Just for fun, here the Snotbubble Football Halfway Awards for 2011
The most surprising team: San Francisco 49ers. The Bengals and Bills were both in the running for this award, but I've got to give it to the NFC West-leading 49ers, which appear to be a shoo-in as division champion. The 49ers have six victories; the rest of the division has four victories combined.
Most surprising player: Cam Newton. Both Fred Jackson and Jimmy Graham were considered, but both had good seasons last year and I'm not surprised that both are having great seasons this year. However, Cam Newton is a whole other animal. And I was totally wrong about this guy.
Sure, he falls into the rookie category, but rookie or veteran, halfway through the season only Drew Brees has thrown for more passing yards than Newton. Yes, the rookie has thrown for more yards than Rodgers, Brady and all the other traditional big guns. I did not see that coming.
Where the hell did this guy come from?: DeMarco Murray. This is a bit premature, but these are the Halfway Awards, right? And right now, when I look at statistics and I see DeMarco Murray's name, I say to myself, "Where the hell did this guy come from?" Murray will probably be relegated to a back-up role once Felix Jones comes back (because Bo$$ Hogg loves Felix), and it will be a mistake.
Comeback player of the year: Steve Smith (Panthers). Matthew Stafford was briefly considered, but Smith is the obvious choice. It is amazing what a talented receiver can do when he actually has a quarterback who can throw him the ball, isn't it?
Most disappointing player: Chris Johnson. This was the easiest award to hand out. Philip Rivers and Brandon Lloyd are worth considering, but after CJ2K got his big pay day he put up his feet, lit a fat one and has rested on his laurels. There's no other explanation for his lack of production and passion this season. Javon Ringer is averaging almost a yard more per carry and there are serious rumblings about Johnson being benched for Ringer. (Thankfully, the same can't be said for Adrian Peterson, whose huge contract extension seemed to light a major fire under his ass).
The Pathetic Award:
Lastly, two teams are still winless. They are tied for the Pathetic Award. Both disgust me for different reasons.
Injuries are a part of the game, but it is not an excuse to be uncompetitive. If that was true, the 2010 Green Bay Packers had every reason in the world to be uncompetitive. Instead, they won the Super Bowl.
In the beginning of the season I declared that the Colts would not be as bad as many were predicting. They lost Peyton Manning, but the team was still loaded with talent: Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie, Dallas Clark, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are just a few of the star players on this roster.
And I was right. They are not as bad as some were predicting. They are worse. In fact, the perfect word is uncompetitive.
And it is inexcusable. I absolutely refuse to believe one player can make that much difference to a team. Unless, of course, that team has absolutely no pride, no heart and no desire.
The team under Caldwell - with basically the same personnel - has been 14-2 and 10-6 over the past two years. They are just 20 months removed from their last Super Bowl appearance.
The Bad: The Colts had no contingency plan if their star quarterback went down with an injury.
Even Worse: The team as a whole, offense and defense, has looked
Worst of all: Even the head coach has seemingly shrugged his shoulders and said, "But we don't have Peyton Manning. What can ya do?"
Inexcusable.
This organization just doesn't get it.
In a brilliant PR move a few years ago, someone in the organization decided it would be great to sell part of the team to celebrities. Gloria Estefan, Fergie, Marc Antony, Venus and Serena Williams and Jennifer Lopez are all partial owners of the Dolphins. I am assuming the goal was to sell more tickets.
But if you don't win, they won't come.
Over the years the Dolphins have gotten every coach they've wanted. Jimmie Johnson, Dave Wannstedt, Nick Saban, Cam Cameron... even Bill Parcells was persuaded to run the whole darn show. All were declared "the answer." All have failed.
Here's a little hint for the organization: You haven't had a quarterback since Dan Marino.
Cleo Lemon? Gus Frerrote? Joey Harrington? Chad Pennington? No, no, no and... no.
Running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams were serviceable, but were let go this season and the team traded for one of the most overrated NFL prospects in recent history, Reggie Bush (there was a reason the Saints didn't want him).
If they were looking to sell tickets, Bush isn't the guy to do it any more than Jenny From the Block in her Fiat.
Here's another hint: You haven't had great receivers since Duper and Clayton.
In 2010 they traded for one of the biggest headcases in the NFL, Brandon Marshall. They thought they were getting a Pro Bowl caliber receiver in Marshall. Instead, they got a Terrell Owens ego with a Pacman Jones mentality. Bad combination.
The Bad: Their drafts over the past 10 years have been beyond horrible - which includes Pat White, Ted Ginn Jr., John Beck, Jared Odrick, Sean Smith, Kao Misi, Matt Roth all taken in the first or second rounds.
Even Worse: Dolphins ownership attempting to dupe their fans by substituting talent on the field for beautiful people in the owner's box.
Worst of All: It doesn't matter what happens with the Dolphins for the rest of the season, they will move on to the next head coach either this year or next year with the same crappy roster, the same misguided philosophy and the same predictable results.
Pathetic.
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