Matt Cassel and the Top 5 Candidates for the NFL MVP

by bigbosschief on Dec 28, 2010 9:55 AM CST

Matt Cassel's performance against Tennessee really set the tone that he was for real and he should be in consideration for MVP. Recently in consideration for MVP I'm sure most of you have only heard Michael Vick's name and Tom Brady's name to win the award why not Matt Cassel? Here is a list of the top five candidates for MVP and how they fair up against Matt Cassel.

5. Troy Polamalu: Safety, Pittsburgh Steelers

Troy Polamalu is likely to win the Defensive Player of the year instead of the MVP, but he is still worthy to be on this list. Whenever Polamalu is on the field you better know where he is, because he makes bigger plays more than any defensive player in the NFL. All though Polamalu has missed the past two games this season he has managed to pick off 6 passes (1 for a TD), rack up 62 tackles, 1.0 sack, and a forced fumble with one more game left. If Polamalu isn't in consideration for the MVP he will defiantly be in the race for Defensive Player of the Year.

4. Aaron Rodgers: Quarterback, Green Bay Packers

After Aaron Rodgers's week 16 performance against the New York Giants he earned my respect and earned his way into being an MVP candidate. Rodgers shredded the New York Giants defense for 404 yards, 4 touchdowns, and no interceptions two weeks after a concussion. Rodgers is no question one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the NFL with great numbers as well. With one game left Rodgers has thrown for 3,693 yards, 27 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and on top of that he has 335 rushing yards, and has rushed for 4 touchdowns.

3. Michael Vick: Quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles

Michael Vick has been the most fun player to watch in the NFL by far it is just crazy to see how after his absence of football he still has it all. Vick has a rocket arm and has some of the most agile feet in the NFL. I know some of you think Vick should be higher on this list, but no question he will win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Vick has posted up college like numbers he has thrown for 2,755 yards, 20 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, and has rushed for 613 yards and 8 touchdowns. Vick has put up those numbers in just starting 11 games and has two more games to go imagine what he could have done if he started all 16 games.

2. Matt Cassel: Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs

Matt Cassel has completely turned his play around from the 2009 season with dinky numbers last year 16 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, many Chiefs fans were questioning his future with the team. This year that has all changed Cassel has been the most impressive quarterback in the AFC other than Tom Brady. Cassel is on a team that doesn't even need to throw the ball, but when the Chiefs throw the ball they have one of the most dynamic duos in the NFL in Cassel and Dwayne Bowe. Cassel has not only played well, but he has turned around the Chiefs with a 4-12 record and last place in the division in 2009 the Chiefs have one the AFC West and are division Champions with a 10-5 record and one game left. Cassel's numbers are staggering compared to last year he has thrown for 3,001 yards and has an astonishing 27 to 5 touchdown to interception ratio. With one game left if Cassel has another game like he did against Tennessee he could be number one on this list and many more.

1. Tom Brady: Quarterback, New England Patriots

There is no question that Tom Brady should be number one on this list he is having his best season since 2007 when he led his team to an undefeated regular season, Super Bowl appearance, and 50 touchdown passes. Brady has an NFL best plus 30 touchdown to interception ratio. Brady also leads the NFL's best team record wise and has looked unstoppable recently throwing and handing off to no name players like Danny Woodhead, Benjarvis Green-Ellis, and an old Deion Branch. Brady has shown that he can make plays no matter who it is. Brady's numbers are very impressive throwing for 3,701 yards, 34 touchdowns, only 4 interceptions, and has rushed for one touchdown.

Poll

Who Should Win the NFL MVP?

Tom Brady

86 votes

Michael Vick

19 votes

Matt Cassel

108 votes

213 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.

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Comments

The award already has Bradys name engraved in it

but I do think that Cassel deserves to be in the conversation. However I for one dont think that Vick should be considered as an MVP candidate, to me you can not miss 1/4 of the season and be considered the MVP

by badassz1987 on Dec 28, 2010 12:28 PM CST reply actions

Your boy Hali has a better case for DPOY than the Hair.

Vick will win the OPOY (or should, maybe Rivers but not since they’ve lost). Urlacher should win the DPOY though – he is that Bears defense, and they are doing well.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by insertscreenname on Dec 28, 2010 12:31 PM CST reply actions

I know, huh! loved how the Bears defense totally shut down the Jets offense ... and the Pats!

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by upamtn on Dec 28, 2010 12:42 PM CST up reply actions

I know a lot will disagree, but I'll toss out another name here ...

Peyton Manning … they guy has done more with less than just about anyone in the league, he’s damned near single-handedly carried the Colts to a division title with guys getting injured right and left … he’s made “instant stars” out of guys that were previous unknowns and elevated the play of a team that LOOKED like it was going into the tank up to a team that COULD be one of the most dangerous of all … an overlooked team that few people give a passing thought to, peaking at just the right time, with a QB who’s every bit an OC as he is a superb passer

for those of you unaware of Manning’s “Rumble To The Goal” on Sunday, it was a thing of beauty (if Manning on a naked bootleg can be called beautiful) … only two people on the entire team even knew about the play: Manning and the OC … he deliberately didn’t tell his teammates that he’d run to the left, because he wanted the play to appear as a handoff going to the right … even his RB thought he had the ball at first

granted he slid down at the 3 yd line before he got horse-collared from behind, but it sealed the win for the Colts by keeping the ball away from the Raiders in the last 2 minutes of play, allowing the Colts to run out the clock

others may have more wins, more TDs, more points … but perhaps nobody has more heart and more leadership Manning

he may not have the numbers that others have, but right now, if I was asked to vote, he’d have it from me

by upamtn on Dec 28, 2010 12:40 PM CST reply actions

Yes, because Tom Brady only looks good because of his roster

@ full of future Hall of Famers like Woodhead, Green-Ellis, and Ben Tate@

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." -Gandhi.

by Sudden on Dec 28, 2010 1:22 PM CST up reply actions

Yes, because Tom Brady only looks good because of his roster

full of future Hall of Famers like Woodhead, Green-Ellis, and Ben Tate

Can’t believe my dumb ass put a space in my sarcasm font/

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." -Gandhi.

by Sudden on Dec 28, 2010 1:22 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

oh, I hear ya, Sudden, no huge argument AGAINST Brady, just a bit of an argument FOR Manning

of course, we have so many of the Simpson family here Cassel’s winning the popularity contest (above) … it it’s pure stats, Brady wins hands down in every possible way

funny that Cassel’s stats are “astonishing” while Brady’s (better) starts are (merely) “very impressive”

by upamtn on Dec 28, 2010 1:35 PM CST up reply actions

I voted Vick myself.

And I gotta admit, its an extremely hard contest to judge and I really could see the co-MVP situation this season. But taking the argument of “how does the team do without this guy in the lineup” approach, the Iggles maintained with Kolb in while the Chiefs were atrocious under Brodie (and who knows about NE? I have this weird suspicion that hoodie would be able to achieve with whoever the backup is there).

And I’ll tell you, I’m not one of those guys voting for him because I like the redemption story, quite on the contrary: I don’t buy it. That man electrocuted, hung, and drowned living things, he could have killed the dogs in a cold, methodical, and efficient manner (which he would’ve done had it been strictly a “business” practice), but he chose a means of disposal that reveals something about the man. I’m sorry, but there is something sociopathic buried deep underneath any person that would engage in such acts, and that kind of psyche doesn’t disappear or rehabilitate so easily. Granted, I don’t know the man and don’t know what he was like before vs what he is like now, but I don’t buy that he’s all of a sudden some good, reformed dude. But from a football perspective, I think he is putting up unrivaled numbers and completely alters any game he plays in.

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." -Gandhi.

by Sudden on Dec 28, 2010 2:03 PM CST up reply actions

I can understand and agree with ya there ... every single word

of course, the Chiefs were only atrocious for one game … still wonder what MIGHT have happend if Croyle had started the Rams game … I like to think we’d have won anyway, but …

I’m in Cassel’s corner, the guy has won me over (finally) and I gotta give him his props, also have to acknowledge that the Pats are the Pats, and Hoodie just finds ways to win (and then some) out of nowhere

Vick … HAS done amazing things and certainly has AMAZING talent, if not an ounce of modesty

as for the rest, I so totally agree with you there, my friend … 100% and then some

by upamtn on Dec 28, 2010 2:35 PM CST up reply actions

Great minds think alike

and quote Gandhi in their signature lines.

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." -Gandhi.

by Sudden on Dec 28, 2010 2:44 PM CST up reply actions

You have to be kidding...you lost me on this one

Manning has been horrible this year and that slide shows clearly he is not of a winner mentality…three to five yards from goal line and slides…I call BS on that and he is a wuss in all sense of the word

by Turkeyleg on Dec 28, 2010 2:53 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

I may be wrong, but I thought that play kept the clock running.

It kept Oakland (and specifically Jacoby Ford) from getting the ball back. Three kneel-downs by Indy and the game was over.

by sdchiefs on Dec 28, 2010 3:17 PM CST up reply actions

A TD would have made it a 12 point game

and really no chance of a comeback

by badassz1987 on Dec 28, 2010 3:33 PM CST up reply actions

I thought about that too.

I guess either way would have worked, but there’s less chance of something goofy happening if the Raiders don’t get the ball at all. Six of one, half dozen of another.

by sdchiefs on Dec 28, 2010 3:50 PM CST up reply actions

Actually...

Giving the ball back to the Raiders means you are giving them a FINITE chance, even if it is astronomically small. We have seen some crazy things happen in sports. I remember Buffalo losing to Dallas a few years back when they were leading by 10 points with about a minute left to play. 12 points is much harder to overcome, but not impossible.

By keeping the ball, Manning ensures that Oakland has ZERO chance at a comeback.

by GTanka on Dec 29, 2010 11:53 AM CST up reply actions