MVP: Adrian Peterson, Halfback, Minnesota Vikings
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Adrian Peterson
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Peterson has had a career year that is defiantly worthy of the MVP. He had over 2000 yards on the season, only the seventh player ever to reach this plateau. He came within nine yards of owning the record for most rushing yards in a season. This happening after tearing his ACL and MCL last December. Without Peterson, there is a very little chance that the Vikings would have made the playoffs and it is doubtful they would even have a winning record. Not only do his stats add up so does his on-field play. He was a dominating force all year, leaving many tacklers asking "What happened?" and astonishing everyone with 80+ yard runs. Peterson's performance this year is worthy of the MVP, much more then any other candidate.
Offensive Player of the Year: Adrian Peterson, Halfback, Minnesota Vikings
I don't think anyone else had the season like Peterson. I could go with any of the elite quarterbacks, but Peterson's season stood out more then anyone else, except Lions' wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who if his team performed better, he would have gotten the award.
Defensive Player of the Year: JJ Watt, Defensive End, Houston Texans
Watt has been a monster on the defensive line, wreaking havoc on opposing offensive lineman and quarterbacks. He is the league leader in sacks with 20.5. This is two sacks behind the single season record held by Michael Strahan. His sack yards of 139, is second only to the 49ers' Aldon Smith's 145. When he was not getting to the quarterback, he was still affecting passes, deflecting sixteen thrown passes. That is the most for any non-defensive back. Watt also had four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 81 combined tackles. He had an outstanding year and should be rewarded for it.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Indianapolis Colts
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Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck, and Russell Wilson
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This is no doubt this is the hardest award to decide. There are three great rookie quarterbacks that stand a head above the rest (Shout out to Redskins' RB Alfred Morris, second in the league in rushing, who in any other year would be a top candidate) They are Andrew Luck of Indianapolis, Robert Griffin III of Washington, and Russell Wilson of Seattle. All three led teams that were not in the playoffs in 2011 to playoff spots in 2012. Each has been a prime performers at big spots in big games. Luck had the bigger shoes to fulfill then RGIII. Wilson and his team had a drastic change from 2011 to 2012. The Colts won nine more games with Luck, while the Redskins won five more games with Griffin III, and the Seahawks won four more games with Wilson. Luck also had the worst running game of the three and had to pass the ball more. RGIII and Wilson both had 393 pass attempts, while Luck had 627 attempts. Luck had to do more and did it in a much more complex system then RGIII and Wilson. What might hurt Luck in the end is his turnovers of eighteen picks and ten fumbles. This year, I would be surprised to see co-Offensive Rookies of the Year. It happened in 1980 when two players won the Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Luke Kuechly, Linebacker, Carolina Panthers
Kuechly was a tackling machine in college and he hasn't missed a beat in the NFL. The Panthers Middle Linebacker was the league leader in combined tackles with 164 tackles. That is fifteen more tackles then the runner-up, San Francisco's NaVorro Bowman. He is seventh in the league in total tackles with 103 and is tied for first place in assisted tackles with 61 with Washington's London Fletcher. Kuechly also had two interceptions and three fumble recoveries. Kuechly is a star and in a few years will be the best linebacker in the game.
Coach of the Year: Bruce Arians, Indianapolis Colts
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Bruce Arians
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Arians was not the coach at the start of the season, nor at the end, but he is the only guy I can think of who deserves this award. When head coach Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia after the week three game against Jacksonville, Arians took the rians while Pagano went into treatment. In his first game as coach, the Colts stunned Green Bay Packers 30-27. That was the start of a 9-3 run as head coach. Pagano came back for the last game of the season. Not only did Arians lead the team through tough times, he was a main reason last year’s worst team in the league is in the playoffs. He should get consideration for any of the head coaching jobs that open up in the off-season. I do not know if he will accept any offers, though.
Comeback Player of the Year: Peyton Manning, Quarterback, Denver Broncos
Is this even a question? After missing the whole 2011 NFL Season due to neck surgery, Manning has come back on a new team and has led them to the number one seed in the playoffs. Peterson only missed one game last season, while Manning missed all sixteen. He has made the whole team better. Not only that, he is having a great season. He has 4659 passing yards, 37 touchdowns, a 68.% completion percentage, a 84.1 QBR, and a 105.8 passer rating. Many were unsure if he could return to his elite level of play. He defiantly has returned to that level.
