2013 NFL Year-End Awards

In the spirit of the Super Bowl and the NFL handing out their year-end awards tomorrow night , here are my picks for the best of the NFL in 2013.

MVP: Tom Brady (Patriots)
Peyton Manning had all the statistical accolades and is a shoo-in for the NFL's MVP award, but no player was more valuable to their team in 2013 than Tom Brady. Brady led the Patriots to a 12-4 record and an AFC Championship game bid with the least-talented supporting cast he's ever had in his career. Brady's numbers weren't anything to write home about, but without his leadership and impact on a game, the Patriots wouldn't have even come close to getting a playoff bid and for me, that's more than enough to name him the most valuable player in the league for 2013.
Honorable Mentions: Peyton Manning (Broncos), Jammal Charles (Chiefs), LeSean McCoy (Eagles), Drew Brees (Saints)

Offensive Player of the Year: Peyton Manning (Broncos)
The Player of the Year category is where stats mean more than they do in the MVP race and no one was more statistically impressive in 2013 than Peyton Manning. Manning was lights-out all season long throwing for 5,477 yards while also breaking the single-season passing touchdown mark (55) and tying the single-game mark(7). At 37 years old, Manning continues to be a marvel and solidify his case as being the best quarterback to ever play the game. 
Honorable Mentions: Jammal Charles (Chiefs), LeSean McCoy (Eagles), Drew Brees (Saints), Josh Gordon (Browns)

Defensive Player of the Year: Robert Mathis (Colts)
Speaking of ageless marvels, Manning's former teammate Robert Mathis had the best year of his career at age 32. Mathis disrupted quarterbacks at an alarming rate this year picking up 19.5 sacks and forcing 8 fumbles. Mathis provided an otherwise above-average Colts defense with a dominant presence that can take over a game single-handedly. 
Honorable Mentions: Robert Quinn (Rams), Luke Kuechly (Panthers), NaVorro Bowman (49ers), Richard Sherman (Seahawks)

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Eddie Lacy (Packers)
Packers running back Eddie Lacy silenced all his preseason critics by going onto have an almost 1,200 yard/11 TD season and give the Packers their first legitimate rushing threat in years. In a rookie class that lacked talent at the skill positions, Lacy was a major expectation and easily the best offensive rookie of 2013.
Honorable Mentions: Keenan Allen (Chargers), Giovani Bernard (Bengals) D.J. Fluker (Chargers), Larry Warford (Lions)

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Sheldon Richardson (Jets)
This was a really tough call as Bills inside linebacker Kiko Alonso also had a huge impact in his rookie year, I just had to go with Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson over him by a slight margin. Richardson was the driving force behind the Jets much-improved rushing defense and his well-rounded game also made him a pass-rushing threat (3.5 sacks on the year) and gave him the versatility to be used on offense as a blocker coming out of the backfield (he managed to score 2 TD's as well). Not since Gerald McCoy have I seen a defensive tackle be as disruptive on the line as Richardson.
Honorable Mentions: Kiko Alonso (Bills), Kenny Vaccaro (Saints), Tyrann Mathieu (Cardinals), Eric Reid (49ers)

Comback Player of the Year: Brent Grimes (Dolphins)
Brent Grimes bounced back from a torn Achilles in 2012 to have one of the best years of his career this season with 60 tackles, 4 INT's, 16 passes defensed and the first defensive touchdown of his career. Grimes certainly will be getting paid this offseason in free agency after his All-Pro caliber season in 2013.
Honorable Mentions: Fred Jackson (Bills), Darrelle Revis (Buccanners), Ryan Matthews (Chargers), Terrell Thomas (Giants)

Coach of the Year: Mike McCoy (Chargers)
This was the single most difficult award for me to chose since there were so many incredible turnarounds in the NFL this season thanks to great coaching jobs from the likes of Ron Rivera with the Panthers, Chip Kelly with the Eagles and seemingly countless others. Amidst all these stories of redemption, nothing impressed me more than what Mike McCoy was able to do with the Chargers. The Chargers looked doomed going into 2013 with an aging roster and a lot of flaws at the skill positions. McCoy comes in and reenergizes the team fixing their offensive line problems, getting running back Ryan Matthews to produce for the first time in his career and leading Phillip Rivers to the most unexpectedly dominant season of any player in the league this season. How McCoy was able to make this much of an impact in a single season is truly remarkable. McCoy is an offensive mastermind and he seems to have this organization headed rapidly in the right direction.   
Honorable Mentions: Ron Rivera (Panthers), Chip Kelly (Eagles), Andy Reid (Chiefs), Bruce Arians (Cardinals)

All-Pro Team
Quarterback 1st team: Peyton Manning (Broncos)
2nd team: Drew Brees (Saints), Tom Brady (Patriots)

Running Back 1st team: Jammal Charles (Chiefs), LeSean McCoy (Eagles)
2nd team: Adrian Peterson (Vikings), Matt Forte (Bears), Alfred Morris (Redskins)

Fullback 1st team: Mike Tolbert (Panthers)
2nd team: Marcel Reece (Raiders)

Wide Receiver 1st Team: Josh Gordon (Browns), Calvin Johnson (Lions)
2nd team: A.J. Green (Bengals), Antonio Brown (Steelers), Demaryius Thomas (Broncos)

Tight End 1st team: Jimmy Graham (Saints)
2nd team: Vernon Davis (49ers), Julius Thomas (Broncos)

Tackle 1st team: Joe Thomas (Browns), Jason Peters (Eagles)
2nd team: Tyron Smith (Cowboys), Nate Solder (Patriots)

Guard 1st team: Louis Vazquez (Broncos), Evan Mathis (Eagles)
2nd team: Matt Slauson (Bears), Geoff Schwartz (Chiefs)

Center 1st team: Ryan Kalil (Panthers)
2nd team: Manny Ramirez (Broncos)

Defensive End 1st team: Robert Quinn (Rams), J.J. Watt (Texans)
2nd team: Greg Hardy (Panthers), Mario Williams (Bills)

Defensive Tackle 1st team: Gerald McCoy (Buccaneers), Ndamukong Suh (Lions)
2nd team: Jurrell Casey (Titans), Muhammad Wilkerson (Jets)

Outside Linebacker 1st team: Robert Mathis (Colts), Lavonte David (Buccaneers)
2nd team: Thomas Davis (Panthers), Tamba Hali (Chiefs)

Inside Linebacker 1st team: Luke Kuechly (Panthers), NaVorro Bowman (49ers)
2nd team: Vontaze Burfict (Bengals), Karlos Dansby (Cardinals)

Cornerback 1st team: Richard Sherman (Seahawks), Joe Haden (Browns)
2nd team: Patrick Peterson (Cardinals), Altraun Verner (Titans), Brent Grimes (Dolphins)

Safety 1st team: Earl Thomas (Seahawks), Antrell Rolle (Giants)
2nd team: Eric Berry (Chiefs), Kam Chancellor (Seahawks), Devin McCourty (Patriots)

Kicker 1st team: Justin Tucker (Ravens)
2nd team: Matt Prater (Broncos)

Punter 1st team: Johnny Hekker (Rams)
2nd team: Jon Ryan (Seahawks)

Kick/Punt Returner 1st team: Cordarelle Patterson (Vikings)
2nd team: Dexter McCluster (Chiefs)