The NFL will be handing out their year-end awards and announcing the 2015 Hall of Fame Class tomorrow night at the NFL Honors ceremony in Phoenix, Arizona. In honor of the season, here are my personal picks for all of the major awards as well as my All-Pro teams and predictions for who will be amongst this year's Hall of Fame inductees.
MVP: J.J. Watt (Texans)
I've heard all the excuses for why J.J. Watt shouldn't be MVP. His team didn't make the playoffs, he's a not a quarterback, etc. To me, MVP means the most valuable player in the NFL, not most valuable player on a winning team or most valuable quarterback and there was no better player in the NFL this season than Watt. Watt has been a disruptive menace to opposing offenses throughout his entire NFL career, but he's never been more dominant or versatile than he was in 2014. This year, Watt became the first player in NFL history to record multiple 20+ sack seasons. Watt did all of this while facing double and sometimes triple teams, and not receiving much help from the guys around him. In addition to his parade of sacks, Watt was excellent against the run and also managed to force 4 and recover 5 fumbles and score 2 defensive touchdowns (1 fumble recovery, 1 INT.) The Texans even worked Watt into their regular redzone offense rotation, which resulted in him scoring touchdowns on all 3 of his reception on the year. Watt's dominance this season was unprecedented and further solidified him as a once-in-a-generation player.
Honorable Mentions: Aaron Rodgers (Packers), Antonio Brown (Steelers), DeMarco Murray (Cowboys)
Offensive Player of the Year: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
2014 was an especially strong year for quarterback play with a number of big name QB's including Tony Romo, Ben Roethlisberger and Andrew Luck having the best years of their careers so far. However, there was one QB who rose head and shoulders above his counterparts and that man would be Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers was money all year long as he threw for 4,381 yards and 38 TD's, and went a second straight year without throwing an interception at home. Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning all have better overall resumes, but at this moment in time, Rodgers is the undisputed best quarterback in the NFL
Honorable Mentions: DeMarco Murray (Cowboys), Antonio Brown (Steelers), Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
Defensive Player of the Year: J.J. Watt (Texans)
See above
Honorable Mentions: Justin Houston (Chiefs), Mario Williams (Bills), Luke Kuechly (Panthers)
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants)
Aside from Watt for MVP, this was the easiest choice to make. The impact Odell Beckham Jr. made in his first year in the league was simply remarkable. It took him a few games to really find his groove after he missed the first four games of the season with a hamstring injury, but once he did, he was an unstoppable force. Beckham's excellent route-running skills, top-notch speed, yards after catch ability and knack for making absurd catches made him a nightmare for opposing defenses to cover. Beckham's seemingly effortless adjustment to the NFL allowed him to pick up at least 90 receiving yards in the last nine games of the season and become the first player in league history to pickup 1,200+ yards and 10+ TD's in their rookie season. If his rookie campaign is any indicator, Beckham Jr. is going to have a fruitful career.
Honorable Mentions: Mike Evans (Buccaneers), Zach Martin (Cowboys), Jeremy Hill (Bengals)
Defensive Rookie of the Year: C.J. Mosley (Ravens)
Where Offensive Rookie of the Year was a very easy decision, Defensive Rookie of the Year was a really tough call. There are a large number of guys deserving of this honor, but I have to give Ravens inside linebacker C.J. Mosley the slight edge over the rest of the field. Mosley showed plenty of prowess against the run and pass in his rookie year finishing the season with 133 tackles (7th in the league this season), 8 passes defensed, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and an interception. With Mosley, the Ravens appear to have found their next defensive torchbearer once Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata retire.
Honorable Mentions: Aaron Donald (Rams), Khalil Mack (Raiders), Chris Borland (49ers)
Coach of the Year: Bruce Arians (Cardinals)
Yet another no-brainer. Arians lost a number of key contributors including running back Andre Ellington, two quarterbacks and numerous defensive starters to season-ending injuries and was still able to get this team into the playoffs. No coach faced more adversity this season and Arians' ability to overcome every single obstacles that was thrown his way makes his coaching performance easily the most impressive of 2014.
Honorable Mentions: Jim Caldwell (Lions), Mike Zimmer (Vikings), Jason Garrett (Cowboys)
Comeback Player of the Year: Rolando McClain (Cowboys)
Rob Gronkowski and Julio Jones may have had the most impressive seasons of players that returned from major injuries in 2014, but they are both well-established superstars. Cowboys inside linebacker Rolando McClain overcame a slew of arrests, multiple retirements and a couple of god awful seasons with the Raiders to suddenly have a breakout year in 2014. McClain finally showed some of the talent that made him the 8th overall draft pick in 2010. McClain finished second on the Cowboys in tackles with 81 on the year, and was one of the main reasons tha the Cowboys had a top 10 rush defense this year. McClain didn't seem like he was going to play another down in the NFL again, so the fact that he was able to return to the league and play at a high level makes his shocking comeback one for the ages.
Honorable Mentions: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots), Julio Jones (Falcons), Ryan Clady (Broncos)
All-Pro Teams
Quarterback
1st team: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
2nd team: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
Running Back
1st team: DeMarco Murray (Cowboys), Le'Veon Bell (Steelers)
2nd team: Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks), Justin Forsett (Ravens)
Fullback
1st team: Anthony Sherman (Chiefs)
2nd team: John Kuhn (Packers)
Wide Reciever
1st team: Antonio Brown (Steelers), Jordy Nelson (Packers)
2nd team: Demaryius Thomas (Broncos), Dez Bryant (Cowboys)
Tight End
1st team: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
2nd team: Antonio Gates (Chargers)
Tackle
1st team: Joe Thomas (Browns), Andrew Whitworth (Bengals)
2nd team: Tyron Smith (Cowboys), Jason Peters (Eagles)
Guard
1st team: Marshal Yanda (Ravens), Kelechi Osemele (Ravens)
2nd team: Zach Martin (Cowboys), Kyle Long (Bears)
Center
1st team: Nick Mangold (Jets)
2nd team: Maurkice Pouncey (Steelers)
Defensive End
1st team: J.J Watt (Texans), Mario Williams (Bills)
2nd team: Calias Campbell (Cardinals), Fletcher Cox (Eagles)
Defensive Tackle
1st team: Marcell Dareus (Bills), Ndmuakong Suh (Lions)
2nd team: Gerald McCoy (Buccaneers), Aaron Donald (Rams)
Inside Linebacker
1st team: Luke Kuechly (Panthers), Bobby Wagner (Seahawks)
2nd team: C.J. Mosley (Ravens), Jamie Collins (Patriots)
Outside Linebacker
1st team: Justin Houston (Chiefs), Von Miller (Broncos)
2nd team: Connor Barwin (Eagles), DeAndre Levy (Lions)
Cornerback
1st team: Chris Harris Jr. (Broncos), Vontae Davis (Colts)
2nd team: Darrelle Revis (Patriots), Richard Sherman (Seahawks)
Safety
1st team: Harrison Smith (Vikings), Eric Weddle (Chargers)
2nd team: Earl Thomas (Seahawks), Tashaun Gibson (Browns)
Kicker
1st team: Stephen Gostkowski (Patriots)
2nd team: Dan Bailey (Cowboys)
Punter
1st team: Pat McAfee (Colts)
2nd team: Johnny Hekker (Rams)
Kick Returner
1st team: Darren Sproles (Eagles)
2nd team: Devin Hester (Falcons)
Hall of Fame Predictions (* for locks):
Jerome Bettis
Tim Brown
Charles Haley
Bill Polian
Junior Seau*
Mick Tinglehoff
Kurt Warner*
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