Without further ado — or maybe just a little ado — we are proud to present the annual Serbys, awards presented to both the best and not so brightest in the NFL as the regular season ends today, five weeks before the first New York-New Jersey Super Bowl.
This has been a season dominated by the supernova brilliance of Peyton Manning and the swagger of the Seahawks, a season of exhilarating games and dogged division races, a season marred only by confusion over the strike zone for defenders and officials as a concussion-vigilant league cracks down on hits to and around the head.
Enough ado. The envelope, please:
MVP: Peyton Manning, Broncos. 51 touchdown passes — and counting. There isn’t anyone else in the conversation.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER of YEAR: Jamaal Charles, Chiefs. 19 TDs, and nearly 2000 all-purpose yards.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER of YEAR: DE Robert Quinn, Rams. 18 sacks.
OFFENSIVE ROOKIE of YEAR: RB Eddie Lacy, Packers: Green Bay’s first 1000-yard rusher since Ryan Grant in 2009.
DEFENSIVE ROOKIE of YEAR: Sheldon Richardson, Jets. A mobile, throwback disrupter whose presence has been instrumental in sendingMuhammad Wilkerson to the Pro Bowl.
COMEBACK PLAYER of YEAR: Terrell Thomas, Giants. The epitome of perseverance.
COACH of YEAR: Chip Kelly, Eagles. But only if he beats the Cowboys for the NFC East title. If he doesn’t, Andy Reid, Bruce Arians, Joe Philbin, Mike McCarthy, Ron Rivera and Bill Belichick are worthy. The envelope please: Bill Belichick, who lost his two best players on offense (Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski) and two best players on defense (Vince Wilfork and Jerod Mayo) and wins the AFC East anyway. But Kelly leaving his Duck Dynasty to master the NFL with Nick Foles engineering his manic offense would prevail if he silences Jerry World.
GAME of YEAR: The video game shootout between Peyton Manning and Tony Romo — Broncos 51, Cowboys 48 — is tough not to choose. But you never can go wrong with Manning vs Tom Brady, Brady coming all the way back from a 24-0 halftime deficit to take a 31-24 lead, only to have Manning tie it and force overtime before New England captured a 34-31 win.
PLAY of YEAR: Calvin Johnson’s 50-yard TD catch against triple coverage versus Bengals.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE of YEAR: Peyton’s seven TD passes versus Ravens.
WORST PERFORMANCE by a QUARTERBACK: Geno Smith’s 4-for-10 for 29 yards and a pick in a ghastly half against the Dolphins for an 8.3 quarterback rating is tough to beat.
BEST VIDEO: Football on Eli and Peyton’s phone.
THE MO, THE LARRY, THE CURLY: Daniel Snyder, Mike Shanahan and RGIII.
THE AGONY OF DEFACE: Rob Ryan, after Tom Brady’s last-second TD pass to Kenbrell Thompkins beat Saints.
MOST VALUABLE EXECUTIVE: John Schneider, Seahawks. He has built The Team to Beat and seems to have the right chemistry with Pete Carroll.
BEST ROOKIE HEAD COACH: Bruce Arians, Cardinals. If Kelly falters in Dallas, the 60-year-old rookie gets the hardware. If Kelly wins Coach of Year, he’s not allowed two awards.
BEST FREE AGENT: Wes Welker, Broncos. If he catches the TD pass from Peyton Manning that knocks the Patriots out of the playoffs, no one should be surprised.
WORST FREE AGENT: Ed Reed, Texans, Jets). It’s on tape, Wade Phillips saw it, and he’s not even a member of the media. Usually they start saying hello when it ‘s time to say goodbye. Not Mr. Warmth.
THE ALOSI: Mike Tomlin, Steelers. For unacceptable sideline behavior on Jacoby Jones kickoff return.
THE JACK MCDOWELL: Raiders defensive coordinator Jason Tarver, for flipping off the officials twice following a flag on Mike Jenkins for hitting a defenseless Le’Veon Bell. The officials picked up the flag but that didn’t stop former VP of Officiating Mike Pereira from finking on Tarver to the league office.
THE STEVIE WONDER: Referee Jeff Triplette, for awarding Bengals RB Benjarvus Green-Ellis a touchdown against the Colts when everyone else could see conclusively he was down before scoring.
BEST TOUCHDOWN DANCE: TE Joseph Fauria (Lions). The “Gas Pedal” and ‘N Sync’s “Bye Bye Bye” against the Browns.
BIGGEST BUST TEAM: Texans. Well, the Falcons certainly tossed their hats in the ring. But when you have Super Bowl aspirations, and you lose 13 straight, and you get your coach fired, that qualifies.
BIGGEST SURPRISE TEAM: Panthers. Cam Newton grew up and Ron Rivera doesn’t have to worry about any hot seat anymore.
BIGGEST SURPRISE QUARTERBACK: Nick Foles, Eagles. Goodbye, Michael Vick.
KICKER of YEAR: Justin Tucker, Ravens. That 61-yarder to beat the Lions cinched it.
TOUGHMAN: Safety Rashad Johnson, Cardinals. Lost the top of his left middle finger against Saints, and when he removed his glove — the finger was still in it.
THE JEKYLL AND HYDE: Tony Romo, Cowboys. To choke, or not to choke, that is the question.
SPORTSMAN of YEAR: David Nelson, Jets. For hosting and honoring 15-year-old orphan Davion Only against the Browns.
THE RANDY MOSS: Dez Bryant, Cowboys. For walking off the field with 1:21 left against the Packers.
BULLY of YEAR: Richie Incognito, Dolphins.