Rookie of the Year: Cam Newton, Panthers QB. What Cam Newton did as a rookie was absolutely amazing. He broke records and revitalized the city of Charlotte. Carolina is going to be dangerous next year and one day Newton will be an MVP in the NFL.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Von Miller, Broncos OLB. 11.5 sacks and 64 total tackles. This guy gets it. He plays the game the right way on and off the field.
Most Under-Appreciated Players: London Fletcher, Redskins OLB. 166 total tackles in his 14th season and still not invited to the Pro Bowl. London does nothing but goes hard on every single down, and he’s been the same way throughout his entire career.
NFC Defensive Player of the Year: Jared Allen, Vikings DE. Maybe the one bright spot on a pretty bad Minnesota team. Allen was the definition of gettin after quarterbacks in 2011, recording 22 sacks. Too bad he couldn’t break the asterisk soaked Strahan record.
AFC Defensive Player of the Year: D’Qwell Jackson, Browns MLB. D’Qwell is far from close to the first linebacker pick in your fantasy draft, but this dude can play. He has the same MLB skills set as Patrick Willis who we all know and he might even be better. 158 total tackles in 2011. Keep up with the real D Jackson in 2012.
Best Offensive Line: Buffalo Bills. That’s right, it’s not the Saints, Packers or Patriots. It’s the Bills who circled the wagons and allowed only 23 sacks. If only Fitzpatrick could’ve capitalized on standing upright?
Best Tight-Ends: Rob Gronkowski, New England. Jimmy Graham, New Orleans.
Best Wide-Receivers: Calvin Johnson, Detroit. Victor Cruz, NY Giants.
Wes Welker, New England. Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh.
Best Running-Back: Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville. This guy does nothing but get after it week in and week out despite being on a terrible team. MJD ran for 1,606 yards in 2011 with 8 touchdowns. One of my favorite players to ever play the game!
Best Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay. Rodgers is the best quarterback in the NFL, but he also has the best group of receivers in the NFL. 45 touchdowns with only 6 picks and 122 QB rating is simply retarded. No one is disputing the season Rodgers put together. But someone was just a little bit better. If not for Rodgers’ backup Matt Flynn throwing for 480 yards and 6 touchdowns in week 17 and Drew Brees breaking records, Rodgers is the MVP.
2012 gettinAfterIt.com MVP: Drew Brees, New Orleans. In a narrow race out of 100 possible votes, Drew Brees wins the MVP with 36 first place votes to Aaron Rodgers’ 34 votes. Tom Brady finished 3rd with 30 votes. Brees broke a Dan Marino record I didn’t think would ever be broken, and he broke it by 300 yards. Not only that, Brees through for 46 touchdowns and 14 interceptions with a 110 QB rating. It was a close race and all three superstar quarterbacks are deserving of winning the MVP, but the edge had to go to Brees. Thanks Matt Flynn. Now it’s onto the playoffs.
