:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29291443/20131006_ads_sq9_046.0.jpg)
Kansas City this weekend will be hosting the annual 101 awards where KC Chiefs coach Andy Reid will be honored with the coach of the year award (the same award he was robbed of in the Associated Press awards ... me bitter? Nah).
Also at the 101 awards the Chiefs will be announcing their own team MVP and rookie of the year award. Jamaal Charles is the most obvious team MVP in a long, long time. But what about rookie of the year?
ESPN's Adam Teicher lays out the case for Marcus Cooper over Eric Fisher, and it's an intriguing one. Cooper was excellent early on before falling off late while Fisher struggled early on but made progress later in the season.
Fisher, drafted No. 1 overall out of Central Michigan in the 2013 NFL Draft, missed several games due to multiple injuries, including the important game of the year in Indianapolis for the playoffs.
Related: Eric Fisher the RT "right now"
Cooper, a 49ers undrafted free agent out of Rutgers who was claimed by Kansas City on roster cut down weekend, really came on in Week 4 against the New York Giants, putting veteran Dunta Robinson on the bench and stepping in as the third corner for the rest of the season. Cooper was picked on a lot late in the season but he did end up in the top 10 in passes defensed for the season. Cooper also scored a touchdown after a special teams fumble.
Related: The Marcus Cooper story
As for rookie RB Knile Davis ...
Getting votes for Knile Davis for ROY. To me, he wasn't productive enough on offense. His best work was as kick returner.
— Adam Teicher (@adamteicher) February 27, 2014
I actually think Davis should merit strong consideration. Fumbles were said to be his biggest issue coming in but two of his three fumbles on the year came in one game against the Colts in Week 16. In the more important game against the Colts, Davis replaced the NFL's most valuable player and touched the ball 25 times (18 carries, seven receptions). The problem with choosing Davis here is that outside of his touches in the playoff loss, most of his action came in losses (Broncos game) or in blowout wins (Redskins, Raiders games). Fisher and Cooper played a lot more meaningful snaps than Davis.
I'd probably side with Teicher and pick Cooper for this award. I suspect Fisher may be penalized in the voting because the expectations were so high on him.