Didn't know that Arrowhead Pride was part of a larger blog network? Check out all 32 NFL teams and plenty of other sports blogs at SBNation.com. Many thanks to Big Blue Shoe for doing the leg work on this post.
The 2008 regular season has come and gone. With it, we've seen some amazing games and some tremendous individual performances. We've also seen some teams and players stink up the league. At the mid-season point, just after the election, we did our annual Mid-Season Studs and Duds awards. To give you an indication of just how fluid an NFL season can be, not one stud player or coach who received a mid-season award was given an overall regular season award. For the duds, only one player (Jets rookie Vernon Gholston) retained his "I Suck" award from the mid-point.
This is what makes the NFL great!
Below are the selections for the awards, voted on by our SB Nation football bloggers. The percentage of the vote they received is next to their name. We also added a new category (Was Once a Dud, Now a Stud) which works as our "Comeback Player of the Year" award. So, without further delay, here our SB Nation's 2008 NFL Regular Season Studs and Duds:
The Studs
NFL MVP (tie): Peyton Manning, Colts (35%) and Chad Pennington, Dolphins (35%)
Best Player on Offense: Drew Brees, Saints (33.3%)
Best Player on Defense: James Harrison, Steelers (41.7%)
Best Rookie: Matt Ryan, Falcons (78%)
Best Coach: Tony Sporano, Dolphins (44%)
The Newly Studly
Was Once a Dud, Now a Stud: Chad Pennington, Dolphins (50%)
The Duds
Regular Season Worst Player: Braylon Edwards, Browns (40%)
Regular Season Worst Rookie: Vernon Gholston, Jets (72%)
Regular Season Worst Coach: Romeo Crennel, Browns (35%) and Rod Marinelli, Lions (35%)
Some notables from the voting:
- Mike Smith, head coach for the Falcons, was one vote away from tying Tony Sparano for Stud Coach of the Year.
- Vikings RB Adrian Peterson and Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams tied for second behind Drew Brees for Stud Offensive player.
- Matt Ryan, who won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award unanimously, won our award with 18 votes. The second place candidate, Broncos LT Ryan Clady, received 2 votes.