It's much easier for me to zip little thoughts to Facebook as they travel through my brain, rather than to sit down and write a thought-out blog, entirely because I have a 2 year-old boy who is infatuated with the computer and will not allow me a minute of time to type anything.
But despite the distractions buzzing around me, I'm determined to continue my blog into 2012. A lot is happening in the NFL right now and there is never a lull in the action (well, except when there is a lockout).
Before I continue... the new overtime rules will be enforced with the playoff games this week. Basically, it goes like this: If Team A kicks a field goal in the first possession of overtime, Team B gets a possession. If Team A scores a touchdown in the first possession of overtime, the game is over and Team B does not get a possession. I think I've got that right.
Anyhow, I wish these rules were in place all season long, not just for the playoffs. The game should be played with the same rules all year long. That's my opinion.
Okay, now for the moment you've all been waiting for (or maybe not...), it's time for Snot Bubble Football's 2011 Awards.
There are seven categories: Most Surprising and Most Disappointing in each of these three categories: Quarterback, Running Back and Wide Receiver... and the biggie, the "Shut Yo Face Award," given to the biggest idiot in the NFL.
Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers.
When I'm wrong, I man up and admit it (unlike any puke you see on ESPN or NFL Network). And I was off-the-charts wrong about Cam. I thought he would fall flat on his face in the NFL. Well, I'm eating those words with a fork and spoon. Not only did Newton break Peyton Manning's rookie record for most passing yards in a season, he also accomplished the following:
- Most passing yards by a quarterback in debut game (422)
- Most passing yards by a quarterback in first two games (854)
- Most passing yards by a rookie in a game (432)
- First quarterback in NFL history to pass for more than 400 yards in first career start
- First quarterback in NFL history to pass for more than 400 yards in first two career starts
- Fastest player to throw for 1,000 yards
- First rookie in NFL history to throw for 10 touchdowns and run for 10 touchdowns in a season.
- Most rushing touchdowns in single season by a quarterback (13)
- First player in NFL history with 4,000+ pass yards and 10+ rush TDs in a season
- First player in NFL history with 4,000+ pass yards and 500+ rush yards in a season
- Most total touchdowns by a rookie NFL player: 35 (21 pass, 14 rush)
Most Disappointing QB (2010 winner: Donovan McNabb, Redskins)
Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams
Channeling my inner-Vikings fan, I'd like to give McNabb an encore presentation of this award. Instead, I'll resist the temptation and give it to a player I thought would have a break out season, Sam Bradford. Sam missed six games this year, but even when he was on the field he didn't look like the rookie phenom he was in 2010. He ended up throwing for just six touchdowns all season long (to his credit, he only threw six INTs in 10 games as a starter) and barely broke 2,000 yards passing. I still have faith in Bradford. I think he'll be a solid NFL quarterback, but this year was a huge disappointment.
Most Surprising RB (2010 winner: Peyton Hillis, Browns)
Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks
With a tip of the hat to DeMarco Murray, I've got to give this to Lynch - who sort of became a household name this year with the whole "Beast Mode" thing and an unusual craving for Skittles (which will undoubtedly turn into a nice little promotional opportunity for Marshawn). Lynch surprised almost everyone this season with over 1,200 yards rushing and 13 total touchdowns, both of which are career best. He's resurrected his career in the Pacific Northwest, for sure.
Most Disappointing RB (2010 winner: Shonn Greene, Jets)
Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers
I shouldn't kick a dude when he's down. Mendenhall tore his ACL in week 17 and will miss the playoffs, which really stinks. But the truth hurts, and Mendenhall was a big disappointment all season long. After logging well over 2,300 rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns over the last two seasons, Rashard's 928 rushing yards this season really fell short of expectations.
Most Surprising WR (2010 winner: Steve Johnson, Bills)
Victor Cruz, New York Giants
Are you kidding? Back in September, Cruz was just a second-year, piss-ant, small-time receiver from University of Massachusetts who never caught a professional pass in his life. Four months later, I dare say he is an up-and-coming superstar in the NFL. He ends up with the third most receiving yards in the league (just 33 yards behind Wes Welker) and tied for the third-most receiving touchdowns in the league. Is it safe to say that Domenik Hixon has lost his starting job even if he's healthy next year?
Most Disappointing, WR (2010 winner: Randy Moss, Patriots/Vikings/Titans)
Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know Austin was hurt part of the season and missed six games, but he's been on a steady decline since his career year in '09. This season Austin had a career-low in yards-per-catch and averaged just over 57 receiving yards-per-game. Are his best years behind him? He sure was a disappointment this year.
And now... the SHUT YO FACE AWARD, given to the biggest mouth/idiot in the NFL (2010 winner: Chris Johnson, Titans, for proclaiming he would rush for 2,500 yards that season)
MARK SANCHEZ, NEW YORK JETS
I really wanted to give this to Rex Ryan, the biggest blowhard the NFL has ever seen, but I don't give awards to coaches, so his mouthpiece gets it instead. I still remember Sanchez's snide remark last year, after getting his ass kicked by the Ravens in week one, "That's okay, going 15-1 isn't that bad." Well, this year the pretty boy didn't even make it to the playoffs... and let's face it, he stunk. You might think I'm being a little hard on the guy, but if you're going to spout off, you better be ready to back it up. Rex Ryan, Mark Sanchez and the rest of the dysfunctional New York Jets team are not entitled to a Super Bowl, no matter how much they claim they are. Talk is cheap. Have a nice off-season, boys.
What else can I say?
Thanks for reading for another year... there's much more to come in 2012. Keep checking Facebook for my (probably too frequent) updates.
And once again, no Redskin gets honored . . . ;-)
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