Football is a team sport, but standout players have cemented their place among the top of the chase for the NFL’s biggest individual awards.
From the league’s Most Valuable Player to Rookie of the Year to Coach of the Year, the following list projects who will receive the seven Associated Press awards. It starts with the most deserving of every candidate.
Comeback Player of the Year: Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs
On Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, Eric Berry learned a mass in his chest could be lymphoma. He sat out the remainder of the 2014 season, undergoing chemotherapy while attempting to maintain his frame and play in 2015.
And he did. Are you kidding me?
Berry appeared in every game, registering 61 total tackles, 12 pass deflections and two interceptions. The 27-year-old is headed to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time in his career.
Doug Martin’s resurgent season and Carson Palmer’s return from a second ACL tear each deserve a hat tip, but Berry battled through cancer. That’s one tremendous comeback.
Other candidates: Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Palmer, Arizona Cardinals
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Todd Gurley, St. Louis Rams
For a while, it seemed like Amari Cooper would run away with the Offensive Rookie of the Year. But then Todd Gurley started running the ball.
St. Louis smartly eased Gurley into action because a torn left ACL had ended his college career. His NFL debut came in Week 3 where he managed nine yards on six carries. It’s fair to say things changed in a big way.
Gurley then ripped off four consecutive outings of 128 yards or more, ultimately ending the season with 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns. Despite effectively missing four games, Gurley finished third in the league in rushing. He added 21 receptions for 188 yards.
We don’t know if Gurley’s home will be in St. Louis or the Los Angeles area next season, but we know his future is bright.
Other candidates: Cooper, Oakland Raiders; Jameis Winston, Buccaneers
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Marcus Peters, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City is doing relatively well in the secondary, wouldn’t you say?
Character issues threw up a red flag on Marcus Peters’ draft stock, but the Chiefs’ return on investment is among the best from the 2015 NFL draft. The Washington product earned a starting role and never relinquished it.
Peters led the league with 34 pass defenses, eight of which were interceptions. He returned two for touchdowns. Peters also produced 6o total tackles and forced a fumble.
Long story short, he should run away with Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Other candidate: Ronald Darby, Buffalo Bills
Offensive Player of the Year: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
I, for one, am irate that Cam Newton enjoys playing a game that has no bearing on my life and should not affect my happiness.
Not even Tennessee Mom could stop the dual-threat quarterback who led the Panthers to a league-best 15-1 record and dabbed his way into the homes of football fans everywhere.
He tallied 3,837 yards and 35 touchdowns, completing 59.8 percent of his passes. Newton also powered his way to 636 rushing yards and 10 more scores, both of which led NFL quarterbacks.
If you don’t like Newton dancing, don’t let him score.
Other candidates: Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks; Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Defensive Player of the Year: J.J. Watt, Houston Texans
What should happen and what is likely to happen are two different things. That is by no means a shot at J.J. Watt, because the Texans defensive end is simply a monster.
He notched a league-best 17.5 sacks, accumulating 76 total tackles, eight pass deflections and three forced fumbles. He’s absolutely deserving of the honor.
But name-power may have a significant influence here, giving Watt the Defensive Player of the Year award for the third time since 2012 instead of Aaron Donald receiving his first trophy. Donald registered 69 stops and 11.0 sacks as a defensive tackle, which is flat-out ridiculous for an interior lineman.
As long as either Watt or Donald gets the DPOY, justice has been served. Nevertheless, Donald should have a slight edge.
Other candidates: Donald, Rams; Khalil Mack, Raiders; Josh Norman, Panthers
Coach of the Year: Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers
Newton’s emergence as a clear-cut elite quarterback was a major factor, but Carolina’s improvement in Year 5 of Ron Rivera’s tenure was stunning.
One season after finishing 7-8-1 in an awful NFC South, Rivera watched his team compile a 15-1 record with a 13.3-point margin of victory. The Panthers finished with the No. 1 scoring offense and sixth-best scoring defense.
Criticize a mediocre schedule if you’d like, but the Panthers defeated the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks, too. Going 15-1 isn’t easy. If it were, more teams would do it.
“Riverboat Ron” won the AP NFL Coach of the Year in 2013 and is in position to claim his second trophy this year.
Other candidates: Bruce Arians, Cardinals; Andy Reid, Chiefs
Most Valuable Player: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
Newton should be a shoo-in for Offensive Player of the Year. Weirdly enough, it gets complicated when discussing Most Valuable Player.
The most common argument in Newton’s favor is that he accomplished everything while throwing to Greg Olsen, Ted “Stone Hands” Ginn Jr., Corey Brown, Jerricho Cotchery and Devin Funchess. While true and impressive, that’s not exactly a compelling argument.
Palmer had a tremendous season, leading Arizona to a 13-3 record and NFC West title. Brady excelled despite a handful of notable injuries to New England’s best skill-position players, though missing the No. 1 seed in the AFC might hurt him. Wilson carried Seattle after Marshawn Lynch and Jimmy Graham went down with injuries.
Truthfully, there’s no runaway winner for MVP. However, Newton has the league’s best record, gaudy numbers and a healthy bit of recency bias that will also boost Wilson. All four deserve MVP, but Newton is the favorite to take it.
Other candidates: Palmer, Cardinals; Brady, Patriots; Wilson, Seahawks