11/05/24
January 01, 2004
If this is an accurate report,: then neither the man who cracked 2,000 rushing yards nor the man who broke the records for most rushing and total touchdowns in a season will finish higher than third in NFL MVP balloting. Jamal Lewis was the offensive player of the year; Priest Holmes has "more touchdowns rushing (27) than New England and Tennessee combined (20)," a fact I found here.
Are the running backs getting short shrift? Why or why not? Who would you vote for?
Steve. Mc. Nair. I don't know how many times I have to say this.
posted by forksclovetofu at 01:29 AM on January 02, 2004
What is McNair's QB rating this season? When a QB has an outstanding season, it's only right that the QB should be the league MVP. QB is the hardest position on the field. Not only does it take incredible skills, it's also the hardest in terms of decision making. A good QB is a team leader. I don't know of anyone who is more a leader than McNair.
posted by salmacis at 06:27 AM on January 02, 2004
I love McNair, and am not a big Manning guy. But I can't see how Steve can get the nod having less impressive numbers than Peyton, and having missed two games -- games his team won.
And, I suppose it's a matter of perception, but I don't really see how McNair or Manning were more valuable than Holmes or Lewis. Lose McNair? The team wins with Eddie George, Neil O'Donnell (!) and a stirring run defense. Lose Manning? You've got Edge, and I could probably complete a ball or two to Marvin Harrison. But the Chiefs without Priest or the Ravens' offense would make either teams offense an ugly sight indeed. My ballot would go Holmes, Lewis, Manning, McNair.
Of course, on the other side of the ball, Ray Lewis apparently is getting as many first place MVP votes as Priest -- don't tell vito.
posted by jeffmshaw at 06:44 AM on January 02, 2004
Seeing as all of the other candidates are black, where's Rush Limbaugh to come back and tell us that Manning's apparent runaway MVP candidacy is social engineering? Truth of the matter is that it's a wash. I'm partial to Holmes, since I make it a point to watch him every week I can. And the guy's scored nearly 50 touchdowns over the last two years. But I'd go with Lewis, Jamal -- I suspect that KC's backups are better than Baltimore's, and that the offense game plan is better than Baltimore's, so Lewis is needed more. From there I'd go to Holmes, Manning, McNair, Ray Lewis. In that order, or in a shuffle.
posted by jackhererra at 07:05 AM on January 02, 2004
How about some WR love? Holt, Harrison, and Moss all deserve consideration as well.
posted by corpse at 07:10 AM on January 02, 2004
It seems like the early season "best underhyped player" hype about McNair got picked up by everyone and now he's overhyped. I like McNair and can't stand Manning, but aside from leadership and toughness, McNair did not have nearly the season Peyton did. Edge has lost a step so their running game is not phenomenal, and he's just had an outstanding year, has played well under pressure (unlike previous seasons - though I am still rooting for him to crack this weekend), and has just posted outstanding numbers. I don't think anyone picked the Colts to finish 12-4 this year. Not only that, but he beat McNair twice, won two more games than McNair overall, and won the division. I'd vote for Manning over those two, but really, I'd vote for Lewis, another player I don't like, because without him the Ravens probably would have been 4-12 with the worst passing offense and a poor running game as well. He put that team on his back, he was their only weapon. So it should be him... or his O-Line.
posted by Bernreuther at 08:19 AM on January 02, 2004
<gasoline on fire>Compare Atlanta's record with and without Vick. Now tell me who the MVP is. </>
posted by tieguy at 08:30 AM on January 02, 2004
If Jamal Lewis had broken Dickerson's record, he'd have won the MVP for sure. What some people might be looking at is that he racked up almost a 1/4 of his yards against one team in just 2 games. Holmes would probably have gotten the MVP if his team hadn't stumbled in the final 4 games and dropped out of the AFC penthouse. McNair would probably have gotten the MVP if he hadn't missed those two games. Ray Lewis would probably have gotten the MVP if there weren't so many offensive stars this year. Manning will get the MVP because people have been waiting for him to assume the "Joe Montana/Dan Marino/John Elway" mantle, and this year he finally did it.
posted by grum@work at 10:47 AM on January 02, 2004
posted by corpse at 10:49 AM on January 02, 2004
Ray Ray got two votes. One for each person he murdered. What an awesome way to decide it, with a tie between two of the greats. Indianapolis and Tennessee should be beaming with pride right now.
posted by vito90 at 10:59 AM on January 02, 2004
The team wins with Eddie George, Neil O'Donnell (!) and a stirring run defense. Um. No. Eddie is NOT a running back that can win games anymore, O'Donnell was a lucky shot in the dark (the guy was the backup to the backup and brought in last minute... he was a few weeks from starting work as a hedge-fund manager as Al reminded us over and over) and altho' the run defense is certainly getting the job done, McNair IS the offense in the same way that McNabb and Vick are their teams. On preview: a tie? gwuh? Okay, so let's have them indian wrestle. That's how we do it down South.
posted by forksclovetofu at 11:52 AM on January 02, 2004
Forks, I agree Eddie can't win games by himself anymore. My point is that McNair sat out two games that the Titans found a way to win. This is a team that's pretty good without Steve.
posted by jeffmshaw at 12:57 PM on January 02, 2004
Okay, riddle me this: The quarterback position is a strictly offensive position. The running back position is a strictly offensive position. There is no defensive aspect to it at all. Jamal Lewis wins the OFFENSIVE player of the year award, but McNair and Manning win the PLAYER of the year award. So while they weren't the best in their own damn category (offence), they some how were the best overall. *sniff sniff* That don't smell right at all...
posted by grum@work at 01:45 PM on January 02, 2004
Jeff: The two games the Titans won without McNair were to Buffalo and Tampa Bay, two teams that hadn't a remote chance of making the playoffs. Hardly tests of the caliber of the rest of the team. Further NB: Volek and O'Donnell had career games on their two starts. God bless em, but I don't think they play like that every night if you start them. O'Donnell is STILL out of the NFL at the end of the postseason and Volek is almost certain to defect elsewhere, where he'll be played more often. Which brings me to my next point: Steve has missed THREE games in the last FOUR years. As far as I can see the ONLY reason he's sat out two of those games this year is because it increases the Titans chances in the long run to keep him healthy and have the team go deep. The decision to sit him following his weak showing against the Jets was an intelligent one and will (should?) pay off this Saturday. In any case, faulting McDurable with sitting out two games this season is like calling Keyshawn intense for the good of the team: it's bogus. Last point: the award is for the player who has done the most single handedly to help their team this year. I think you can make a case that the Ravens offensive line could've fielded any of a few backs who could've made a record run this year. You can also make the case that Manning without his star receivers is at a loss. But without McNair, I think the Titans go 5 and 11 this year. He's the man. Give him his props. Go get a ring Steve!
posted by forksclovetofu at 05:14 PM on January 02, 2004
I love Steve, seriously. But if the award's part about production (numbers) and part about value to one's team, it's tough for me to to vote for a player who missed 1/8 of the season over a player who has better numbers and played every game. I think they're both critical to their teams' respective successes, but those two factors would make me vote for Manning (who I like much less than McNair) over Steve this year.
Of course, I'd take Holmes over both of 'em, so what do I know?
posted by jeffmshaw at 05:50 PM on January 02, 2004
They may indeed be getting shorted a bit, but it's just the nature of the QB position that it gets a bit more accolades and blame sometimes than it should. Personally, whlile the RB's had outstanding years, I would still pick Manning myself. He more than doubled Lewis' yardage and had two more TD's than Holmes. When a QB has a great year like Manning has had, any RB would be hard pressed, even wih records, to beat him for the MVP. YMMV