The Demo Site

NFThis year’s MVP talk boils down to two players, Peyton Manning & Chris Johnson. Philip Rivers & Drew Brees are certainly in the conversation. Philip Rivers led the S.D. Chargers to a division title & first round bye in the playoffs. Rivers engineered the Chargers unit in eleven consecutive victories. Manning, Brady, & Brees club anyone? Rivers is knocking at the door. Next year may be his time? Then there is Drew Brees. He led the Saints to an impressive 13-3 record. What hurts Brees’ chances is the way the N.O. Saints have played of late. They haven’t looked all that impressive since their week 12 (38-17) spanking of the Patriots. The Saints have dropped their last three games. Brees should be a shoe in for the running again next season.

The crowning of Peyton Manning is the logical choice. Peyton was on the verge of inscribing the Colts as the third team in NFL history to go undefeated in the regular season. But, the organization had decided to bench their starters in favor of a playoff run.

The Colts had two major offseason changes. Both came in the form of retirement. On January 12th 2009 seven year head coach Tony Dungy called it quits. In came first year head coach Jim Caldwell & question marks arose. But, it turned out to be a smooth transition. Then on May 6th 2009, Hall of Famer, & eleven year teammate Marvin Harrison followed suit. The two hold a number of QB-WR tandem records. Most completions (career): 953; most completions in a season: 143(2002); most passing/receiving yards (career): 12,756; & most passing/receiving TDs (career): 112. Peyton still had pro bowl receiver Reggie Wayne, one of the finest in the business, & pro bowl tight end Dallas Clark, also one of the best at his respective position. It didn’t take long for Peyton & incoming rookie WR’s Pierre Garcon & Austin Collie to click. What they accomplished over the course of the season was an exhibition of Peyton’s playmaking brilliance. The Colts defense had their share of adjustments due to injuries, placing more pressure on the offense. Peyton has led the Colts to a league leading (7) fourth-quarter comebacks, more than any team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Peyton was the best player on the planet for the 2009-’10 season.

There is also cause for an argument that Chris Johnson deserves the crown. The second year running back out of East Carolina torched defenses on a weekly basis. Johnson was able to do it running for an abysmal Tennessee Titan offense. His numbers are incredibly impressive, considering opposing defensive coordinators identified Johnson as Tennessee’s offensive jugular. Neutralize him, & you have a stagnant Titan offense. How he was able to rack up 2,006 rushing yards is amazing. He is the 6th player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards. Johnson finished the season with 11 consecutive 100+ rushing yard games. He was able to rush for 150+ yards in four games. In week 8 he racked up 228 rushing yards vs. the Jaguars. His most impressive performance came in week 2; he had TD runs of 50+, 60+, & 91+ yards, becoming the first player to ever do this. Johnson also had three runs of 85 yards or more this season. No NFL player has ever done that in their entire career. Johnson also broke Marshall Faulk’s record of 2,429 yards from scrimmage in a single season, with 2,509 yards. Johnson totaled 503 yards receiving. The only 2,000 back to come close to that was Barry Sanders, in 1997, when he had 305 yards receiving. There’s also the holding penalty Ed Hochuli called, it negated a 62 yard TD run by Johnson with 11:53 to go in the 4th quarter in week 17. It was a terrible call. Those 62 yards would have given Johnson 2,060 yards at that point, only 46 yards away from breaking Dickerson’s single season record of 2,105 yards. It may not matter anyway. It is unlikely Johnson will be given the MVP. The reason being, the Titans aren’t playing in the postseason. Barry Sanders won the MVP award in 1997 when he had his 2,000 yard season. But, the Detroit Lions went on to the playoffs. Chris Johnson had as fine a season as any running back has ever had. Johnson was also the best player on the planet this year.

Comparing these two players is absurd. They both had a phenomenal season in different situations, playing different positions. Giving the MVP award to one & not the other is ridiculous. It is comparable to one having to choose the Brazilian or French beauty for his queen. They both get the crown. Chris Johnson & Peyton Manning should be co-MVP’s!