jgb Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Now let's switch to a positive topic: the coveted "longest award in sports," the Tuesday Morning Quarterback Non-Quarterback Non-Running Back NFL MVP. The Associated Press is about to announce the formal MVP award, and there's just a tiny chance it will be won by a quarterback. Like the Heisman, the NFL MVP almost always goes to a quarterback or running back. Since the award began in 1957, all winners except defensive tackle Alan Page (1971), place-kicker Mark Moseley (1982) and linebacker Lawrence Taylor (1986) have been either quarterbacks or running backs. Football is a team sport, and generally 19 of the 22 players on the field are not quarterbacks or running backs. But these two positions monopolize recognition. Quarterback and running back monopolize awards in part because, just like spectators, most sportswriters and sportscasters never look away from the ball. Ninety percent of football action occurs away from the ball -- but most who comment on football for a living never look there. TMQ keeps his eyes off the ball. You should try it sometime. This season's Tuesday Morning Quarterback Non-Quarterback Non-Running Back NFL MVP is center Dan Koppen of New England. The Patriots are the league's best team, possessed of the league's best offense. New England led the NFL in scoring in the regular season, and showed terrific balance between rushing and passing. Superior offensive line play is one reason, with the Flying Elvii third best in sacks allowed. And everything that happens on the offensive line starts with the center. Koppen entered the NFL in 2003 as a fifth-round draft choice out of Boston College. Since taking over at center for the Patriots in 2004, he has held the position, starting 119 of his past 120 games. He makes the Patriots' line calls and makes them well; Tom Brady stands unruffled in the pocket, brushing his hair, in part because New England has fewer botched blocking assignments than any other NFL team. Koppen was a key to New England's record-setting 2007 offensive season and has been a key to this season's seemingly unstoppable New England offense. He sometimes gets guard help, as all centers do. But you can watch a lot of Patriots film without seeing him beaten -- or giving up on a play. Because sportscasters, and even many NFL players and coaches, rarely look away from the ball, offensive linemen make the Pro Bowl based on hype and reputation, not performance. New England guard Logan Mankins made the Pro Bowl this season, despite appearing in only nine games. Mankins is good but was selected for the 2010 Pro Bowl mainly because most football followers have no idea who's good on the offensive line and vote for whomever they voted for last season. Whom does Mankins play next to? Koppen, who makes all his offensive line teammates look good. Below, find the finalists for the Non-QB Non-RB NFL MVP and a list of past winners. "The Patriots are the league's best team, possessed of the league's best offense." Guess defense doesn't matter. Also, ten stats of the week, the Patriots are mentioned in 5 of them (including reference to their beatdown of miami). Stats of the Week No. 1 New England closed out the regular season with at least 30 points in eight consecutive games and with a spectacular plus-28 turnover margin. Stats of the Week No. 2 In a span from the second quarter of their first meeting to the fourth quarter of their second game, the Patriots outscored the Dolphins 79-7 while recording a rushing touchdown, a passing touchdown, a kickoff return touchdown, a punt return touchdown, an interception return touchdown and a blocked field goal return touchdown. Stats of the Week No. 3 Oakland finished 6-0 in its division and 2-8 versus all other teams. Stats of the Week No. 4 In the games for which Randy Moss was on the team, the Patriots, Vikings and Titans were a combined 5-11. Stats of the Week No. 5 Matt Ryan is 20-2 as a starter at home. Stats of the Week No. 6 Cincinnati, Dallas and Minnesota, playoff teams of 2009, combined to finish 17-31 this season. Stats of the Week No. 7 Atlanta and Pittsburgh, which did not make the playoffs in 2009, posted a combined record of 25-7 in the 2010 regular season. Stats of the Week No. 8 In Weeks 16 and 17, AFC East members Buffalo and Miami were outscored by a combined 100 points. Stats of the Week No. 9 Tom Brady has won 28 consecutive regular-season home starts and is a career 34-5 as a starter in December. Stats of the Week No. 10 The Colts and Saints became the first Super Bowl pairing in a decade to both make the playoffs the following season. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrook/110104_tuesday_morning_quarterback&sportCat=nfl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klecko73isGod Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 "The Patriots are the league's best team, possessed of the league's best offense." Guess defense doesn't matter. Also, ten stats of the week, the Patriots are mentioned in 5 of them (including reference to their beatdown of miami). http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrook/110104_tuesday_morning_quarterback&sportCat=nfl Easterbrook is a cocksucking hack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgb Posted January 4, 2011 Author Share Posted January 4, 2011 Easterbrook is a cocksucking hack. haha maybe i misjudged you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klecko73isGod Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 haha maybe i misjudged you Easterbrook is an obnoxious a$$ with a serious case of second-city syndrome, as evidenced by the "jersey A, jersey B" nonsense in his weekly trainwreck of a football column. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgb Posted January 4, 2011 Author Share Posted January 4, 2011 Easterbrook is an obnoxious a$$ with a serious case of second-city syndrome, as evidenced by the "jersey A, jersey B" nonsense in his weekly trainwreck of a football column. no argument here. i also hate his politics but that's a different discussion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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