When that happens, people get awards.
This right here is my version of those awards.
Enjoy.
NFL Regular Season Awards for 2015-16
Comeback Player of the Year
Eric Berry (Safety), Kansas City Chiefs
Eric Berry was one of the top safeties in the NFL before he was diagnosed with cancer in the middle of last season and was forced to take time away from the game. No one knew what the future of Berry was going to be, but it didn't look good. Here we are just a little over a year after Berry's announcement and not only is he playing in the NFL again...but he's playing at a top notch level as well. Some would even say that Berry is playing better now than before he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. That's just insane, but he's definitely one of the reasons the Kansas City Chiefs are one of the hottest teams in football at the moment.
Runner-Ups:
Adrian Peterson (RB, Minnesota Vikings)
Carson Palmer (QB, Arizona Cardinals)
Doug Martin (RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Defensive Coordinator of the Year
Wade Phillips, Denver Broncos
Wade Phillips is not a good head coach. That we are all well aware of. What Phillips is really good at though is being a defensive coordinator as he's proven time and time again. This year, Phillips did it again. He joined the Denver Broncos in the off-season and transformed a really good defense into an elite defense and arguably the NFL's best. While he won't be getting any head coach inquiries anytime soon, as long as Wade Phillips is in Denver and running that defense with those players...the Broncos will remain Super Bowl contenders no matter who's playing QB.
Runner-Ups:
Sean McDermott (Carolina Panthers)
Kris Richard (Seattle Seahawks)
Bob Sutton (Kansas City Chiefs)
Offensive Coordinator of the Year
Hue Jackson, Cincinnati Bengals
Creative formations. Excellent job with QB's. One of the top offenses in the league. Yep, sure sounds to me like this guy knows what the hell he's doing. Much like Wade Phillips, Jackson is a former head coach in the NFL who flamed out in his previous job. Unlike Wade Phillips, Jackson will get phone calls from other teams to be their head coach, because no one really blames him for what happened during his time in Oakland....IT'S THE RAIDERS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! Jackson has done an exceptional job this year and will likely be rewarded handsomely real soon.
Runner-Ups:
Mike Shula (Carolina Panthers)
Josh McDaniels (New England Patriots)
Harold Goodwin (Arizona Cardinals)
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Todd Gurley (Running Back), St. Louis Rams
There wasn't a whole lot to like about the St. Louis Rams this year. Once again, they came out and were absolutely inconsistent and mediocre on the football field (a Jeff Fisher staple) and left everybody underwhelmed. Well, except for Todd Gurley of course. The Rams' had high hopes for their first-round pick even though he was coming off a torn ACL he suffered in a college game. Did that injury slow down Gurley at all though? Not by the looks of it. The kid stormed into the league and had fantasy football players everywhere drooling about his future. Don't be afraid to grab this kid with the top pick next year. He was good this year. He'll be GREAT next year.
Runner-Ups:
Jameis Winston (QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Tyler Lockett (WR, Seattle Seahawks)
Marcus Mariota (QB, Tennessee Titans)
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Marcus Peters (Cornerback), Kansas City Chiefs
He didn't start out the season that great, but by the end of the year...Chiefs rookie CB Marcus Peters was easily one of the best corners in the NFL. He finished the regular season tied for most interceptions (8) and showed that he has tremendous ball instincts and a rapid ability to improve quickly. He was the most thrown at corner in the NFL this season (Chiefs CB Sean Smith is one of the best in the NFL and teams rarely throw his way), but something tells me that stat will not be the same next year. Especially not after what he did to NFL QB's as the season went on. This kid is going to be a stud.
Runner-Ups:
Ronald Darby (CB), Buffalo Bills
Leonard Williams (DL), New York Jets
Eric Kendricks (LB), Minnesota Vikings
Most Disappointing Team of the Year
Baltimore Ravens
We all know about this one and I'm super upset about it. I had a FANTASTIC streak going on of predicting either Super Bowl winners and/or the Super Bowl itself (picked New England vs. Seattle last year) and here come the Ravens to screw it all up. As you know by now, I picked the Ravens to win the Super Bowl this year based on the fact that they have one of the best head coaches, one of the best rosters (when healthy), and I just wanted to make a pick that not a lot of other people were making (although Peter King, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller, and others picked the Ravens as well) and it backfired in my face. The Ravens were an injury-depleted mess this season, but they will rebound next year. Will I pick them to win the Super Bowl next year? Highly doubt it.
Runner-Ups:
Dallas Cowboys
San Diego Chargers
Philadelphia Eagles
Best Team of the Year
Carolina Panthers
They finished the regular season with the best record in the NFL by two games (15-1). They had arguably the best player in the NFL this season on their team (Cam Newton). They are extremely talented on both sides of the ball and if you don't think they are Super Bowl contenders, you're stupid. They were also the best team in the NFL this season. THE CAROLINA PANTHERS EVERYONE!!!
Runner-Ups:
Arizona Cardinals
Cincinnati Bengals
New England Patriots
Defensive Player of the Year
Aaron Donald (Defensive Tackle), St. Louis Rams
A lot of people are going to have J.J. Watt as their defensive player of the year, mainly based on reputation alone. While Watt may still be the best defensive player in the NFL in a lot of people eye's....he's taken a back seat to Aaron Donald this season in my opinion. In just his second year in the league, Donald has become an absolute force on St. Louis's defensive line and he doesn't look to be slowing down anytime soon. He's un-blockable, never takes plays off, and really has no true weaknesses. With players like Donald on defense and Gurley on offense, I'm convinced the Rams are just a good head coach and a quarterback away from being real Super Bowl contenders. Move aside J.J. Watt. Your time as the best defensive player in the NFL was short...but sweet.
Runner-Ups:
Josh Norman (CB), Carolina Panthers
Luke Kuechly (LB), Carolina Panthers
J.J. Watt (DE), Houston Texans
Offensive Player of the Year
Cam Newton (Quarterback), Carolina Panthers
I never expected this. Cam Newton somehow became the best offensive player in the NFL this season. Ever since he entered the league, he was always one of those "borderline" players. You know what I'm talking about. The kind of guy who people aren't sure if they are a really good player or not. Well, this season....Cam did his best to shoo off any more of the naysayers who don't think this guy has what it takes to lead an NFL team. It wasn't supposed to happen either. When Carolina lost star WR Kelvin Benjamin in the pre-season with an injury, people were selling their Panthers stock at bargain prices. Yet somehow, Cam came out and absolutely decimated the league this season using a bunch of guys who would struggle to be starters on most teams in the league. The whole thing reminded me of Cam's last season in college. The one where he took college football by storm and led the Auburn Tigers to the National Championship (YUCK) and won the Heisman trophy as well. If you are still doubting the Panthers, go ahead. Cam Newton is going to dab all over your asses and make you pay.
Runner-Ups:
Carson Palmer (QB), Arizona Cardinals
Russell Wilson (QB), Seattle Seahawks
Tom Brady (QB), New England Patriots
Coach of the Year
Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
Honestly, you can pick either Ron Rivera or Andy Reid as the NFL Coach of the Year and I'll tell you that you are absolutely correct. Unfortunately, we can't have a tie so the tiebreaker is going to be the fact that I'm a Kansas City Chiefs fan (my blog, my rules!). What Andy Reid was able to accomplish this year was nothing short of amazing. When the Chiefs started out the season 1-5 and lost their best player to an injury (Jamaal Charles), everyone was ready to bury them (myself included). I was actually publicly stating that I wouldn't mind seeing Reid get the ax in KC. I felt like his time was up and maybe it was time for the team to move on. Then something happened. I don't know what exactly, but something did. The Chiefs went on to win 10 games in a row and are now favored to win a playoff game for the first time in forever. Not only that, but statistically they have been one of the best offensive and defensive teams in the league during that 10-game stretch. I'm way too nervous of a fan to say that the Chiefs have a shot at making the Super Bowl, but if this was any other team, I would be buying Super Bowl stock like crazy. Round of applause for Andy Reid everyone. Let's forget his clock troubles and start focusing on what he's good at. Coaching football games.
Runner-Ups:
Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers
Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals
Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
Most Valuable Player
Cam Newton (Quarterback), Carolina Panthers
No one else stood a shot. Sorry. Read "Offensive Player of the Year" for more information on the magical year Cam Newton had this season.
Runner-Ups:
Carson Palmer (QB), Arizona Cardinals
Russell Wilson (QB), Seattle Seahawks
Tom Brady (QB), New England Patriots
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