Weekend Forecast (NFL... Awards)

Judging by last week's performance, I need to take a short break from the NFL pick-'em game. Thus, instead of predicting game winners this week, I'm going to nominate winners and runners-up for various NFL awards.

MVP
3. Peyton Manning: Despite the Colts' recent struggles, we needn't push the "Peyton Panic" button just yet. Indy still stands at 10-3, and Manning's stats, while not as great as we've come to expect, are still pretty darned good: 3,628 yards, 63.5% comp., 22 TDs, and 9 INTs. The Colts remain among the NFL's highest-scoring teams, and Peyton still does more--is asked to do more--than any other QB in the game. Without him, the Colts would be non-factors in the AFC. When it's all said and done, the elder Manning (especially if he wins a Super Bowl) may go down as one of the two or three best--perhaps the best--QB in the history of the NFL.

2. Drew Brees: Brees has already surpassed 4,000 yards, and is on pace to near the mythical 5,000-yard mark; his QB rating... over 100. Steering the ship for the heartwarmingly resurgent New Orleans Saints, he has played a key role in one of the year's foremost win-win/feel-good situations. Brees left San Diego under a cloud of confusion, as many fans and pundits questioned the Chargers' decision to let their star QB go and thus to hand the reigns over to an untested youngster. Fortunately, both San Diego and New Orleans have excelled as a result of the move. In addition to the Rivers-Brees lovefest, there's the overarching New Orleans Story. Considering what happened after Hurricane Katrina--and considering the low expectations surrounding this year's Saints team--it's both touching and pleasantly shocking to see Brees and company blazing a path that may well lead all the way to the Super Bowl.

1. LaDainian Tomlinson: 1,400+ rushing yards; nearly 500 receiving yards; 29--yes, 29!--touchdowns through 13 games. L.T. anchors the offense of the league's best team, the 11-2 Chargers, who have lost only two games, both being on the road and by margins of three points. Unless Marty decides to rest Tomlinson, this year's MVP may end the season with 1,800 yards and 35 touchdowns. Impressive indeed.

ROTY
3. Reggie Bush: With five overall TDs in his last two games, Reggie Bush is finally finding his niche. His best shot at NFL stardom no doubt lies in his being used in various ways, i.e. as a running back/wide receiver/returner. Bush isn't likely to make his name as a 25-carry between-the-tackles back. Nonetheless, if the Saints continue to utilize his considerable skills in the right ways, he could well become one of the NFL's most unique talents--maybe even as catalysing on offense as Prime Time was on the defensive side.

2. Devin Hester: One word describes Devin Hester: impact. Having returned five kicks (three punts, two kickoffs) for touchdowns this season, Hester unarguably makes use of his time on the field more effectively than anyone in football. A player with his dynamic speed can change the tenor of an entire game; so long as teams continue to kick him, the Bears are never "out of it." And here we see one of the most intriguing aspects of the Hester story: Teams keep sending kickoffs and punts his way! Explain that one.

1. Vince Young: Forget the rating. Forget the TD/interception ratio. Forget the funky delivery. The guy won consecutive games against the Eagles, Giants, and Colts. Even after seeing him on highlight reels for the past year, no one can stop the I'm-going-to-run-20-yards-and-score-untouched play. It won the Rose Bowl for Texas; now, it's winning games for the Titans. Quarterbacks are judged primarily by wins and losses, and only secondarily by individual stats. Vince is certainly delivering the W's. Hey, Houston, how's that Mario Williams pick workin' out?

COTY
3. Jeff Fisher: Arguably as good a coach as there is in the NFL; the guy has a should-have-gone-3-and-13 team on the brink of a .500 season.

2. Brian Billick: Had the moxie to fire his good friend Jim Fassel and start calling the play himself; it worked.

1. Sean Payton: The clear-cut choice; who's not pulling for these guys to win it all?