NFL MVP race: Vick, Brady even (Ryan, White close behind)
Michael Vick had four touchdowns against Giants.
Matt Ryan is close to setting an NFL win record.
There are two games left in the NFL’s regular season. Other than finalizing the playoff field, the greatest debate seems to be: Who is the season’s MVP?
The way I see it, it’s a four-player race that’s still up for grabs. But right now, Tom Brady and Michael Vick are at the top, and I’ve got them even. The other two candidates: Matt Ryan and Roddy White of the Falcons.
I welcome your opinion. Also got a poll up.
Loading ...Just one thing: I was on Twitter last night and the rapper @BowWow turned moron when he Tweeted, “If @MikeVick dont get MVP the nfl and commisioner[sic] are [bleeping] racist. Who u kno can go to jail come out turn a franchise around and dominate.”
I will say this once: PLEASE let’s have a civil debate without getting into a race debate. I will grant you that a lot of folks probably hold a grudge against Vick for his past, but let’s remember that at one time he brought this city together like maybe no athlete ever has, and it wasn’t about race then. If, say, Brady wins the MVP, it’s not because the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell are racist. Sorry, Bowwow.
OK, here are my four candidates, listed in order of preference, going into the last two weeks:
1.) TOM BRADY. New England (12-2) is tied with the Falcons for the best record in the NFL. The biggest reason is Brady. He hasn’t thrown an interception since the Patriots’ fifth game against Baltimore. That’s nine straight games (283 attempts) without a pick. He’s tied for the league lead in touchdowns (31), has the fewest interceptions (four) and the highest quarterback rating (109.9). There’s also this: He and the Patriots’ offense got better after they dumped Randy Moss. Brady made Deion Branch relevant again.
1a.) MICHAEL VICK. The New York Giants’ meltdown against Philadelphia Sunday notwithstanding, is there any quarterback in the league other than Vick who could’ve orchestrated that comeback? I don’t think so. He exuded leadership and was the ultimate weapon, throwing for 242 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 130 and another score. Vick’s turnovers have picked up as he’s gotten more beat up as the season’s gone on. But if he can finish with two strong games against Minnesota and Dallas, he is MVP worthy. The biggest reason not to vote for Vick is he sat out three games and was knocked out early in another. But his body of work compensates for that.
3.) MATT RYAN. I’ve gone back and forth between Ryan and White as to who’s been more valuable this season. Right now, it’s a split vote. Ryan is closing in on an amazing achievement: He is 32-13 as a starter and with wins in the final two games can break Dan Marino’s record for most wins (33) in his first three seasons. But let’s focus on this year. Ryan’s been at his best when the game is on the line, leading several fourth-quarter comebacks. That defines a winner (and the Falcons have won eight straight and more than any team except the Patriots). Despite four interceptions in his last three games, Ryan is on the way to the best touchdown-interception ratio of his career (currently 25 to 9).
3a.) RODDY WHITE. There’s a tendency to lean toward the quarterback when picking an MVP. But White has had the best season of his career and he has made the Falcons a better offense and Ryan a better quarterback with his ability to make plays. White leads the NFL in receptions (106) and receiving yards (1,284), averaging nearly 92 yards per game. He was the reason the Falcons beat Baltimore (12 catches, 138 yards, two touchdowns) and Cincinnati (11, 201, 2). Some wondered if White was worth elite-level money when he got his last contract, but he has proven that he is. Without him, this Falcons’ offense becomes ordinary.
That’s my opinion. I welcome yours.
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593 comments Add your comment
how2fish
December 21st, 2010
1:49 pm
MV7 for MVP how many losing seasons does MV have ? Next?
Realalist
December 21st, 2010
1:50 pm
# n 2007, statements were made by his father, Michael Boddie, about possible dogfighting activities in 2001. Boddie told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that around 2001, Vick was staging dogfights in the garage of the family’s home in Newport News and kept fighting dogs in the family’s backyard, including injured ones which the father nursed back to health. Boddie said his son had been urged to not engage in the activity, but continued. He stated: “This is Mike’s thing. And he knows it.”[40] Within days, Vick’s mother, Brenda Vick Boddie, told the Newport News Daily Press “There was no dogfighting (at our home). There were no cages.”[41]
# In early 2004, two men were arrested in Virginia for distributing marijuana. The truck they were driving was registered to Vick. Falcons coach Dan Reeves recalled that he lectured Vick at that time on the importance of reputation, on choosing the right friends, and on staying out of trouble for the good of his team.[42]
# On October 10, 2004, Vick and other members of his party, including employee Quanis Phillips, were at Atlanta’s Hartsfield International Airport on their way to board an AirTran flight. While they were passing through a security checkpoint, a security camera caught Phillips and Todd Harris picking up an expensive-appearing watch which belonged to Alvin Spencer, a security screener.[43] After watching the theft on a video tape, Spencer filed a police report. He claimed that Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, known as the Falcons’ “fixer”, interfered with the investigation.[42] Although Vick representatives declined to make him available for an Atlanta police inquiry, six days later Spencer got the watch back from them.[43]
# In March 2005, Sonya Elliott filed a civil lawsuit against Vick alleging she contracted genital herpes from him in the autumn of 2002 and that he failed to inform her that he had the disease.[44] Elliot further alleged that Vick had visited clinics under the alias “Ron Mexico” to get treatments and thus knew of his condition. On April 24, 2006, Vick’s attorney, Lawrence Woodward, revealed that the lawsuit had been settled out of court under undisclosed terms.[45] Many fans bought custom jerseys from NFL.com with Vick’s number 7 and the name “MEXICO” on the back. The NFL has since banned customizing jerseys with the name Mexico.[46]
# November 26, 2006 – After a loss to the New Orleans Saints in the Georgia Dome, in apparent reaction to fans booing, Vick made an obscene gesture at fans, holding up two middle fingers. He was fined $10,000 by the NFL and agreed to donate another $10,000 to charity.[47]
# January 17, 2007 – Vick surrendered a water bottle which had a hidden compartment to security personnel at Miami International Airport. “The compartment was hidden by the bottle’s label so that it appeared to be a full bottle of water when held upright,” police said. Test results indicated there were no illegal substances in the water bottle and Vick was cleared of any wrongdoing.[48] Vick announced that the water bottle was a jewelry stash box, and that the substance in question had been jewelry.[49]
# On April 24, 2007, Vick was scheduled to lobby on Capitol Hill, hoping to persuade lawmakers to increase funding for after-school programs. Vick missed a connecting flight in Atlanta on Monday to Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. He later failed to show up for another seat booked for him later that evening. On Tuesday morning, he did not attend his scheduled appearance at the congressional breakfast where he was to be honored for his foundation’s work with after-school projects in Georgia and Virginia.[50] Vick’s mother Brenda accepted the award from the Afterschool Alliance.
Who Dat Nation
December 21st, 2010
1:50 pm
Espn are already picking my Saints to beat the Overrated Falcons monday, 12-2 what a joke
Ross
December 21st, 2010
1:51 pm
http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl
The lead story on the Falcons is about someone being shot – and it links to AJC – nothing to do with sports of any kind, much less the Falcons.
You people at AJC are at least partially responsible for this – you let these POS haters into these places that are meant for fans of OUR team – you let them stir sh*t up and they ruin every chance to actually talk about football – do you Schultz, Bradley, D’O, do any of you have any self-respect or local spirit? BAN these a$$holes! Get them the f- OUT of here!
timthebrave
December 21st, 2010
1:51 pm
Who Dat Nation, that’s why the saints are a 3 point underdog
MV7 for MVP
December 21st, 2010
1:52 pm
I guess you think a 9-7 season is a success???? Vick went 9-6 in 2002 and still made the playoffs and won in Green Bay also
Realalist
December 21st, 2010
1:52 pm
Yeah ESPN picked the Falcons to lose to:
New Orleans the first time
Green Bay
Baltimore
Tampa Bay
and some even said they would lose to Seattle
Just because ESPN is always wrong, what is the point you are trying to make?
how2fish
December 21st, 2010
1:52 pm
Who Dat Nation ESPN is picking your team??…round here sonny that is know as the Kiss of Death!
GregKennesaw
December 21st, 2010
1:52 pm
He’ll just come back with soem other lame alias, funny thing is he talks trash all week, usually into the third quarter, and then Ryan pulls off another win, and nothing, he disappears for a while. I guess Ryan will have to win out to get this fool to shut up.
Realalist
December 21st, 2010
1:53 pm
Vick had 2 winning seasons and 3 losing season and one break even. Oh, let’s talk about 2005 when we started 6 and 2 and then lost 6 out of 8. While Vick was dogfighting, throwing 15 TD’s and 13 Int’s during that span.
Rob Thomas
December 21st, 2010
1:54 pm
Lots of analysts have picked against the Falcons this season, especially in the first NO/Falcons. It doesn’t necessarily mean they’re right
how2fish
December 21st, 2010
1:54 pm
MV7 for MVP Yippee he ALSO went 8-8 and 7-9 didn’t he? Your armor seems to be cracking there little guy.
GregKennesaw
December 21st, 2010
1:54 pm
who dat, the overrated falcons are 12-2, I believe your record is 10-4 and we beat you in your house! LMAO. 27-24! shank to the left.
Who Dat Nation
December 21st, 2010
1:54 pm
The Saints will win because the Falcons aren’t a good team, they get calls from the ref(ie vs the ravens) and they get lucky and luck will run out sooner than later
Realalist
December 21st, 2010
1:55 pm
Here is what Vick thought of the Atlanta fans….Yes it was that bad back then…
November 26, 2006 – After a loss to the New Orleans Saints in the Georgia Dome, in apparent reaction to fans booing, Vick made an obscene gesture at fans, holding up two middle fingers. He was fined $10,000 by the NFL and agreed to donate another $10,000 to charity.[47]
MV7 for MVP
December 21st, 2010
1:56 pm
Wow lets stick to the SUBJECT, we are not talking about WINNING SEASONS, Playoff wins is the Subject and Matty Ice has ZERO
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 21st, 2010
1:56 pm
CHOKE vs TEAMS IN THE DOME:
2008 SEASON:
vs Detroit (Doormat/No playoffs)
vs Kansas City (Doormat/No playoffs)
vs Bears (Horrible/No playoffs)
vs Saints (No playoffs)
vs Denver (No playoffs)
vs Carolina (Division Winner)
vs Tampa (No playoffs)
vs Rams (Doormat/No playoffs)
2009 SEASON
vs Miami (No playoffs)
vs Carolina (No playoffs)
vs Bears (No playoffs)
vs Redskins (Doormat/No playoffs)
vs Bucs (Horrible/No playoffs)
vs Saints (Division Champion)
vs Buffalo (Doormat/No playoffs)
2010 SEASON
vs Arizona (3-7)
vs San Fran (4-7)
vs Bengals (2-9)
vs Tampa (7-4)
vs Ravens (8-3)
vs Packers (7-4)
So as you can see, that is one of the WEAKEST schedule probably in league history for a 3 year span.
Of the 20 teams they have played against, only 2 of the teams even reached the playoffs and both of them were from the NFC South, so the schedulers couldn’t avoid putting those teams on the schedule.
There you have it folks, so go ahead and send him to the Hall of Fame
how2fish
December 21st, 2010
1:57 pm
Who Dat Nation what a ain’t fan talking about luck and getting calls…Have you NO SHAME??
Realalist
December 21st, 2010
1:57 pm
It was even bad prior to dogfighting, glad those days are long gone.
In March 2005, Sonya Elliott filed a civil lawsuit against Vick alleging she contracted genital herpes from him in the autumn of 2002 and that he failed to inform her that he had the disease.[44] Elliot further alleged that Vick had visited clinics under the alias “Ron Mexico” to get treatments and thus knew of his condition. On April 24, 2006, Vick’s attorney, Lawrence Woodward, revealed that the lawsuit had been settled out of court under undisclosed terms.[45] Many fans bought custom jerseys from NFL.com with Vick’s number 7 and the name “MEXICO” on the back. The NFL has since banned customizing jerseys with the name Mexico.[46]
GregKennesaw
December 21st, 2010
1:57 pm
oh please, you don’t go 12-2 because of refs, and you make your own luck except when the other team’s kicker misses a chip shot that a middle schooler could make, now that was LUCK! shank it baby!
how2fish
December 21st, 2010
1:58 pm
MV7 for MVP that little guy is YOUR agenda mine is who is the better QB and I win…dismissed!
Realalist
December 21st, 2010
1:58 pm
On April 24, 2007, Vick was scheduled to lobby on Capitol Hill, hoping to persuade lawmakers to increase funding for after-school programs. Vick missed a connecting flight in Atlanta on Monday to Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. He later failed to show up for another seat booked for him later that evening. On Tuesday morning, he did not attend his scheduled appearance at the congressional breakfast where he was to be honored for his foundation’s work with after-school projects in Georgia and Virginia.[50] Vick’s mother Brenda accepted the award from the Afterschool Alliance.
Joe Tess Fish House
December 21st, 2010
1:58 pm
2 all U that keep callin me a moran U beter stop
The reeson the Falcons won this year is cuz they play a lot of loosing teams. When they get to the palyofs, they will be playin real teams. Thats when they need a guy like TO whose ben there B 4
PMC
December 21st, 2010
1:58 pm
The Falcons aren’t a good team???
You guys drafted Reggie “I hope I’m Eric Metcalf” Bush at the top of the draft. You LOST TO ARIZONA AND CLEVELAND!!!!
Sweep Dat this week.
Yall are going to be crying in your gumbo after this one.
Who Dat Nation
December 21st, 2010
1:59 pm
Everyone knows the Falcons are a JOKE, go saints!!!
how2fish
December 21st, 2010
2:01 pm
Who Dat Nation by the way make sure your guys like you know show up..I promise you Drew and the boys don’t think the Falcons are a joke.
Sports Review
December 21st, 2010
2:02 pm
[...] 15 Packers vs Patriots: Sack AnalysisPats PulpitBoston Herald -Albany Times Union -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)all 1,619 news [...]
MV7 for MVP
December 21st, 2010
2:02 pm
Mike Vick is better than Matt Ryan and America has spoken, check the Pro Bowl voting, and MVP race which matt ryan is no where
Joe Tess Fish House
December 21st, 2010
2:03 pm
And why is Perrier Jerry no good? Does he even play? NO….He’s a fist round bust. To fix this Flacons need 2 get Alburt Hayesworth.
Realalist
December 21st, 2010
2:03 pm
2010 Eagles Schedule
Green Bay(no playoff)
Detroit (no playoff)
Jacksonville (probably no playoff)
Redskins (twice) (no playoff but lost them them once and they kicked the hell out of Vick)
49′ers (no playoff)
Falcons (NFC best, but not the same team of 9 weeks ago)
Titans(no playoffs)
Colts (playoffs probably)
Giants (maybe playoffs)
Bears (playoffs)
Texans (no playoffs)
Cowboys (twice) (no playoffs)
Vikings (no playoffs)
Looks like a killer schedule for the Eagles NOT
Fred Macmurray
December 21st, 2010
2:03 pm
Well Heck,,, if espn said the Aints are gonna win we may as well just cancel the game then,,,, their always right….
Realalist
December 21st, 2010
2:04 pm
MV7,
Pro bowl voting means nothing. It’s only for out of work losers who live on the government that vote thousands of times. We will let the players and coaches pick the real pro bowl team.
Rob Thomas
December 21st, 2010
2:05 pm
Mike Vick may be better than Matt Ryan by the numbers, but the Falcons are better than the Eagles by the wins.
Realalist
December 21st, 2010
2:05 pm
You left out New Orleans on you 2010 Falcon schedule.
Who Dat Nation
December 21st, 2010
2:06 pm
Who are the DEFENDING SUPERBOWL CHAMPS, hell when is the last time the falcons won a layoff game
MV7 for MVP
December 21st, 2010
2:07 pm
@Rob Thomas, Did the Falcons beat the Eagles earlier this year????
how2fish
December 21st, 2010
2:08 pm
MV7 for MVP America has spoken…no America is waiting for the playoffs..your calling the winner of the horse race mid way into the race…but that’s the only way the race will turn out the way you want.
GregKennesaw
December 21st, 2010
2:09 pm
shank it 27-24!
Realalist
December 21st, 2010
2:11 pm
Oh and the Eagles 2009 schedule: Big teams like
Washington twice (no playoff)
Carolina (no playoff)
Tampa Bay (no playoff)
Raiders (no playoff)
Giants (no playoff)
Chiefs (no playoff)
Bears (no playoff)
49′ers (no playoff)
Broncos (no playoff)
Realalist
December 21st, 2010
2:12 pm
Mike Vick and his skull cracking (dogs thrown against the wall)
Enemas for Christmas
December 21st, 2010
2:12 pm
Mr Macmurray….
It’s”They’re”, not “their”….
how2fish
December 21st, 2010
2:14 pm
Who Dat Nation dude the Falcons don’t play “layoff” games and after Monday the ain’t won’t be in any “playoff” games either.
Rob Thomas
December 21st, 2010
2:14 pm
Yes, the Eagles did beat the Falcons this year, in their own house, and it was their only truly definitive loss. At this point though, the Falcons a much different and much more confident team. It would be a lot tougher for the Eagles to do it again, even with Vick.
Fred Macmurray
December 21st, 2010
2:16 pm
Who Dat,, Whats a Layoff Game
C
December 21st, 2010
2:16 pm
Go Falcons!
MV7 for MVP
December 21st, 2010
2:17 pm
@Rob Thomas it would be tougher for the Eagles to blowout the falcons again??? Sure, it would be tougher for the falcon defense because Kevin Kolb stands in the pocket while Vick can run and pass, I see another blowout
Enemas for Christmas
December 21st, 2010
2:17 pm
I wonder if Jeff Schultz used to be a librarian. Just look at those glasses. I want to beat you up for your lunch money!
Who Dat Nation
December 21st, 2010
2:18 pm
The Saints will beat the Falcons and the playoffs are next, the falcons will lose to us in the playoffs also
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 21st, 2010
2:19 pm
Posted on Tue, Dec. 21, 2010
Vick-Jackson vs. McNabb-Owens
By Jeff McLane
Inquirer Staff Writer
There is a feeling that Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson evoke every time they create a big play out of thin air.
Fans simply shake their heads in wonder.
The last time that feeling permeated these parts, another Eagles quarterback-receiver duo was wowing Philadelphia on their way to the Super Bowl. Six years ago, Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens were arguably the greatest offensive twosome in franchise history.
But Vick and Jackson have raised that bar, at least in terms of excitement. And while a Super Bowl appearance like the one McNabb and Owens earned is still a long way off, Vick and Jackson, after their performances in Sunday’s immortal 38-31 win over the New York Giants, have Eagles fans thinking Super thoughts.
“There’s nothing that we can’t do with those playmakers on the offensive side of the ball,” Eagles safety Quintin Mikell said after Vick threw three touchdown passes and ran for another, and Jackson won the game with a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown.
“When they take over, they make plays, and that’s what you got to do to get to a championship.”
But it’s not just that Vick and Jackson assume ownership of a game or of a moment. It’s the dramatic flair with which they do it. It’s like Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino having a cup of coffee together in Heat – each player trying to one up the other.
“They’re making each other better,” Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel said. “One of them will make a big play, and it’s like the other guy is, ‘Well, look at what I can do.’ ”
Both Vick and Jackson struggled for almost three and a half quarters against the Giants. Each had a turnover. Each was taken out of his game. But something clicked midway through the fourth quarter after the Giants scored to go ahead, 31-10.
From that point on, Vick completed 6 of 11 passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns, and ran five times for 91 yards and a score. And Jackson put the cherry on top with his otherworldly 65-yard game-winning punt return as time expired.
“That man is one of the most incredible athletes I’ve ever seen in my life,” Samuel said of Jackson. “He doesn’t have the size, but [he has] the speed, the quickness, the agility, the hand-eye coordination.”
gbal
December 21st, 2010
2:21 pm
I dont think there are may people at all (other than extreamist connected to PETA or strongly sharing PETA values) who resent MV getting a second chance in the NFL and who don’t think his comeback and successful season is a great story.
Also, there are very few who feel that MV should still be in Atlanta. After what he did to the franchise, facing prision time, and questionable reinstatement into the NFL there is just no way Vick could have remained in Atlanta. Atlanta could not take that chance after the multiple off field incidences. The few and only people who could think otherwise, the overwhelming majority are also extreamist,… racial extreamist. it is the only way one could say that MV was done wrong or should still be with the Falcons.
Businesses can only go so far with employees who shead bad light on the company and fail to perform. As good an athelete as MV was and is he did let the business down with his off field actions and the final action cause him two years LOA with no assurance of returning. Falcons had to move on. Anyone who feels otherwise has the same problem that MV had when with the Falcons. Go grow up like MV did. I guarantee you MV does not feel not that the falcons did him wrong. You?
Same with Bret Farve 19 years ago… Same with Zach Meclenburg at UGA. Both atheletes who were let go because of their lack of focus and off field actions. We all know how BF turned around and grew up… My bet is the ZM will do the same at LSU next year. But they had to move on to another business (team) for their second chance at a career. We dont hear racial extreamist screaming and putting down the home team in these cases now do we.
Good luck to MV and his new vision, attitude, friends, and priorities. I wish him the best. But I am a Falcon fan …. GOOOOOO Falcons.