 |
 |
 |
|
Can an MVP of the first quarter of the NFL season come from a 2-2 team with three teams still undefeated?
It can here.
Of course, I'm always partial to big passing numbers.
With apologies to Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards, Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, my first-quarter MVP is New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
|
|
| Drew Brees' special talent? Seeing the field. (US Presswire) |
Brees has thrown for 1,343 yards, which puts him on pace to set the single-season record for passing yards, and he's completed an amazing 72.3 percent of his passes. The completion percentage would also be a record if it held up.
Let's just say Brees is making playing quarterback look easy.
"It's never easy, never, ever easy," he said. "Your preparation throughout the week can make it easier. The more comfortable you are and the calmer you are will be because you understand where the ball is going to go, no matter what the coverage or situation. That's what allows you to be successful out there, the preparation."
Brees is in a zone. The Saints could easily be 4-0. That's how well he's played. The defense has let them down in their two losses. Injuries have also hurt, but Brees has carried on. He's without leading receiver Marques Colston and tight end Jeremy Shockey. Veteran David Patten went out in the first quarter of the victory over San Francisco last week. All Brees did against the 49ers was throw for 363 yards and three touchdowns.
Brees threw for over 4,000 yards in both 2006 and 2007 with the Saints. If he gets there this season, he would join Dan Marino, Peyton Manning, Dan Fouts and Trent Green as the only quarterbacks to throw for 4,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. The only one of those to include a 5,000-yard season is Marino.
Marino and Brees? Now you know why I like the guy as my first-quarter MVP. Brees is short at 6-feet, doesn't have a big arm, and if you stood next to him in the grocery line you'd think he was the kid on the local high-school team. But the man can see the field. He gets it. He's as good as any passer in the game at getting from read one to read three and read four.
Some other quarterbacks can't even get to read two. You know who you are. Before the season, I picked the Saints to win the NFC. Even though they lost on the road at Washington and Denver, two games they easily could have won, I still think they will be there in the end.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No matter whom the Saints might play in the NFC in the playoffs, I'll take Brees over that team's quarterback.
Watch out when he gets his weapons back. Marino's passing-yard record just might come down.
"Defenses are always evolving, trying to stay one step ahead of you just like you're trying to stay one step ahead of them," Brees said. "It's a chess match. I'm not going to sit here and say I never get fooled. It's not the case. From time to time they'll get you. The more experience you have, the less it happens."
It's sure not happening much to him this season.
Now here are the rest of the first-quarter awards:
MVP: Brees.
Runners-up: Edwards, Romo, Cutler, Haynesworth, Eli Manning, QB, Giants.
Offensive player: Brees. Sean Payton and Brees are a perfect match.
Runners-up: Cutler, Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers, Anquan Boldin, WR, Cardinals, Michael Turner, RB, Falcons, Brandon Marshall, WR, Broncos and Brett Favre, QB, Jets.
Defensive player: Albert Haynesworth, DT, Tennessee Titans. He's in a contract year and he's about to become the richest defensive player in football. He can't be blocked.
Runners-up: Charles Woodson, CB, Packers; Justin Tuck, DE, Giants; John Abraham, DE, Falcons; James Harrison, LB, Steelers; Ray Lewis, LB, Ravens; Cortland Finnegan, CB, Titans; Juqua Parker, DE, Eagles.
|
|
| Chris Johnson as the next Marshall Faulk? Could be. (Getty Images) |
Runners-up: DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles; Eddie Royal, WR, Broncos; Matt Forte, RB, Bears; Darren McFadden, RB, Raiders; Jake Long, T, Dolphins; Ryan Clady, T, Broncos.
Defensive rookie: Jerod Mayo, LB, Patriots. He's added much-needed speed as a starter since opening day.
Runners-up: Brandon Flowers, CB, Chiefs; Tracy Porter, CB, Saints; Dwight Lowery, CB, Jets; Chris Horton, S, Redskins; Chris Long, DE, Rams; Kendall Langford, DE, Dolphins; Curtis Lofton, LB, Falcons; Keith Rivers, LB, Bengals; Charles Godfrey, S, Panthers.
Coach: Dick Jauron, Buffalo Bills. He has his team 4-0 and atop the AFC East. Who could have imagined that?
Runners-up: Jeff Fisher, Titans; Jim Zorn, Redskins; Tom Coughlin, Giants.
Assistant coach: Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator, Tennessee Titans. He has the league's best defense. He's also one of the smartest coaches in the game. That adds up to impressive results. Give him a head-coaching job.
Runners-up: Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator, Giants; Rex Ryan, defensive coordinator, Ravens; Turk Schonert, offensive coordinator, Bills.
Best free-agent pickup: Michael Turner, RB, Falcons. I've already written a column on how I was wrong about him. He is the perfect back for this young team.
Runners-up: Jeff Faine, C, Bucs; Julius Jones, RB, Seahawks; Asante Samuel, CB, Eagles; Alan Faneca, G, Jets; J.T. O'Sullivan, QB, 49ers.
Worst free-agent pickup: Javon Walker, WR, Raiders. He has four catches in exchange for his huge contract. Nice going, Al.
Runners-up: Jerry Porter, WR, Jaguars; Corey Williams, DT, Browns; Ernest Wilford, WR, Dolphins; Bernard Berrian, WR, Vikings; Donte Stallworth, WR, Browns.
|
|
| Marcus Stroud has been a steal for the unbeaten Bills. (Getty Images) |
Runners-up: Edwards; Reggie Bush, RB, Saints; Michael Griffin, S, Titans; Matt Jones, WR, Jaguars; Harvey Dahl, G, Falcons; Tanard Jackson, S, Bucs.
Comeback player: Marcus Stroud, DT, Bills. After being suspended for four games last season and playing through a bum ankle, Stroud has been a force in the middle of the Buffalo defense. They stole him from Jacksonville in a trade.
Runners-up: Brandon Lloyd, WR, Bears; Brian Griese, QB, Bucs; Ricky Williams, RB, Dolphins; Antonio Bryant, WR, Bucs
Best game: Denver 39, San Diego 38 in Week 2. Most will remember that game for the Ed Hochuli blown call that gave Denver the game. Lost in that was a terrific game that saw the Chargers rally to take the lead in the second half.
Runners-up: Denver 34, New Orleans 32 in Week 3; Dallas 41, Philadelphia 37 in Week 2.
Worst moment: Hochuli blowing the call in the Denver-San Diego game, costing the Chargers a victory. He took a beating for it, but he was wrong. It was embarrassing for the league.
Runners-up: Brady going down with the knee injury; DeSean Jackson dropping the ball before scoring on a Monday night game against Dallas.