Article:NFL End of the Year Awards

Much like the Oscars, or Golden Globes (what the hell are those anyway?), I am going to be giving out my end of the year awards for the NFL season broken into 'genre' or position. Regardless of talent, coaching, cheating, etc, Tom Brady executed like no other Quarterback in the history of the NFL over a single season. This was without a doubt the single greatest one-year performance by a QB in football history. Forget Marino, Favre, or Montana, this season was it. Defensively, Bob Sanders had an amazing impact on the Colts team defense. Take into account that he's only 5'8 and recorded over ninety tackles and it's even more impressive. Even so he still barely edged Patrick Willis.

Team of the Year- New England Patriots Worst Team of the Year- Miami Dolphins Coach of the Year- Tom Coughlin Worst Coach of the Year- Bob Petrino Most Over-hyped Player of the Year- QB Tony Romo (Dallas) Most Under-appreciated Player of the Year- LB Ernie Simms (Detroit)
 * It's obvious, the undefeated season says it all.
 * The least talent on a team in the NFL since the Buccs of the 70's.
 * To overcome the 0-2 start, losing Tiki and his comments about Eli's leadership, and Strahan's possible retirement.
 * Did the worst thing a coach can do, quit on his team before the season was over.
 * Has the league's best Tight End, an elite receiver, a top 5 running back, a great offensive line, and a stingy defense, 0-2 in post-season
 * Never hear more than three words about the guy, leads that defense without much other talent.

Offensive MVP- QB Tom Brady (New England) Defensive MVP- S Bob Sanders (Indianapolis) Offensive Breakout Player of the Year- QB Derek Anderson (Cleveland) Defensive Breakout Player of the Year- S Atari Bigby (Green Bay) Offensive Biggest Disappointment- TB Shaun Alexander (Seattle) Defensive Biggest Disappointment- DE Jason Taylor (Miami)
 * Enough has been said about Brady this year.
 * See Tom Brady.
 * Threw for 3700 yards and 29 TDs after starting the season behind Charlie Frye.
 * 86 tackles and 5 interceptions to become UCF's second best defender all-time in the NFL.
 * Only played in 13 games, ran for 700 yards and 4 scores.
 * Taylor put up solid #'s, but his leadership was what disappointed me most, second lowest sack total in six years.

Offensive Rookie of the Year- TB Adrian Peterson (Minnesota) Defensive Rookie of the Year- LB Patrick Willis (San Francisco) Surprise Rookie of the Year Offense- OT Tony Ugoh (Indianapolis) Surprise Rookie of the Year Defense- LB Jon Beason (Carolina)
 * Ran for 1300 yards and 12 scores with eight or nine men in the box at all times.
 * 174 tackles on an average team that played like a bad team.
 * Ugoh started 11 games this season and played well taking over for Tarik Glenn.
 * Beason came out of Miami as a questionable 1st rounder and grabbed 140 stops.

Quarterback of the Year- Tom Brady (New England) Running Back of the Year- Adrian Peterson (Minnesota) Wide Receiver of the Year- Randy Moss (New England) Tight End of the Year- Jason Witten (Dallas) Offensive Lineman of the Year- C Jeff Saturday (Indianapolis)
 * Giselle
 * His QB is Tavaris Jackson.
 * This was the Hoodie's science fair project and it paid off, any time a guy catches twenty TD's in a season it's a record.
 * 96 receptions, 1100 yards, 7 touchdowns, enough said.
 * He's the guy that makes this line click and off his butt even after losing Glenn to retirement.

Defensive Lineman of the Year- DE Mario Williams (Houston) Hybrid of the Year- DE/OLB DeMarcus Ware (Dallas) Linebacker of the Year- MLB Patrick Willis (San Francisco) Defensive Back of the Year- S Bob Sanders (Indianapolis) and CB Antonio Cromartie (San Diego)
 * I know this is a "What?!" pick but c'mon, the guy overcame #1 overall pick pressure and Reggie Bush's shadow to sack the QB fourteen times and record 59 tackles. He's started every game for two straight years as well.
 * This is kind of a joke pick, since "hybrid" is the most over used term in football today. But if there is one, he's the guy. He fits that DE/OLB mold the 3-4 gurus love. 84 tackles, 14 sacks, 4 forced fumbles.
 * See above. Could have been Miami's replacement for Zach Thomas, instead they have Ted Ginn Jr.
 * Sanders was the MVP, but I couldn't cut Cromartie out of a list like this. For a guy who only started eight games he grabbed 10 picks, 44 tackles, and 18 passes defensed and a defensive touchdown. Ed Reed was another option.

Special Teamer of the Year- WR/KR/PR Devin Hester (Chicago)
 * Dester caught 2 touchdowns, returned two kick offs for six points, four punts, and he had two tackles.