MVP Race:

           The NFL this season has been quite interesting. There truly has been no pure dominant team in the league. Last season the Colts and Saints flirted with undefeated seasons, but that's not the case this year. Every team has at least 2 loses. The league this season seems much more competitive than normal, and has had excellent performances from the leagues best players. I have compiled my list of the top 5 players that I feel have the best shot at the MVP award, and all of them just so happen to be quarterbacks.

1- Tom Brady: Brady is tied for first in TD passes, has his team standing strong with a 9-2 record, has the hair of a lion, and his wife is a fox. Yes I am jealous... moving on. The biggest test for Brady will come with a rematch this coming monday night against the division rival New York Jets. 

Brady's MVP Credentials: Completion Percentage: 66.3%, Yards: 2703 , TD/INT: 23-4 , Passer Rating:105.8

     2- Philip Rivers: Rivers, whose accent sounds a lot like Forrest Gump, has been lighting up the stat sheets for quite a few years. After a disappointing first half of the season for the San Diego Chargers, the team has found their grove. Rivers and the Chargers are known for making late season runs. Under Norv Turner, the Chargers have a 23-5 Record under the months of November and December. Rivers is tied with Tom Brady and Drew Brees in touchdown passes, and is showing no sign of slowing down
        Rivers MVP Credentials: Completion Percentage: 66.2%, Yards: 3362, TD/INT: 23-9, Passer    Rating: 104.9

3- Michael Vick- Michael Vick has been the most talked about player this year in the NFL, and for good reason. Vick has developed himself into not only a great runner, but also a terrific quarterback. For a while Vick was in a somewhat similar situation as Tiger Woods, and was hated by many. The difference is Vick was into dog fighting, and Woods was into a lot of white women. Vick has proved myself and several other wrong this season. I, like many others, believed Vick would not be a star in the NFL again.Michael Vick had not thrown an interception until Sunday against a great Chicago Defense, and that stat alone earns Vick a spot on my top 5. Congratulations Michael Vick, you have not only impressed me, but have also earned me as a fan.

Michael Vick's MVP Credentials: Completion Percentage: 63.4%, Yards: 1941, TD/INT: 13-1, Passer Rating: 106.0

     4- Drew Brees- In my opinion Brees should have won the MVP award of last year, but he somehow lost it. Drew has not had as great of a season as last year, but he is still playing great football on a great team. The "Superbowl Hangover" has seemed to have finally shaken off of the New Orleans Saints, and they are looking at another deep playoff run. Look for Brees numbers to improve as he and the Saints come back to their true form. Drew Brees, who not only is tied for first in touchdown passes, also leads the league in completion percentage once again. Brees may truly be the most accurate passer of all time.
       Drew Brees' MVP Credentials: Completion Percentage: 68.6%, Yards: 3321, TD/INT: 23-15, Passer Rating: 92.7

                                                                              
        5- Matt Ryan- He and the Falcons have the best record in the NFC, and have a great shot at getting home field advantage for the playoffs. That is bad news for the rest of the NFC, and reason for this is Ryan has only lost one home game EVER. With a 17-1 home record with Ryan playing, you have to like their odds if they lock up the #1 seed. Last Season Matt Ryan made people recognize him, but this season he has made people begin to speak about him. He has been playing clutch football all season, and has proved he can win in the close games. His last true test will be when the Saints go to Atlanta for Monday Night Football on December 27th. This game may decide who gets #1 seed in the playoffs, and I will be there to watch.
          Matt Ryan's MVP Credentials: Completion Percentage: 64.7%, Yards: 2715, TD/INT: 19-5, Passer Rating: 94.4

Andre Johnson vs Cortland Finnegan

"He kept doing little things and I told him: 'Just because you're frustrated, you need to stop what you're doing,' " Andre Johnson said Sunday after his beatdown of Pauly D  Courtland Finnegan during the Texans/Titans game. "I guess he thought it was funny." Cortland Finnegan, sir, you are not alone on finding your beat down funny. I, along with many others across the greatest country on earth, found it hilarious. In the Houston Texans matchup against the Tennesse Titans, Courtland Finnegan (known by many as the dirtiest player in the NFL), was beat up and down the field by Andre Johnson...Literally. The Finnegan/Johnson fued has been going on for the past few seasons in the league, and it has only been spiced up even more. Right after a Texans run to the right, the often quiet Andre Johnson, transformed into Chuck Norris. At the snap of the ball Finnegan took a check right at Johnsons face, and the chaos shortly followed. Right after the cheap shot, both players became tangled up, and ripped each others helmets off. Shortly after the helmets were thrown off, Johnson threw Finnegan on the ground and delivered punches to his head. Both players were ejected from the game, and the Texans went on to get a crucial win over the Titans 20-0. Both Johnson and Finnegan have been fined $25,000 for the incident, but neither player is suspended. These two meet up again on December 19th, where the Titans play host to the Texans. Let's hope we are treated to round deuce.

Drew Brees Named Sport's Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year

As announced this morning on the "Today Show", Drew Brees, or as many like to call him,"Breesus", is the 57th recipient of the coveted award. I could not think of a better person to receive the award. Drew Brees, since joing the New Orleans Saints, has worked with nearly 50 New Orleans schools in the recovery of the city. Brees joins Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Tom Brady, and Brett Favre as the 5th NFL Quarterback to ever recieve the award. Around not only the NFL, but the entire country, Brees is as respected of an athlete as you will ever find. In the state of Louisiana, Brees is more liked than anyones parents, grandparents, creepy uncle, town hooker, or even nuns and priests. "The more that I've learned about the award and that it goes well beyond what you accomplish on the field, that it's very much about what you do off the field as well, with community service and your family, makes the award even more special to me," Brees said in regards to his newest achievement. Along with being crowned this award, Drew Brees has the Saints on a roll again with an 8-3 record and is looking poised for another Superbowl run.

Cody's Power Rankings

I noticed this blog was missing something huge. Something that should show how I feel all 32 NFL teams rank. I have compiled my list, feeling that we are deep enough into the season to do this , and here is my verdict:
1.  New England Patriots (7-2) - Bill Belichick has this team playing back to their old ways. The defense is improving,  finally , and other than a surprising loss to the Cleveland Browns , this team has been nothing short of stellar. Tom Brady has found his inner samson with his Justin Bieber hair , and he is playing great football.
2.  Atlanta Falcons (7-2) - Matt Ryan may have the dumbest nick name I have ever heard ( Matty Ice ) , but he and the Falcons have come out to play-ay. In a very strong NFC south , it will be a tight race with the New Orleans Saints , and the surprising Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
3.  New York Jets (7-2) - Nobody said it would be easy for the Jets , who were the biggest talk of the NFL heading into this season, but the Jets continue to win. Rex Ryan had to go into overtime against the Browns , but once again the Jets come through.
4.  Baltimore Ravens (6-3) - Their last loss , which was almost a fluke in ways , came in the last seconds against a very good Falcons team. I still believe this team will be scary down the stretch of the season. Ray Lewis , who not only can blow up Saturn , still remains to be the best linebacker in the league.
5.  Pittsburg Steelers (6-3) - The Steelers , who were talked about as the best team in the NFL , are 1-2 in their last 3 games. Tomlin , being a great coach , will have the team ready come playoff time.
6.  Philadelphia Eagles (6-3) - This team is rejuvenated under Michael Vick , who is having the best season of his career. If Vick continues to play like this the rest of the NFC may need to "hide they wife and hide they kids", because this team is dangerous.
7.  Green Bay Packers (6-3) - Coming off a bye week , this team gets a chance to beat Brett Favre and his Crocs , once again.
8.  New Orleans Saints (6-3) - The reigning Superbowl Champs are starting to play like champions again.  The Nyquil may have finally wore off of Brees, and he is coming back to his true form. Coming off a bye week , this team will have plenty of injured players back. Look for Sean Payton and the Saints to make a run for best in the NFC.
9.  New York Giants (6-3) - The Giants may have overlooked the Cowboys , but this team will regain focus.
10.  Indianapolis Colts (6-3) - Peyton Manning is showing once again why he is the best Quarterback there is. The team has caught a case of the injury bug , but Manning keeps this team a contender.
11.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3) - The Bucs have not defeated a team with a winning record yet , but this team does continue to win, and that's all that matters at this point in time.
12.  Oakland Raiders (5-4) - Anyone who says this team isn't the surprise team of the year should be departed naked to the Taliban.
13.  Tennessee Titans (5-4) - A good defense will keep you in games , but with a mediocre offense , you need a great one to carry you all the way , and this team doesn't quite have that. Chris Johnson is having another great season , but this offense needs more production from Vince Young.
14.  Miami Dolphins (5-4) - This team plays everyone tough , but losing Chad Pennington, Chad Henne , and Jake long , has put this team in a deeper hole than the miners from Chile. It will be tough for this team to make the playoffs.
15.  Kansas City Chiefs (5-4) - Going from 5-2 to 5-4 , going from looking good to looking average , going back to looking like the Chiefs.
16.  San Diego Chargers (4-5) - This team is well rested , and are about to make their normal late season run right back into the playoffs. Phillip Rivers is playing great football right now, and if the team continues to stay healthy I see this team right back in the Playoffs.
17.  Chicago Bears (6-3) - I'm not buying into this team yet. Very inconsistent play , and an offensive line allowing Jay Cutler to take more hits than Snoop Dogg , will come back to get this team in trouble. They are obviously still in the hunt , but must improve.
18.  Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4) - The Jaguars pulled off a miracle Hail Mary Pass to win against the Texans. Up next is Cleveland , who is playing great right now.
19.  Houston Texans (4-5) - A team I had as a serious contender at the start of the season is now 4-5 with their next game against the Jets. It is starting to look like another year of no playoffs for this team. This team is in trouble , and must find motivation.
20.  Seattle Seahawks (5-4) - Pete Carroll has made this team somewhat of a contender this year. The Seahawks have a tough task going on the road against New Orleans, but even with a loss they are still in good shape in a very weak division.
21.  Washington Redskins (4-5) - Donovan Mcnabb now has a contract extension , but this team was embarrassed on Monday Night Football by the Eagles. Giving up over 50 points may be discouraging to this defense , and the Redskins season is fading faster than K-fed's career.
22.  Cleveland Browns (3-6) - This team has taken out Sean Payton's Saints , Bill Belichick's Patriots , and took Rex Ryan's Jets to OT. The Cleveland Browns may not make the playoffs this year , but they are improving vastly , and no team wants to play them right now.
23.  St. Louis Rams (4-5) - A tough overtime loss to the 49ers has put this teams season in jeopardy. On the bright side , it is safe to say the Rams have found a really good Quarterback in Sam Bradford. In seasons to come , this team could be a serious contender.
24.  Minnesota Vikings (3-6) - Look's like the end of the road for Childress and Favre. This team started out as the favorite to win the NFC , and now this team is heading further and further downhill. Brett Favre will likely be riding on a tractor with his wranglers on , come playoff time.
25.  San Francisco 49ers (3-6) - Troy Smith is 17 of 20 for 357 yards on first down in two starts, and after a horrible start to their season , the 49ers are starting to play decent football.
26.  Denver Broncos (3-6) - This team is as lost as Elian Gonzalez once was. One week they get spanked harder than a Red Light District hooker , the next week they reverse roles. I'm sorry Mr. John Elway , but your former team is in complete disarray.
27.  Arizona Cardinals (3-6) - The Cardinals defense is just as bad as their Quarterback situation. I believe Larry Fitzgerald is the only reason I would bother watching this team right now.
28.  Cincinnati Bengals (2-7) - The Bengals have lost 6 straight games. Carson Palmer is throwing interceptions left and right , and this team is in trouble. Terrell Owens is having a standout season , but this team needs more balance with Chad Ochocinco getting the ball more. Their season is obviously done , and it will be interesting to see the off season moves made by this team.
29.  Dallas Cowboys (2-7) - It's beginning to look like this team quit on Wade Phillips. With Jason Garett in as the interim coach , this team looked motivated , and punished the Giants. Dez Bryant is showing great promise for this team , and Tony Romo's retarded hat collection continues to grow.
30.  Detroit Lions (2-7) - The Lions throw a two-point conversion out of bounds. Are you surprised by this? Didn't think so.
31.  Buffalo Bills (1-8) - The Buffalo Bills have finally tasted victory. Hallelujah!
32.  Carolina Panthers (1-8) - John Fox and the Panthers have the NFL's toughest remaining schedule , and may not win another game this year.

Vick: Letting the Dogs Out

Let me start off by saying that I have never been high on Michael Vick. Vick has always been known as a Quarterback with great speed, but a non pocket passer. In the NFL , great QB play has always been represented by pocket passers such as Manning , Brees , Elway , Montana , and many other greats. Michael Vick has finally taken the step up from looking like, not just a dynamic runner, but a man who can throw. Is this the same Michael Vick who played for the Atlanta Falcons? In the flesh yes, but in every other way... no. Vick has been solid all season, and I have continuously sat back and said to myself "Next week Vick will slip up, He's not a passer". I have been proved wrong once again. Tonight Michael Vick took the field against Donovan Mcnabb (who just signed a ridiculous 78 million , 40 million guaranteed contract ). Vick came out and put on a clinic with not only his legs , but with his mind and arm. He was poise , accurate , and deadly in every sense of the game tonight. In the Eagles 59-28 route over the Redskins I witnessed one of the best Quarterback performances in recent memory. Steve Young said after the game "He will be impossible to stop". I won't go as far as saying that, and I still won't put Vick in the category with Brady , Brees , and Manning, However Michael Vick has been nothing short of great this season. If Vick does continue playing MVP caliber football such as this, the Eagles will be very dangerous. If  Vick continues putting MVP voters on a leash (no pun) praising him more and more each week, he may be walking down the alley of an elite QB. The display he put on tonight may revolutionize the position, but let's see if Mr. Vick can continue to play this tremendously.

NFL:Taking Out Hard Hits

We as football lovers , have been brought up to see the gladiator-like nature of football games. The NFL has had some of the greatest hits of all time. Many people will call their friends just to ask if they witnessed the hit. We love the hitting in football , and will spend hours on Youtube searching hard hits. After years of the sport being so great has it finally been changed? The NFL has now put a strict policy of eliminating hard hits. This has caused a ruckus in the league, and has had many sports analysis angry over the matter. I am also furious about this. The hitting is what makes this Sport so unique, and makes football known as a tough sport. James Harrison (Linebacker- Pittsburg Steelers), in an attempt to boycott this decision by the NFL committee and commissioner  Roger Goodell threatened to retire. Harrison stated he felt this was going away from what he was taught as a boy. While the threat to retire was ridiculous, his point is very accurate. As a child you are brought up to hit people, and this takes away from the game we have learned. While it may take a while to fully enforce this I believe this could turn some fans away. We mine as well put dresses on the players if the NFL continues to stray away from the best sport there is. Heres a look at some great hits that we may never see anything like again in the NFL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwszlK80WIw

Has Madden Caught the Saints?

The New Orleans Saints are not looking like champs so far this season. The injury bug may have a large part to do with this, but the team has looked mediocre at best. Where's the team that averaged over 30 points a game? Where's the team causing turnovers left and right? I believe they are in there somewhere waiting to explode, but it hasn't happened yet. Drew Brees has been involved in many commercials , and even had a guest spot on HBO's hit series "Entourage". None of these things bother me, what does bother me is a possible case of the "Madden Curse". Every person who becomes the cover boy has fought the curse of the fat white guy who shouts out the obvious. If Brees were to end up injured this season you can bet John Madden will be lynched, not only by me , but by nearly the entire state. That does also include you bandwagon fools. Now to cheer up Saints fans here's an inside view of the Saints Superbowl win that was shown on NFL Network: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrlOFDWkLL4&feature=related