So far this week, the Associated Press has announced their Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards. The Kansas City Chiefs had two legit entries into those crowded fields - Jamaal Charles and Tamba Hali - but neither one received any votes.
Tonight, the Associated Press reveals their pick for the 2011 NFL Coach of the Year, which is an award given to the NFL head coach that has done the most with the talent at their disposal. Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley is certainly a contender for this award. I fully expect him to receive at least a few votes.
Other contenders for the Coach of the Year award include New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers' head coach Mike Tomlin and Bucs head coach Raheem Morris.
Haley's biggest competition for the award is probably Belichick. The Patriots were 14-2 and nobody really expected to do that with relatively few superstars. Tomlin will get some major consideration, as will Raheem Morris. Morris, like Haley, turned around a terrible team in 2010. Morris and Haley probably cancel each other out, since they're similar candidates.
To be fair, even though he's not going to win it, Raiders head coach Tom Cable probably deserves a few votes for taking a terrible Oakland team to 8-8. I'm not sure about the history of a fired head coach taking home the award but it can't have happened that many times, if at all.
What are your feelings on coach of the year? Does Todd Haley have a chance?