest competitor in the sport by virtue of his remarkable comeback after BREAKING HIS FACE.  Seriously, how many Cardinal players have you seen on IR since Boldin came back from his injury?!?!?  It's minimal... b/c who in that locker room can justify ever sitting out a game after watching Boldin come back and play this year - he's completely changed the team's culture.  Player of the year so far.