The Obstructed NFL Awards
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
I would have done this before the actual NFL Awards/Honors show bit last night, but more technical issues/difficulties on here made it impossible as it wiped out what I had actually written for it. So we know who won and congratulations to Matt Ryan, Khalil Mack, Dak Prescott, and Jason Garrett to name a few as well as Larry Fitzgerald. Anyway, the awards arrived and it is my turn to do my own NFL Awards, Obstructed Edition. And I will have a few other "awards" to give out as well.
What set Ryan apart from Rodgers and maybe even Brady this year was make other guys like Gabriel and Sanu key threats to the offense.
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
NFL MVP & OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Matt Ryan-Falcons: After the regular season ended, many people debated Ryan, Aaron Rodgers, and Tom Brady as the MVP of the NFL. With Ryan, he has been on that "second level" of quarterbacks in the NFL alongside the likes of Matthew Stafford and Philip Rivers in the sense of having gaudy numbers, but the success hasn't been there in terms of playoffs and in the last few years wasn't living up to the "Matty Ice" moniker of comeback games/big games where he failed. Add in that last year was a near-disaster to some under Kyle Shanahan and many believed Ryan was going backwards. How times change. Ryan, instead of griping of Shanahan's system, studied it very carefully this past off-season with the rest of his teammates and used it to perfection. And he became a different quarterback than the first 8 years we saw him. IF Ryan wins the Super Bowl, it is hard to think he doesn't get put on the same level as Brees, Rodgers, and Brady. But what really stood out was that he used guys other than Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman as major weapons. Tevin Coleman played big. Mohamed Sanu was big. Tyler Gabriel became a major factor in Atlanta's offense. Ryan made EVERYBODY on the offense better. Before anybody says Brady didn't, I think he did too, but those 4 games decided it for me. And as for Rodgers, while he played with a lot of weapons on the injured side, it sometimes feels like he is playing "when he feels like it" (probably not the phrase I need to use, but more of he just flips on a switch and he plays like the best QB in the NFL). HONORABLE MENTIONS: Brady, Rodgers, Derek Carr, Ezekiel Elliott
Miller's play was probably better than the year before.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Von Miller-Broncos: To me, the Mack vote doesn't bother me as much as I think it could have been given to Mack, Miller or Vic Beasley, but I go with Miller, who probably had a far better year than what he had in 2015. Sacks were up as were the tackles. The issue was that Denver didn't make the playoffs and while it doesn't factor in MY vote in this case, he was probably overlooked on the things he did. I think I give him the nod because he played better than last year and he was a factor in Denver still being an excellent defense. Mack was great but Oakland's defense was shoddy at times. As for Beasley, I thought of him more as a pass-rush specialist. Had he got 18 sacks, different story. HONORABLE MENTIONS: Mack, Beasley
Elliott had an awesome rookie season for Dallas
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Ezekiel Elliott-Cowboys: Nothing against the vote of Dak, but Elliott's play may have been more impactful than Dak's play for the entire season (I'll get to that later). But you lead the league in rushing in your ROOKIE SEASON so that has to account for something. He should have garnered a few more MVP votes on top of it. HONORABLE MENTIONS: Prescott, Carson Wentz, Tyreek Hill
Jones was a huge part of Atlanta's improvement on defense.
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Deion Jones-Falcons: Yes, Bosa played big, but if people voted Ryan over Brady because of the 4 games Brady missed, why did people vote Bosa over Jones? Yes, Jones didn't blaze up (no pun intended) with a high sack total, but he was probably one of the most integral parts of the Falcons defense being vastly improved. He has already gotten under the skin of Cam Newton (and taken him out of a couple of games), has two pick sixes and is probably the face of the defense for Atlanta. He didn't play like a rookie the entire year. To me, he was hands down rookie of the year on defense. HONORABLE MENTIONS: Bosa, Keanu Neal, Leonard Floyd, Chris Jones
Quinn netted Atlanta a Super Bowl appearance in his 2nd year with the team.
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
COACH OF THE YEAR: Dan Quinn-Falcons: Had no issue with Jason Garrett getting it and I wouldn't have had an issue if Andy Reid got it either. Yes, Quinn had Matt Ryan & Atlanta's offense in his pocket, but the system he has built on defense has gradually gotten better as the season went along. And many penned Atlanta to be dead last in the NFC while Vegas had the Browns having a better shot than the Falcons at a Super Bowl appearance this year. Yet, Quinn did it and he did it with conviction. Atlanta dominated the top teams of the NFC and honestly 4 of the 5 Falcons losses they were still in and probably could have won (Philadelphia being the lone game they got "beat"). Garrett had a young team as well and lost Romo to start the year, but he managed to have pieces in place as well. Add in that Dallas started to slip down the stretch and that's why I give it to Quinn over Garrett. HONORABLE MENTIONS: Garrett, Reid, Jim Caldwell, Adam Gase
Nelson didn't look like he missed a step in 2016
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jordy Nelson-Packers: Missing a full season in 2015 and Nelson still put up big numbers with 1,200 yards and 14 TD's. He has always been an underrated player, but he showed that he can still do it and is Aaron Rodgers top target in Green Bay. The only other guy I would have considered in this case was Cameron Wake, but he played a few games last year, thus making me give it to Nelson. HONORABLE MENTION: Wake, Kelvin Benjamin
A well deserved honor for a great human being.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
MAN OF THE YEAR: Larry Fitzgerald-Cardinals: He has always represented the league well. Very humble, very mild-mannered, and just a stand up guy. Ths one made sense. I don't get why Eli was in it besides being an "aw shucks" kind of guy. Maybe he has done numerous charities, but from what has been said off the field, he has the "spoiled brat" label since his days in Ole Miss and hasn't completely changed. Maybe he has grown up, but Fitz deserved it. And actually Greg Olsen for that matter. HONORABLE MENTION: Olsen
Now for the fun Obstructed Awards:
Prescott was unbelievable for the Cowboys this year
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
SURPRISE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD: Dak Prescott-Cowboys. Granted, Prescott's play in the preseason for Dallas before Romo was hurt got fans thinking he should be the starting quarterback. But let's face it, how many rookies can come in week 1 and just really made it his team? Dak didn't really play like a rookie at all. He made smart decisions with the ball and was not rattled for the majority of the season. HONORABLE MENTION: Jordan Howard
I don't think Goff is the answer for Los Angeles
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
DISAPPOINTING ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD: Jared Goff-Rams. The Rams went for the gaudy numbers and style of Goff, who benefited from being in a very pass-happy system at Cal in college. I didn't have high hopes for him myself, but you know there was trouble when he wasn't even on the active roster to start the season. Unheard of if you are a #1 overall pick and healthy to start a year. But the Rams are the Rams.
Mack may have been as much of an MVP as Matt Ryan
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
BEST FREE AGENT SIGNING: Alex Mack-Falcons/Lamar Miller-Texans: Not often do you see a center be a key figure to a team's success, but last year Atlanta had major issues just trying to snap the ball to Ryan. Adding on top of it, the offensive line was in shambles. This year has been anything but that. All in part to Mack, who is probably the best center in the NFL and has been for a while. Miller really made the Texans get to the AFC Divisional as opposed to being 5-11 in 2016. You could even make a small argument he could have garnered an MVP vote here & there.
Had Osweiler played far better, Houston could have created more noise in 2016
David Butler III-USA TODAY Sports
WORST FREE AGENT SIGNING: Brock Osweiler-Texans: Yes, I get it. Houston made the playoffs but because of their defense and Miller. But if the Texans had any quality play at quarterback, you may have seen a different outcome in the AFC as Houston really gave New England fits in the playoff before Osweiler crashed. Houston's big signing really flopped for them, even quarreling with Bill O'Brien. But he signed a huge deal in part because he played decent for Denver when Manning was hurt in 2015 (and beaten Brady). But he makes poor decisions and just looked lost out there on the field most of the time. Houston, whose defense was ranked #1 and has a pretty strong one for years to come, will be seeing their window pass thanks in part to this guy if he doesn't get it going.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
FRANCHISE OF THE YEAR: Atlanta Falcons. Here's probably my bias coming in, so I apologize. But with the Patriots constantly being scoped for illegal activities, Jerry Jones running his mouth in Dallas, and Oakland's issues of staying, Atlanta seems to be the one that everything clicked for, with players, coaches, and front office. It is probably the smoothest year for Atlanta football ever. Does that mean they are the best team? Not really, but how it is run is what I went with. HONORABLE MENTION: Kansas City Chiefs
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
CAR-WRECK FRANCHISE OF THE YEAR: Los Angeles Rams. Surprised I didn't say Cleveland? At least there is a coach that cares and players that try and do not gripe. But with an owner who is really a cheapskate and believed the city would welcome the team with open arms again, to a front office who have made some awful signings/draft picks, to firing a coach after you just gave him a contract extension, and players both past and present of griping about how the team is being coached and the light at the end of the tunnel far far away, this team is back to being NFL's joke. Also add the fact most Los Angeles fans have been begging to get the Raiders, not the Rams, back. This is an epic fail for everybody involved. DISHONORABLE MENTIONS: San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets, San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers
Murray quietly had a great season in Tennessee
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
THE NON-INJURED COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR: DeMarco Murray-Titans: If one player was as ridiculed in 2015 as Murray, I can't think of him. Murray, after being a beast in Dallas in 2014, was traded to Philadelphia as Chip Kelly thought he would fit his scheme well. Instead, he was a disaster as he was the total opposite and Kelly couldn't use him. The Eagles traded Murray to Tennessee where he had his 2nd best year of his career (almost 1,300 yards, 9 TD on the ground) and the Titans went from being doormats to a team people shouldn't sleep on in 2017. HONORABLE MENTIONS: Vic Beasley, Jimmy Graham
Gurley struggled tremendously in 2016
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
DROP-OFF PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Todd Gurley-Rams. Gurley was in 2015 what Elliott was in 2016 for Dallas. He was supposed to be the future beast RB of the NFL. He still could be. And before the 2016 season began, Falcons fans were furious they selected Vic Beasley over the Georgia Bulldog product. And he was pretty much the new NFL poster boy. Then the season began and Gurley was awful. He then blamed Fisher for his struggles and people who backed him up said that it was the offensive line that was a mess (the same one who helped block for him in 2015 mind you).
Maybe only San Francisco and the Rams were expected to do less than the Falcons according to many before the season started.
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
SURPRISE TEAM OF THE YEAR: Atlanta Falcons. As mentioned earlier, even the Browns had a better odds of going to Houston than Atlanta this year when the season started. But what makes it a surprise is how they dominated down the stretch agianst the better teams like Seattle and Green Bay. And with the defense making leaps all season with being so young, that is the surprise. HONORABLE MENTIONS: Cowboys, Chiefs, Dolphins
Penthouse to the outhouse: Carolina at times looked like they quit
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
DISAPPOINTING TEAM OF THE YEAR: Carolina Panthers: Nobody can ever say the Panthers for the last 5 seasons have been one of the most talented teams in the NFL with Cam Newton and a strong defense. However, injuries and Cam regressing badly in 2016, Carolina fell apart. Some think letting Josh Norman walk doomed them......and they might be right. The defense was a giant mess, especially in the secondary. Going from the #1 team in the NFC to dead last in the NFC South gives Carolina the nod. DISHONORABLE MENTIONS: Bengals, Jaguars, Cardinals
If Jones ego could be in check, Dallas may have seen a Super Bowl run or two since 1995.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
"JUST SHUT UP" AWARD: Jerry Jones-Cowboys: I re-considered this award when he got in the Hall of Fame (he can thank Jimmy Johnson for it), but Jones, while Dallas was rolling under Dak Prescott went on to a radio show and said that they would consider Romo as the starter whenever he was healthy. Now we know that didn't happen, but the rest of the way while Dak never really played terrible, he wasn't as impactful as he was earlier. It isn't easy having somebody behind him and thinking people are over your shoulder and it felt Dak wasn't the same quarterback when that came out. Then whenever Dallas lost, people were going "well, maybe they DO need to start Romo." And then Jason Garrett did not give a definitive answer to who will start next season for the Cowboys. Great job Jerry. DISHONORABLE MENTION: Colin Kaepernick (more in a second)
The silliness in Buffalo reached at a high this year.
"PAC MAN KNUCKLEHEAD" AWARD: Buffalo Bills tailgate fans. This is in honor of Adam Jones who cannot get his nonsense together and everything he does he is NEVER at fault. He probably could have won it this year too, but given how the Bills fans have shown being incredibly rowdy in tailgates, jumping off of motorhomes and smashing tables and stuff like this really doesn't help the image. I know Buffalo has a strong fan base and I know this isn't indicative of the base in general, but this really is way too much. It seems like they revel in being insane. DISHONORABLE MENTIONS: Cam Newton, Todd Gurley, Sheldon Richardson, Odell Beckham
The comments Kaepernick made during the Miami week turned off a few more fans.
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
NFL VILLAIN OF THE YEAR AWARD: Colin Kaepernick-49ers. No, not because of him kneeling. And I think that was overblown by the media a tad. But he talked about social change, but then said he did not vote in the election (which is a key way of change). Then he went out and talked about how great of a man Fidel Castro was, to a Miami journalist before the Miami game. Wrong decision to do as many Miami natives viewed Castro as Hitler and a large portion of the United States have viewed Castro as one of the major enemies of the nation. After those comments, people who supported him looked elsewhere in a big way and by the end of the season he was more or less of an afterthought.
Bradford had a good season in Minnesota
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
"I'M BETTER THAN WHAT PEOPLE SAY I AM" AWARD: Sam Bradford-Vikings. I think he gets ridiculed by people (myself included) because he hasn't lived up to the #1 pick back in 2010 as a true franchise guy. I think most of it is due to injury issues that plagued him with the Rams and Eagles. But when he has been playing, he's been at the very worst accurate. And he kept the Vikings afloat as much as he could have done this year. He's been a quality QB and it is time to give him his due. HONORABLE MENTIONS: Alex Smith, TY Hilton, Cliff Avril
Bortles is making many re-think if he is the answer in Jacksonville
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
"I'M PROBABLY NOT AS GOOD AS WHAT PEOPLE THINK I AM" AWARD: Blake Bortles-Jaguars. This was supposed to be his breakthrough year and Jacksonville was going to be that sleeper team (at least to me). And they laid an egg. Most of Bortles numbers was in part because they were down and out and had to pass. And really nobody taught him the ropes and learned it on his own. DISHONORABLE MENTIONS: Philip Rivers, Michael Crabtree, Richard Sherman
Norman would have been a difference maker in Carolina's secondary this year.
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
ULTIMATE ROSTER MOVE BACKFIRE AWARD: Carolina Panthers letting Josh Norman go. Norman is considered by many one of the top 5 CB's in the game, but others said before the season that the Panthers system is what made Norman good, not really that he was a great CB. After originally franchising Norman, the Panthers took it off of him and let him walk to Washington. Now, Norman wasn't GREAT by any means of the imagination, but at the very least was solid. But the Panthers took the key hit on it as they fell to one of the bottom defenses in the NFL in 2016 and also got embarrassed by Julio Jones in an early week tilt against the Falcons. Carolina may have re-considered that move and let fullback Mike Tolbert walk, though he was one of the few bright spots in Carolina in 2016. But Carolina probably needed more help in the secondary than in the run game (though that was bad too).
Beckham's 2016 up and down season came to a horrible end in Green Bay
Green Bay Press Gazette-USA TODAY Sports
"WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?!" AWARD: New York Giants Wide Receivers partying on a boat in Miami the week of the Wild Card round vs. Green Bay. New York was the sleeper team as you never count out the Giants in the playoffs. But the Giants wide receivers chose to fly to Miami and party on a boat on their day off. I get it, they're grown adults, but the Packers destroyed the Giants in the playoff game and New York's wideouts in particular played hung over as can be. It reminded me of the part in Varsity Blues where James Van Der Beek took his team to the strip club the day before a game, partied way too hard, and then the next day got thumped as they were pretty much hung over. Granted it was a week after, but it looked like they were poorly prepared to play Green Bay. On a side note: I was very surprised Victor Cruz, who knows what it takes to win the Super Bowl, took part of it. I would say this is a learning experience, but this is Odell Beckham, Jr. we're talking about so I am not so sure.
You can say Hester went out on top even after the loss to Atlanta in the Divisional round.
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
THANKS FOR EVERYTHING AWARD: Devin Hester. I still found it odd seeing Hester in a Seahawks uniform (well, any uniform that wasn't a Bears uniform and I saw him firsthand in Atlanta). But the guy returning kicks were a thing of beauty. And even in the playoff game against Atlanta this year he showed those flashes of what he was. I think hands down he was the best return man in the NFL and in a period where returns aren't as prevalent anymore. He was a joy to watch, whether he was a Bear, Falcon, or whatever.
That is it for the awards. Later this week, the thoughts of the Super Bowl.
-Fan in the Obstructed Seat
