The 2010/11 NFL season showcased the many highs and the devastating lows that we’ve come to associate with the game of football. I’ve established a list of awards given to those individuals that made the highlight reel for all the right or wrong reasons this season.
Unluckiest season: Matt Leinart
Told he was to start the season as quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, Leinart was cut from the team only to be picked up as a third-string quarterback at Houston behind Matt Schaub and Dan Orlovsky.
Not the ideal position for the former Heisman Trophy winner.
Story of the season: Michael Vick
Starting the year as the third choice quarterback, Vick was given the opportunity to lead from the front following the departure of Donovan McNabb. In time, Vick’s success enabled him to become one of season’s most acknowledged quarterbacks.
Comeback of the season: Miracle at the New Meadowlands
With no time left in the fourth quarter, DeSean Jackson’s 61 yards punt return allowed the Eagles to run out surprise winners against the New York Giants.
The Eagles had to overcome a 21-point deficit with only eight minutes on the clock remaining.
The Vinateri clutch moment award: Josh Scobee
Josh Scobee’s career field goal record was 53 yards before the match against the Indianapolis Colts in Week Four. With scores level, Scobee converted a franchise record 59-yard field goal to lead his Jaguars to victory over their division rivals.
The Ben Roethlisberger antagonist award: Steve Johnson
The Buffalo wide-receiver had the chance to gift his side an upset win against Pittsburgh in overtime.
Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s deep ball fell into the arms of the unmanned receiver in the end zone, only for the ball to slip straight through. Pittsburgh ran out eventual winners.
After the match, Johnson blamed God for his misfortune, tweeting: “I praise you 24/7 and this is how you do me.”
Trick play of the year: Reggie Hodges
Leading the Saints by a touchdown, Cleveland punter Reggie Brown ran for 68 yards on a fake punt that caught the reigning Super Bowl champions off guard.
The Brett Favre old man award: Kerry Collins and Jon Kitna
Aged 38, both Kerry Collins and Jon Kitna completed more then half the NFL season as starting quarterbacks for Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys respectively. In addition, both players finished with a positive touchdown-interception ratio.
Rookie of the season: Sam Bradford
Coming off the back of 1-15 season, Sam Bradford, lead the Saint Louis Rams to a 7-9 record and almost to the playoffs. Along the way, Bradford threw for 18 touchdowns and 3500 yards.
Trade/Free agent pick up of the year: LaDainian Tomlinson and Peyton Hillis
LT’s career looked over following a disappointing season with the San Diego Chargers. The New York Jets picked up the washed up running back and revitalised the five-time pro bowler, who finished the season having rushed for 914 yards and six touchdowns whilst developing a dangerous combination with Shonn Greene.
Peyton Hillis, who made his mark as the Denver Broncos fullback, was traded to Cleveland in the off-season and with that, given a chance at a career as a half back. Hillis, the only Caucasian starting running back in the NFL, quickly established a reputation for a hard hitting half back.
Hillis rushed for 1177 yards and scored 11 touchdowns.
Trade shocker of the season: Randy Moss, Donovan McNabb and Randy Moss
Randy Moss was heavily backed as being one of the game’s greatest receivers following his time at New England, so it was no surprise when Minnesota announced interest in him.
However, the performance struggled to live up the hype and Moss found himself being frustrated by the lack of balls being thrown in his direction.
This inevitably led to Moss being picked up by the Titans. If Moss was looking to prolong his NFL career, he did the opposite when moving to Tennessee. In eight games, Moss could only collect eight receptions for a total of 80 yards with no touchdowns, stats that don’t justify a player of Moss’s calibre.
After many strong years in Philadelphia, Donovan McNabb found himself in Washington for the start of the 2010/11 season. It was evident McNabb struggled with the Redskins playbook, at the same time battling against many inconsistencies in his game.
McNabb was benched later on in the season for Rex Grossman.
That’s it for the awards; the only thing now left to do is crown a Super Bowl champion. I said Green Bay from the start, so why change now?
mushi
Guest
I tried running that with Terrel, but being white it probably would really suit the little tacker
M1tch
Roar Guru
Choke is a hard word - but Joe Flacco deserves a mention, just cant beat the Steelers (especially in the playoffs)
M1tch
Roar Guru
Is it Fox his year? Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
M1tch
Roar Guru
Punter for a TD! Ravens did a great play last year against the Cowboys where I think the snap and the holder (Punter) gained the 4 or 5 yards for a first down
M1tch
Roar Guru
Vikings maybe a good fit for Palmer, he is only 30...although he is on a big contract
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
Really? Ah well that's news to my ears. Cheers macavity. Dabrickashaw Ferguson does indeed take the cake for best name.
macavity
Guest
you are in luck - going to be the direct feed from the US on ONE HD this year - ads and all!
macavity
Guest
I did tell her our second born would be Tramon. more death stares... my favourite though: D'Brickashaw
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
Fans of all franchises have their fans that will always act in this manner, it just a shame that it had to end this way for the bears. I look forward to the Super Bowl, not so much the Ten networks coverage. I hate how they take away from the us tv coverage where you get the in-depth knowledge passed onto you. Ten just seems to simplify everything which can get annoying.
macavity
Guest
This is a CHICAGO response... although NY and Philly would do the same. All three cities have fans who will deify you one minute and crucify you the next. Boston is probably on that list too. Couldn't see fans of any smaller market team having that response - reckon GB fans would be burning Rodgers jerseys if he had been subbed out injured?
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
haha! Clay just doesn't have a nice ring to it now does it. If that fails, you could always name him Ladainian, Cadillac or Knowshon?
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
Carson's trade request has been blocked by the Bengals owner Mike Brown, will be interesting to see whether Palmer follows through with his retirement threat. Chicago fans are just fickle, Cutler was injured there is no doubt in my mind. This is a bloke who battles type one diabetes, in 2007 he played the entire season with diabetes undiagnosed, losing 33 pounds in the process but still continued to play. How can the fans possibly know whether Cutler was injured or not? There is footage throughout the game that shows Cutler being hit in instances that could easily cause a knee injury. The underlying fact is the coaching/medical team took Cutler out of the game. This is just the American reaction to losing a game so close to the Super Bowl.
macavity
Guest
Have never seen why people rate Leinart to be honest. I reckon after the job he did vs the Pats, Matt Flynn might be some tempting trade bait for the Packers. Will also be very interesting to see what happens with Jay Cutler. Chicago fans burning his jersey does not bode well for a future in the windy city. Apparently Palmer wants out of Cincy too. I reckon (assuming there isnt a lockout) there are going to be some huge QB trades over the off season.
macavity
Guest
mate I hope you are right - I will be watching it in a bar in Melbourne somewhere, and if the Pack go down I will more than likely shed a few tears.... not a good look :) Agree on Matthews - hopefully his legs are fine (he has been playing banged up too) - and Woodson has been killing it. Our secondary (particularly Tramon Williams) have been killing it too. Having said all that, we really took our foot off Chicago's throat at the end - while not as spectacular as the Steelers' change of pace, it was still worrying. I would be much more confident playing the Jets. PS I have told my wife that if we win this we are naming our first-born son Clay. She was not impressed.
macavity
Guest
you are probably right - they love TB, and he puts the stats up. Couldn't complain about him getting the award. Difference for me though is probably the injury toll - the Packers have been seriously beaten up all year, and play in the black and blue conference - and Rodgers has kept getting the job done.
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
M1tch, there were a few good fake attempts on the year, i think the Hodges run tops the list with the Jay Feely fake field goal run coming in second. Both are nothing compared to AJ Trapasso's bit of magic in 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7xksmk0ghc Nick, I think Leinhart was unlucky. Up until training camp he was the presumed starter at the Cards, only for Derek Anderson to hit some fine form at the camp. He was released with the idea that Skelton and Hall could fulfil the backup position just as well or better. Derek Anderson went on to have a far from impressive season and Max Hall showed absolutely nothing. Leinhart left due to the preseason success of the other QB's on the list, the Cardinals made a huge mistake assuming Anderson was capable as a result of training camp when they should have watched his form in the regular season before making a decision. Leinhart is a far better QB then Max Hall and Derek Anderson. Anderson is only at the club as Ken Whisenhunt hopes to feed off the success Anderson had at the Browns early on. That’s being optimistic to say the very least. Another factor contributing to his departure was him speaking out to the media in regards to the quarterback position, questioning why he had been demoted in favour of veteran Derek Anderson. Fair enough considering he was promised the job only to sit behind Max Hall after training camp. The fact is the Cardinals made the mistake of weighing far too much of their decision on performances at training camp. Leinhart can consider himself pretty darn unlucky. Matt Stafford has been very unlucky I agree, I still remember his performance last year in the game against the Browns where he separated his shoulder during the last drive, only to return to deliver the game winning touchdown as time expired. Shows what this young man is capable of in the future, if in fact he can shrug off his ongoing injuries.
M1tch
Roar Guru
A great trick play was the fake field goal, where the snap went to the kicker and he ran in for the TD - chargers I think?
nick
Guest
You can hardly say Matt Leinart was the unluckiest player in the NFL, by all accounts he was lazy and unprepared to do the work necessary to learn the cardinals system despite sitting the bench and watcing (and obviously not learning from) future hall of famer Kurt Warner lead that same offense to the Superbowl. He deserved to be cut no question aqnd is LUCKY to still be in the league at all. The unluckiest player should be someone like Mattew Stafford (QB for Lions) who despite being one of the best and most exciting young QB's for ages and a potential franchise player for the Lions has played less then 13 games in his 2 seasons in the leauge due to numerous sholder and knee injuries. Otherwise completely agree and good to see some NFL coverage thanks Stoffy
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
The Packers playbook does incorporate the running game; they are just in their element lining up in a 3 or 4 man set allowing Rodgers to do all the talking. James Starks has proven himself in the playoffs to be quite the handy half back. Clay Matthews is a key player in determining the result of this match. Big Ben loves to move out of the pocket, if Matthews can close down his sideward movement (with help from the DE's) the packers will go along way to winning this thing. It also helps when you've got Charles Woodson guarding Hines Ward and Nick Collins back to counter a long pass to Mike Wallace. With this is mind, Green Bay to win for me, and win well.
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
I think Brady has the MVP in the bag to be honest, as much as i like the work of Rodgers. Both players threw for similar yards (Rodgers 3,922 and Brady 3,900). Americans love their stats, so this is what gets Brady over the line in my book, Brady, 36 TD's 4 interceptions.... Rodgers 28 TDs 11 Interceptions. Brady finished the regular season with a quarterback rating of 110 flat, against Rodgers 101.2. If Brady fails to win I'll be very surprised, though not as shocked as last year when CJ, collecting 2,500 all purpose yards, failed to place in top 4 for MVP).