2007 Patriots Awards …
Jan 2nd, 2008 by Bill Burt
Here it goes:
MVP: TOM BRADY
With regrets to Randy Moss, who is the best wide reciever in the NFL, this is a no-brainer for the Patriots and the league. It’s Brady. Two numbers stick out … 50 and 8. That’s touchdowns and interceptions, respectively. You could even argue that five of those interceptions were balls that could or should have been caught. Anyway, you get the message.
Brady changes everything. He gives the Patriots a chance to win every game they play, be it from behind or, as is usually the case, with a big lead.
Moss was close for much of the season, but when you look at the four come-from-behind wins, all of them were on Brady’s shoulders. In another year, Moss might be the team and league MVP. Not now.
Honorable mention: Randy Moss. Asante Samuel. Mike Vrabel.
Offensive MVP: RANDY MOSS.
I can’t quite figure out if he’s better on the field or off. Really. He’s been the consummate Patriot. Moss has changed everything on offense. He draws two and sometimes three defenders on nearly every play. That opens up everything for everybody else. His 23 TD receptions were as much a product of the quarterback he has throwing to him. Brady has never truly had a go-to guy, with Deion Branch, who was often injured, the closest. Moss had made Brady even better, which wasn’t thought possible. Moss truly seems to enjoy the winning over the numbers, which was not expected by millions of people.
Honorable mention: Wes Welker.
Defensive MVP: MIKE VRABEL.Maybe this is coming from the heart and maybe Asante Samuel or Vince Wilfork might be better choices, but I believe Vrabel is playing his best football during the best season in history. Vrabel has always been looked at as an ancilliary player, one who feeds off the stars. Not anymore. He is a playmaker. He plays every down. And he seems to always be in the middle of a big defensive play in a big game. The Patriots were thought to be old and slow at linebacker, which is way overstating the fact, but not Vrabel.
Honorable mention: Wilfork, Samuel, Rodney Harrison
Top offensive lineman: LOGAN MANKINS
This was another toughie. Mankins, a guard, or center Dan Koppen are both viable candidates. Mankins, though, has stood out among the rest and might be the best guard in the NFL. He has fit into this team like a like charm, never complaining, just working. If you asked me what kind of football player resembles what Bill Belichick wants, I would say Mankins does. Might be the toughest guy on the team. He has been not only the team’s best run blocker, but has been immense as a pass protector, too.
Honorable mention: Dan Koppen and Matt Light.
Unsung player: KEVIN FAULK
As easy as picking Brady for MVP. Reminds me a lot of Vrabel. He makes the most noise when it counts most. Go back and check the video. In Super Bowls, league championships or big regular season games, he usually has a big play or two. He had two big third down receptions against the Giants, both for first downs. With Sammy Morris out, he also played a bigger role in the running game than was originally planned. Remember Dave Meggett and how great he was as a scat-back? Faulk is better. For a while Jabar Gaffney was a contender here, but when the final tally was counted it was Faulk.
Honorable mention: Stephen Gostkowski, Jabar Gaffney, James Sanders, Junior Seau.
Top assistant coach: DANTE SCARNECCHIA
I basically made up this category to honor the Patriots offensive line assistant coach (he’s also associate head coach), who has gotten the line to master the protection of Tom Brady. Scarnecchia is a rare breed. He is an NFL assistant who has been able to nail down some roots. He has been in New England for 23 of the last 25 years. He has been guiding the offensive line since 1999 (Pete Carroll was head coach). The Patriots are the best in the NFL at protecting the quarterback considering how much they throw the ball. Dante does not like to talk to the media. In fact, it’s like pulling teeth. But he doesn’t have to for this honor. The numbers bear it out.
Let me know your thoughts or comments.
