Norm Approves of The These Awards.
A few years ago, my friends and I held an annual sojourn to Vegas. It was a magical time before the soul-crushing rigors of life, a five-year stretch in our mid-20′s, somewhere between college graduation and the first wedding engagements (and/or children for those early starters). We all had a little money, a little success, and a robust penchant for debauchery.
Our first trip was an epic 72-hour affair that started shortly after our departing flight. Anyone that’s gone to Vegas on such a venture knows the cheers that erupt just before landing on the strip. There’s a certain energy to cracking your first drink at 8am, knowing your colleagues are still slaving away at the office.
Those first few trips included at least a few of the following moments: one member always AWOL, incredible up-then-down blackjack moments, realizing that craps is the best game ever invented, almost closing the deal with a complete skank, paying $50 to get into a club and leaving 30 minutes later (after not closing on said skank), someone pissing the bed and another missing their flight home. There’s a reason Simmons talks about Vegas at least 4-5 times a year in his columns. Ahh Vegas.
Inevitably, that excitement wanes through the years.
Vegas becomes less about life-long friends cutting loose and more about couples enjoying a few days off. Late nights getting housed at the Golden Nugget tables (after we lose our ass on the main strip) are replaced by ‘we’re going to see a show, we’ll meet you guys later.’ After doing Vegas balls-to-the-wall for five years, it’s akin to the Rock Biter in The Neverending Story clinging to life as the world around him disintegrates.
Peyton Manning was on that last flight to Vegas this year, on the heals of Tony Dungie’s departure and facing the least experienced receiving corps of his career. When the flight landed, not even Manning had the energy to raise a toast to the upcoming season. Instead of racing to the closest blackjack table, he slowly eyeballed the Keno board in the hopes of riding out the weekend.
And then a funny thing happened on the way to oblivion. Nine weeks and 9 wins later, Manning is proving that not all things change.
Most Valuable Player: Peyton Manning, QB, Colts. Although impressive (221-2545-16), the stats aren’t enough. Manning runs this franchise. The closest thing is Mike Brown coaching the Cavaliers, and that’s not even in the same realm. Tom Moore is a great offensive mind but let’s be clear — Manning calls the plays. He’s the closest thing to a player-coach the NFL has ever seen, and he’s doing it with [insert name] running routes. What starts with Reggie Wayne, an all-pro receiver, ends with Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon.
Runner Up: Drew Brees, QB, Saints.
Comeback Player of the Year: Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals. I’ve already touted Benson’s ability to stay healthy and productive with 25+ carries a game this year. The biggest surprise is his attitude and the way the offense rallied around him. Any Bears fan can tell you what I saw in two years in Chicago — a selfish player that complained about carries, couldn’t run through arm tackles or keep himself out of trouble. He’s a throwback to the days of a workhorse back and his team found balance in his rejuvenation.
Runner Up: Kyle Orton, QB, Broncos.
Offensive Player of the Year: Drew Brees, QB, Saints. It’s always a little weird when the MVP and best offensive player are different. The difference here is that New Orleans brings a lot more to the table offensively, but Brees (181-2336-17) remains the heart of the unit. It’s a tough case to make, but Brees doesn’t unload every time he can, just when he needs to. With a strong stable of backs and receivers, even Manning and the Colts don’t want to push Brees into shoot-out mode.
Runner Up: Peyton Manning, QB, Colts.
Defensive Player of the Year: Troy Polamalu, DB, Steelers. There’s no bigger game-changer in the league, especially for a 3-4 defense built on risk-taking and recovery. Not Ed Reed. Not Darren Sharper. Not Jared Allen. Not even the resurgent James Harrison. When Polamalu is in the lineup, the Steelers defense is a different animal. And that beast generally dismembers opposing offenses. He plays the run, covers like a shut-down corner and — like an 8 facing the dealers 10 — sticks it out to the bitter end.
Runner Up: Darren Sharper, DB, Saints.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Percy Harvin, WR, Vikings. At some point during training camp, Brad Childress woke up screaming in the middle of the night. His wife, terrified that this may be the one, calls the paramedics. Staring blankly at his cell phone, which reads ‘One Message Waiting’, Childress ejaculates at the mere thought of having Brett Favre build chemistry with versatile and speedy first-round pick. Paramedics arrive to Childress mumbling, As long as we win, this beard shall grow . . .
Runner Up: Michael Oher, OL, Ravens. (And not just because of the book. Yes, it was a book first.)
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Brian Cushing, LB, Texans. I hate USC linebackers. I think they’re over-rated, under-sized and generally fit into schemes rather than stewarding defenses. But Cushing is second in the league in tackles (78) with two picks for a maturing Texans defense.
Runner Up: Brian Orakpo, DE, Redskins.
Coach of the Year: Sean Payton, Saints. After establishing offensive domain over the league last year, Payton re-tooled his defense into an opportunistic, and if need be, resilient unit. More so, he has the humility to hand the reigns over to Brees, helping mold the Saints into one of the league’s two unbeaten teams at the halfway point.
Runner Up: Mike Tomlin, Steelers.
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NFL 2009 Midseason Awards
Norm Approves of The These Awards.
A few years ago, my friends and I held an annual sojourn to Vegas. It was a magical time before the soul-crushing rigors of life, a five-year stretch in our mid-20′s, somewhere between college graduation and the first wedding engagements (and/or children for those early starters). We all had a little money, a little success, and a robust penchant for debauchery.
Our first trip was an epic 72-hour affair that started shortly after our departing flight. Anyone that’s gone to Vegas on such a venture knows the cheers that erupt just before landing on the strip. There’s a certain energy to cracking your first drink at 8am, knowing your colleagues are still slaving away at the office.
Those first few trips included at least a few of the following moments: one member always AWOL, incredible up-then-down blackjack moments, realizing that craps is the best game ever invented, almost closing the deal with a complete skank, paying $50 to get into a club and leaving 30 minutes later (after not closing on said skank), someone pissing the bed and another missing their flight home. There’s a reason Simmons talks about Vegas at least 4-5 times a year in his columns. Ahh Vegas.
Inevitably, that excitement wanes through the years.
Vegas becomes less about life-long friends cutting loose and more about couples enjoying a few days off. Late nights getting housed at the Golden Nugget tables (after we lose our ass on the main strip) are replaced by ‘we’re going to see a show, we’ll meet you guys later.’ After doing Vegas balls-to-the-wall for five years, it’s akin to the Rock Biter in The Neverending Story clinging to life as the world around him disintegrates.
Peyton Manning was on that last flight to Vegas this year, on the heals of Tony Dungie’s departure and facing the least experienced receiving corps of his career. When the flight landed, not even Manning had the energy to raise a toast to the upcoming season. Instead of racing to the closest blackjack table, he slowly eyeballed the Keno board in the hopes of riding out the weekend.
And then a funny thing happened on the way to oblivion. Nine weeks and 9 wins later, Manning is proving that not all things change.
Most Valuable Player: Peyton Manning, QB, Colts. Although impressive (221-2545-16), the stats aren’t enough. Manning runs this franchise. The closest thing is Mike Brown coaching the Cavaliers, and that’s not even in the same realm. Tom Moore is a great offensive mind but let’s be clear — Manning calls the plays. He’s the closest thing to a player-coach the NFL has ever seen, and he’s doing it with [insert name] running routes. What starts with Reggie Wayne, an all-pro receiver, ends with Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon.
Runner Up: Drew Brees, QB, Saints.
Comeback Player of the Year: Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals. I’ve already touted Benson’s ability to stay healthy and productive with 25+ carries a game this year. The biggest surprise is his attitude and the way the offense rallied around him. Any Bears fan can tell you what I saw in two years in Chicago — a selfish player that complained about carries, couldn’t run through arm tackles or keep himself out of trouble. He’s a throwback to the days of a workhorse back and his team found balance in his rejuvenation.
Runner Up: Kyle Orton, QB, Broncos.
Offensive Player of the Year: Drew Brees, QB, Saints. It’s always a little weird when the MVP and best offensive player are different. The difference here is that New Orleans brings a lot more to the table offensively, but Brees (181-2336-17) remains the heart of the unit. It’s a tough case to make, but Brees doesn’t unload every time he can, just when he needs to. With a strong stable of backs and receivers, even Manning and the Colts don’t want to push Brees into shoot-out mode.
Runner Up: Peyton Manning, QB, Colts.
Defensive Player of the Year: Troy Polamalu, DB, Steelers. There’s no bigger game-changer in the league, especially for a 3-4 defense built on risk-taking and recovery. Not Ed Reed. Not Darren Sharper. Not Jared Allen. Not even the resurgent James Harrison. When Polamalu is in the lineup, the Steelers defense is a different animal. And that beast generally dismembers opposing offenses. He plays the run, covers like a shut-down corner and — like an 8 facing the dealers 10 — sticks it out to the bitter end.
Runner Up: Darren Sharper, DB, Saints.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Percy Harvin, WR, Vikings. At some point during training camp, Brad Childress woke up screaming in the middle of the night. His wife, terrified that this may be the one, calls the paramedics. Staring blankly at his cell phone, which reads ‘One Message Waiting’, Childress ejaculates at the mere thought of having Brett Favre build chemistry with versatile and speedy first-round pick. Paramedics arrive to Childress mumbling, As long as we win, this beard shall grow . . .
Runner Up: Michael Oher, OL, Ravens. (And not just because of the book. Yes, it was a book first.)
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Brian Cushing, LB, Texans. I hate USC linebackers. I think they’re over-rated, under-sized and generally fit into schemes rather than stewarding defenses. But Cushing is second in the league in tackles (78) with two picks for a maturing Texans defense.
Runner Up: Brian Orakpo, DE, Redskins.
Coach of the Year: Sean Payton, Saints. After establishing offensive domain over the league last year, Payton re-tooled his defense into an opportunistic, and if need be, resilient unit. More so, he has the humility to hand the reigns over to Brees, helping mold the Saints into one of the league’s two unbeaten teams at the halfway point.
Runner Up: Mike Tomlin, Steelers.
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