MVP--who you got?

[Icness]

IMO this year's MVP race is wide open. I could make good arguments for any of the following guys, in no particular order:

Adrian Peterson
Albert Haynesworth
Demarcus Ware
Peyton Manning
Ed Reed
Michael Turner
Brian Westbrook
Eli Manning
Kyle Orton
Brett Favre
James Harrison
Tony Romo
Matt Cassel
Andre Johnson
Chad Pennington

I have no idea who should get it at this point. So make an argument for who you got!

[treiz]

Favre? I'm a Jet fan and IMO our MVP is Thomas Jones

But to be fair there's no one there that really stands out. They're all deserving in their own right.
Defensive players would never get the MVP for 'media' reasons but I want Andre Johnson, Brian Westbrook or James Harrison to win it but they won't.

But anyway, the media picks Adrian Peterson

[Worm Guts]

Favre? I'm a Jet fan and IMO our MVP is Thomas Jones

But to be fair there's no one there that really stands out. They're all deserving in their own right.
Defensive players would never get the MVP for 'media' reasons but I want Andre Johnson, Brian Westbrook or James Harrison to win it but they won't.

But anyway, the media picks Adrian Peterson

Andre Johnson's team isn't making the playoffs, I think that rules him out. Westbrook's numbers are meh, and his team also has a decent shot at missing the playoffs. If the MVP is an offensive player, I think it's Manning or Peterson. On defense, Demarcus Ware has numbers that really jump out. Harrison and Polamalu are the best players on a dominant team and defense, they both could be considered.

[NO-KG-AI]

If the Saints weren't so **** I would give it to Drew Brees. Albert Haynesworth has been the most dominant individual player though.

[lpsevier]

Matt Ryan?

Ok Turner then.

[hermes]

i'm throwing my lot in with the media and going with AP


manning is making a big push though

[Da Schwab]

The last two games will mean the world to my pick, and may reverse the trend that needs to be done away with.

Demarcus Ware has been the one constant on the Cowboys this entire season. There is no question in my mind that if he didn't step up and become the silent leader of this team (the one the media has failed to even acknowledge), then they would have absolutley no shot at the postseason at this point.

He also only needs 4 sacks to break Michael Strahan's record, and that would certainly help garner the media's attention.

If I had my way, here's what my Top 5 would look like:

1. Demarcus Ware
2. Michael Turner
3. Joey Porter
4. Ben Roethlisberger
5. Chad Pennington

[Worm Guts]

Ben Roethlesberger and Chad Pennington?

[studcrackers]

here's a fun fact, if demarcus ware ties michael strahan's record of 22.5 sacks he'll only be 2nd in dallas's franchise history in sacks in a season. harvey martin recorded 23 sacks in a season but this was before sacks were an official stat.

also, apparently he should have 20 but zach thomas was credited with a sack when ware chased a qb out of bounds

anyways this seems like the 1 year where a defensive player has the best shot at getting the mvp, it's still unlikely but if i had to choose a year this is as good as any with no real overwhelming leader in offensive categories

[Da Schwab]

Ben Roethlesberger and Chad Pennington?

They've both been equally instrumental in their team's success. I should actually switch Chadwick to #4, though.

[Worm Guts]

Ben Roethlesberger and Chad Pennington?

They've both been equally instrumental in their team's success. I should actually switch Chadwick to #4, though.

Pittsburgh is being carried by it's defense, I don't think makes sense to put Roethlisberger ahead of guys like Romo, Warner and Manning who are all having better years statistically and are part of teams led by their offense. Chad Pennington is having an efficient year, I guess, but he's only thrown 14 TD's and he's Chad Pennington.

[The Explorer]

Why would you have Kyle Orton on that list? And no mention of Kurt Warner?

[Basketball Jesus]

Demarcus Ware has been the one constant on the Cowboys this entire season. There is no question in my mind that if he didn't step up and become the silent leader of this team (the one the media has failed to even acknowledge), then they would have absolutley no shot at the postseason at this point.

Agreed. As of right now Ware is my choice for MVP, with AP and the Giants offensive line tied for second.

[greenbeans]

No mention of the whiteness? He's Jason Kidd to Matt Cassel's Mikki Moore.

[deeney0]

Kurt Warner and Drew Breese are hurt by their team's lack of success. I'd say let it come down to week 17; give it to Eli if the Giants win, Adrian if the Vikes win.

[HMFFL]

Who's the NFL's most valuable player?

There is no clear-cut favorite in this year's race for most valuable player. No rookie has ever won the award. Should the Falcons' Matt Ryan be the first? Only four players defensive players have been players been selected MVPs -- last one being Lawrence Taylor in 1986 -- but there are a few standouts this season. Here are a few candidates. Cast your ballot for the NFL's best player award.

The AJC poll

Of these candidates, who should be the NFL's MVP?
Matt Ryan, Falcons
Adrian Peterson, Vikings
Peyton Manning, Colts
Kurt Warner, Cardinals
James Harrison, Steelers
Michael Tuner, Falcons
Chris Johnson, Titans
Drew Brees, Saints

Link

[MadCityBucky]

No. The guy's numbers aren't that great (14 td's, 9 int.). He's helped immensely by a great rushing attack, similar to that of Eli Manning. I think Turner is more worthy of the honor than Ryan. A very solid rookie campaign though. Should be a great QB for years.

I don't care for his team too much but I'd give the award to AP.

[treiz]

See that's the thing I definitely would've chosen either Harrison, Ware or Polamalu, but since they're defensive players they won't win.

[CJ_18]

Adrian Peterson is a beast of nature and without the existence of a consistent, productive quarterback he is the guy that makes their offense go in Minny. They have no solid QB, NO good skill poisition players other than AD.

Matt Ryan is unbelievably mature and good decision maker but he has turner, white and jenkins with him.

Portis played great at the beginning but has slacked as of late, but the story behind his great season is amazing.

Brees has talent all around him on the offensive side of the ball, sad he has no help on the other.

Andre Johnson is also a beast but he doesn't have a great team, next year they should be good.

[SpeedyG]

If we go by past examples, the winner will most likely come from one of the top teams. To me, that means Tennessee, Carolina, Giants, Steelers, and Colts.

Tennessee's best player is Albert Haynesworth, and his impact on that defense is immense. But defensive players, especially those who play "unglamorous" positions such as DT, rarely get the nod over "skilled" positions. The same could be said for Harrison with the Steelers. You then have Eli with the Giants, but he really doesn't "pop". He's had a solid year, but I can't say he's had an MVP type of season. Carolina has either Deangelo Williams or Steve Smith (IMO). Deangelo would be hard pressed to get it, despite the big year he's having. You can't be the MVP if you aren't even considered the best player in your position right (based on pro-bowl selections, no matter how flawed that system is)?

I think Steve Smith should get a large nod here, because I don't think they run as well without his threat to stretch the field. The guy nearly has 50% of their passing yards AND passing TDs.

When it comes down to it, I think Peyton has my vote (especially if they continue their streak). He has the numbers (will probably be close to 4000 yards by year's end, good TD to INT ratio), he doesn't have a good running game this year, and they don't have a dominant defense (much less a good one). And here's an amazing stat. Because of how bad that Colts run defense is, teams have been able to play clock control against them. They have 4 mins less of time of possession per game compared to their opponents. I think that speaks volumes on how efficient that Colts passing game is.

More importantly, is it also a coincidence that this team struggled early in the season while Peyton was shaking his rust off due to injury?