The Cover 4 will feature a number of writers to cover a variety of topics. This article is by our very own Bru General Peppers, Sports Activist.
NFL Halfway Season Awards (or How I learned to Stop Parlaying the Packers on Three Teamers)
Original? Nay, but this is the NFL we’re talking about here, where originality is looked at with the same disdain as undersized quarterbacks and SEC skill players with “character issues”. We’ve reached the half way point of the NFL Season and it’s time to make presumptions based on a few facts and a whole lot of redundant opinions. I’m psyched.
MVP: Ben Rothlisberger
While everyone else fawns over Matt Ryan, Big Ben has quietly carried the Steelers to a 4-3 record despite injuries that have kept Troy Palomalu out of nearly every game, James Harrison out of half of them, 4/5ths of his offensive line seeing injury at some point, and his three top running backs missing various amounts of time. He’s Top 5 in QB Rating, Top 10 in Yards and Touchdowns, and is doing so with a patchwork offensive unit. He is single-handedly carrying a banged up Steelers squad to a top unit in the AFC. He’s the most under-rated player in the NFL and it’s not even close.
Offensive Player of the Year: Peyton Manning
Kurt Angle once won a gold medal with a broken neck. True story. What does this have to do with Peyton Manning? Nothing, really. I just love relaying Kurt Angle facts where I can. Peyton Manning is going to win the AFC with a surgically repaired neck and he’s going to make it look easy.
Defensive Player of the Year: J.J Watt
Let me say what everyone’s been thinking, “When did white guys take over the defensive side of the ball”. Between Jared Allen, Clay Matthews, Justin Smith, and now J.J Watt, the astigmatism towards Caucasian defensive players has been blown out of the window.
Comeback Player of the Year: Adrian Peterson
You could switch this award with Offensive Player of the Year and I’d be ok with it. What Adrian Peterson has done is beyond amazing; recovering from an ACL Injury with a normal recovery time of 10 months in only 4 months is a feat in itself, but coming back at full strength with no signs of debilitation is an evolutionary miracle. He’s no longer AD; from now on we’re calling him Wolverine.
The Jake Delhomme Anti-MVP of the Year: Michael Vick
This has alot to do with my Mike Holmgren Worst Coach of the Year Award Selection(Spoilers: It’s Andy Reid) but 15 turnovers in 7 games is hard for any coach to deal with. He’s got a sub 80 passer rating, sub 60% completion percentage, and isn’t even running well. He’s cost the Eagles at least 3 games this season.
The Mike Holmgren Worst Coach of the Year Award: Andy Reid
Let’s say you worked as a manager at McDonalds and your boss told you “if you don’t increase the amount of money your store makes, then you’re fired.” Let’s say you had the ability to bring back the McRib and you just decided “Screw it, we’re good without it.” Andy Reid is the McDonald’s manager and LeSean McCoy is the McRib. Andy Reid is doing such a bad job with so much talent that I he bumped Norv Turner from his 5 year winning streak. That’s impressive.
The Paul Heyman Award (Coach/Manager of the Year): Joe Philbin
If you are like me and 99% of the rest of America then you love Honey Boo Boo. You also watched Hard Knocks and thought, “Man, this team has literally nobody I know.” They’re currently leading the AFC East with a rookie QB, no Vontae Davis, and three wideouts who can’t ride certain rollercoasters at Six Flags due to height demands.
Rookie of the Year: Andrew Luck
Robert Griffin is the more flashy of the two but Andrew Luck has done more with less and is carrying a winning record to boot. He’s been flat out amazing while throwing 42 times a game, a record for rookie quarterbacks. This is the same team that went 1-15 last year, and frankly, he’s the only thing that’s changed. If this team ends up with 7 wins he should get MVP nods because the Colts stink.
Best Team: The New York Giants
I have never been more wrong in my life. I thought the Giants would fall off and not even make the playoffs. I thought the loss of Jacobs and Manningham would crush this offense. I thought the injuries would catch up to them, but nothing phases these guys. They can run. They can pass. They can rush the passer and stop the run. They’re the best road team we’ve ever seen. They can win shootouts(See Giants/Bucs) or they can win tough defensive battles. Barring major injury this team will be in the NFC Title Game.
Most Disappointing Team: The San Diego Chargers
Congratulations A.J Smith, you’ve now won this award for 7 years straight! Since Norv Turner showed up, the San Diego Chargers have gotten progressively worse each year. The vaunted rushing game? Dead. Philip Rivers ascent to elite? Dead. The Elite Scoring Defense? Dead. Vincent Jackson, LT, Merriman? Gone. They’re losing to the Browns 7-6 and giving up 35 points in a half to a guy with half a neck. They don’t draft well, they don’t do the little things well, they don’t do…well…anything well.
Super Bowl Prediction: The Giants v. The Steelers
When the Steelers win the next 4 games and sit at 8-3 and the Giants continue stomping everything in their path, you’ll hear more and more about this matchup.
Bru General Peppers
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