The Observer, January 25, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 14
NFL End of Season Awards
As the NFL season's final game approaches between the highly expected Patriots and the highly unexpected Giants, it is time to dish out some awards which some players may or may not like receiving.
MVP – Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Hate it or love it, Tom had by far the best season of anyone in the league. While breaking the single-season record for touchdowns, previously held by Peyton Manning, he more than doubled his total from last season. Going into the season, football pundits predicted a better year for Brady with the acquisitions of top-three wideouts Moss, Welker, and Stallworth, but no one expected such an output. His season was even more impressive with the loss of Laurence Maroney early on in the season, which depleted the success of their run game heavily. Runner-up: Brett Favre.
Story of the Year – Death of Sean Taylor and the Redskins
The death of Sean Taylor sent shockwaves through not just the NFL, but all sports. After losing a great gridiron soldier, the Redskins honored him in a unique and extremely moving way: the first defensive play of the game the week after his death the Redskins defense played with only 10 men on the field. The Redskins went on to reel off four straight wins over impressive teams such as the Bears, Giants, Vikings, and Cowboys. But Taylor's death sheds light on a bigger issue, the safety of professional athletes. There have been more than three instances in the past 10 months where a professional athlete has been held at gunpoint and mugged.
Convict of the Year – Michael Vick, former QB of Atlanta Falcons
How bad of a person do you have to be to fight dogs? Vick was the golden boy of a franchise: the owner loved him, teammates defended him despite never showing that he could take the team deep into the playoffs, and he completely threw it away. Vick still had the potential and spark to possibly still lead a team to the big game, but if he couldn't do it yet, I don't see prison helping his chances. The only funny thing that resulted from the situation was when Clinton Portis was being interviewed and he asked why everyone is making such a big deal about Vick and dog fighting; it's not like it's illegal. The reporter quickly informed him of the law. Talk about awkward.
Don Juan Award– Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
This is the award that goes out to the NFL player that has relations with the best looking girl or girls. This year Tony Romo had connections to celebs Carrie Underwood and Jessica Simpson. Props to Tony and good luck to everyone else next year.
