poll: who is your league mvp?

[RedskinRyan]

ok, the discussion is all ladanian tomlinson and drew brees. which i have problems with neither.

but the clear winner is the new LT. broke the TD record with 3 games to play left, puts up his usual amazing stats. but thats not the reason why.

there has been no drop off in SD with the departure of brees. im not saying drew isnt worthy for consideration, but if the chargers have more wins this year than they did last(again, with 3 games left to play), that means LT meant more to the team. so if brees wasnt even the most important player on his former team, he cant win over LT. not this year.

unless he passes for 5000 yards this year. but even though we're facing him this sunday, i dont see that happening.


edit: ummmm crap....silly me forgot to add the poll....would a mod be generous enough to do that for me? i was gonna have LT, brees, and other as the options.

[skinsfan36]

Lt with drew brees at a far second

[Green-Is-Good]

LT
Brees has had a great season, but the Chargers had to draft Rivers for Brees to finally break out and have a good year. And let's face it, Saints offence is good all around. A quarterback's dream to play there.

LT has been producing before the Chargers were on the map.

[smoak]

LT no contest

[redskin_rich]

I added the poll.
My vote goes to LT.

[ryflan47]

Oops! Voted Brees, but meant LT.

[RedskinRyan]

ty RR

someone wrote an article explaining why devin hester should be the mvp

[redskin_rich]

ty RR

someone wrote an article explaining why devin hester should be the mvp
Your welcome. :)

Special teams player of the year, no doubt but there is no way he can be an MVP. Would Chicago be a bad team without him?

[RedskinRyan]

Your welcome. :)

Special teams player of the year, no doubt but there is no way he can be an MVP. Would Chicago be a bad team without him?

absolutely not

hester isnt involved in the game enough to be an MVP. they brought up LT scores like every 11 touches, and hester does every 7.5. well let hester get 400 touches a year(if he could stay healthy) and see how much he scores then.

[SpicyMcHaggis]

LT, even though the TD record is way overrated.

[redskin_rich]

absolutely not

hester isnt involved in the game enough to be an MVP. they brought up LT scores like every 11 touches, and hester does every 7.5. well let hester get 400 touches a year(if he could stay healthy) and see how much he scores then.
LOL, if you can still find it, post that article. That has to be one of the worst example of skewing stats I have ever heard. By that logic, a kicker should be the MVP every year because they score anywhere from 70 to 100% of the times they have the opportunity.

[redskin_rich]

LT, even though the TD record is way overrated.
Why do you say that?

[SpicyMcHaggis]

LOL, if you can still find it, post that article. That has to be one of the worst example of skewing stats I have ever heard. By that logic, a kicker should be the MVP every year because they score anywhere from 70 to 100% of the times they have the opportunity.
Unless they are a Redskins kicker...lol...

[SpicyMcHaggis]

Why do you say that?
Because it is being broken too often. What I meant is that it is not that record that makes him amazing..it's just how good he is as a player overall, which is pretty unbelievable...the record is just icing on the cake.
A record, to have any real significance, must be able to last a least a few years..the TD record, since Emmitt Smith broke is a few years back, has already been broken various times in the last 4-5 years (Holmes, Alexander, now LT...)

[RedskinRyan]

LOL, if you can still find it, post that article. That has to be one of the worst example of skewing stats I have ever heard. By that logic, a kicker should be the MVP every year because they score anywhere from 70 to 100% of the times they have the opportunity.

for your enjoyment, rich

http://www.sportsline.com/columns/story/9870658

[redskin_rich]

Because it is being broken too often. What I meant is that it is not that record that makes him amazing..it's just how good he is as a player overall, which is pretty unbelievable...the record is just icing on the cake.
A record, to have any real significance, must be able to last a least a few years..the TD record, since Emmitt Smith broke is a few years back, has already been broken various times in the last 4-5 years (Holmes, Alexander, now LT...)
Yeah, it is weird that it has been broken so often lately. I believe Riggo set it back in '83 and it held for a while until Emmitt broke it. I don't remember who set it before Riggo.
Anyways, it is still an amazing record when combined with everything else and for the most part, every rusher that set it was part of a Championship team.

[SpicyMcHaggis]

Yeah, it is weird that it has been broken so often lately. I believe Riggo set it back in '83 and it held for a while until Emmitt broke it. I don't remember who set it before Riggo.
Anyways, it is still an amazing record when combined with everything else and for the most part, every rusher that set it was part of a Championship team.
Yeah, I agree that it's a great accomplishment, it's just that since it's been broken almost every other year, it's lost a bit of its value IMO. But nonetheless, LT is an absolutely incredible player. Barring injury or early retirement, he has a good chance of being the best of all time, at least statistically.

[redskin_rich]

Yeah, I agree that it's a great accomplishment, it's just that since it's been broken almost every other year, it's lost a bit of its value IMO. But nonetheless, LT is an absolutely incredible player. Barring injury or early retirement, he has a good chance of being the best of all time, at least statistically.
I would love to see him take Emmitt's record off the books.

[Green-Is-Good]

I would love to see him take Emmitt's record off the books.

I would rather see CP take that record :)

[redskin_rich]

I would rather see CP take that record :)
I used to think that was a possibility but I don't think CP can take the beating long enough to set that record and he simply is not as good as LT.
I would be more than satisfied if CP can be a part of a another trophy or more for us.

[akhhorus]

LT is the Most Outstanding Player in the NFL this year, Brees is the most valuable. There's a difference.

[Green-Is-Good]

LT is the Most Outstanding Player in the NFL this year, Brees is the most valuable. There's a difference.

No way
LT is irreplaceable, without him the Chargers are crap.
Brees is a good QB, but there are a lot of QBs in this league who could have been just as good playing on the Saints. He has 5 GREAT wide receivers and two solid RBs. And those dump-offs to Bush that end up going 70 yards don't hurt his stats, either.

[akhhorus]

No way
LT is irreplaceable, without him the Chargers are crap.
Brees is a good QB, but there are a lot of QBs in this league who could have been just as good playing on the Saints. He has 5 GREAT wide receivers and two solid RBs. And those dump-offs to Bush that end up going 70 yards don't hurt his stats, either.

Brees has 1 very good WR and a good WR(you can assign those labels to Horn and Colston anyway you want) and 2 good Rbs. Yes, LT has been amazing this year, but Rivers has been great, Gates is arguably the best TE in football and has a much better Oline in front of him than Brees has. Brees also doesn't have the luxury of the defense that the Chargers have. And as a comparison: LT is only 3rd in the rushing this year(64 yards behind Gore), Brees has 400 yards more than any other QB in the NFL(4033 yards and Manning is next with 3620ish). LT has been amazing with the TD record, but Brees has a chance to break 5000 yards passing.

[redskin_rich]

LT is the Most Outstanding Player in the NFL this year, Brees is the most valuable. There's a difference.
I was waiting for someone to bring that argument up and I do think it has validity. The problem is that the MVP is never really been about the most valuable player but the most exceptional. If it was purely about the player that means the most to a team, it would be a QB almost every year. Take Tom Brady away from the Pats or Peyton away from the Colts and they would struggle to be mediocre. Same could be said for Brees. Take LT away from the Chargers and they are not as good but could possibly have still been a winning team, maybe.
The fact remains that LT is the best player in the league this year and the MVP award is the top prize that recognizes that.

[SpicyMcHaggis]

I was waiting for someone to bring that argument up and I do think it has validity. The problem is that the MVP is never really been about the most valuable player but the most exceptional. If it was purely about the player that means the most to a team, it would be a QB almost every year. Take Tom Brady away from the Pats or Peyton away from the Colts and they would struggle to be mediocre. Same could be said for Brees. Take LT away from the Chargers and they are not as good but could possibly have still been a winning team, maybe.
The fact remains that LT is the best player in the league this year and the MVP award is the top prize that recognizes that.
I agree. Given that I care very very little about the MVP or about any other individual award for that matter, the MVP award should really be named something else..something like Best Player Award. Right now, there is no reason to give it to somebody other than a QB if it is really about who is most valuable to their team, and so everybody just acts like it's the BPA.

[akhhorus]

I agree. Given that I care very very little about the MVP or about any other individual award for that matter, the MVP award should really be named something else..something like Best Player Award. Right now, there is no reason to give it to somebody other than a QB if it is really about who is most valuable to their team, and so everybody just acts like it's the BPA.

College Basketball has the "most Outstanding tournament player" award, which makes more sense. There should be both. One for the most amazing player that season and one for the most valuable.

[fent]

the thing that puts brees over the top to get my vote is what happens if you pull them out and put in their backup. Turner (prior to his injury) was having one of those seasons like Chester Taylor or LaMont Jordan had as backups before becoming starters and like Betts was having this season before becoming the starter. He was averaging over 6 yards a carry. He could step in and keep that team going forward...definitely not at the level of LT, but still productive. Jamie Martin is the backup in NO...a guy that has never hit 1300 yards passing and hasn't been able to nail down even a consistent backup job. If the Saints lost Brees, they'd be in BIG trouble. If the Chargers lost LT, (again, assuming a healthy Turner) they keep winning.

[SpicyMcHaggis]

the thing that puts brees over the top to get my vote is what happens if you pull them out and put in their backup. Turner (prior to his injury) was having one of those seasons like Chester Taylor or LaMont Jordan had as backups before becoming starters and like Betts was having this season before becoming the starter. He was averaging over 6 yards a carry. He could step in and keep that team going forward...definitely not at the level of LT, but still productive. Jamie Martin is the backup in NO...a guy that has never hit 1300 yards passing and hasn't been able to nail down even a consistent backup job. If the Saints lost Brees, they'd be in BIG trouble. If the Chargers lost LT, (again, assuming a healthy Turner) they keep winning.
That is just the nature of the position..it is 1000 times more difficult to be an NFL QB than it is to be an NFL RB. And that is why if the award is meant to be for literally the most valuable player, it should go to a QB every time. The whole offense depends on him.

[shally]

I used to think that was a possibility but I don't think CP can take the beating long enough to set that record and he simply is not as good as LT.
I would be more than satisfied if CP can be a part of a another trophy or more for us.

i think you are correct on both points...

[hockeygoalie29]

LT is the Most Outstanding Player in the NFL this year, Brees is the most valuable. There's a difference.

I agree. LT wins the "best player" award hands down but Brees is more valuable to the Saints then LT is to the Chargers.

Look no further than the Saints of '05 vs. the Saints of '06. They've gone from being a 3-13 team last year to a team that's locked up their division in week 15 and currently reins as the #2 team in the NFC. The reason for that is Drew Brees. Does anyone think they are in this posistion with Aaron Brooks at QB? No way.

The Chargers are not winning solely because of LT. They are winning because they are a complete team all the way from their quarterback to their running back to their amazing defense. The Saints are not an all around great team. The reason Brees throws for so many yards is that he can't rely on his defense the way San Diego can so he has to make up for it himself.

[hockeygoalie29]

the thing that puts brees over the top to get my vote is what happens if you pull them out and put in their backup. Turner (prior to his injury) was having one of those seasons like Chester Taylor or LaMont Jordan had as backups before becoming starters and like Betts was having this season before becoming the starter. He was averaging over 6 yards a carry. He could step in and keep that team going forward...definitely not at the level of LT, but still productive. Jamie Martin is the backup in NO...a guy that has never hit 1300 yards passing and hasn't been able to nail down even a consistent backup job. If the Saints lost Brees, they'd be in BIG trouble. If the Chargers lost LT, (again, assuming a healthy Turner) they keep winning.

That is just the nature of the position..it is 1000 times more difficult to be an NFL QB than it is to be an NFL RB. And that is why if the award is meant to be for literally the most valuable player, it should go to a QB every time. The whole offense depends on him.

Instead of asking "What would happen if the back-up QB had to play?" which, as Spicy pointed out, is not a very fair comparisson, I think a better example would be to ask:

"What would happen if the Saints still had Aaron Brooks as their QB?"

No one could tell me with a straight face that the Saints would be in the posistion they are in now if Aaron Brooks was still their QB instead of Brees. Even with the same weapons, by changing this one guy there is no chance they are the same team. The Chargers would still be a playoff team without LT because of their QB play and stifling defense. That tells me that Brees is more valuable to his team than LT.

[dj_stouty]

LT didn't just break the record...he is in the process of smashing it.

Just like Peyton throwing for 49 TDs 2 years ago...I think both records will stand for a long time.

[hockeygoalie29]

LT didn't just break the record...he is in the process of smashing it.

Just like Peyton throwing for 49 TDs 2 years ago...I think both records will stand for a long time.

Too bad LT didn't get on a roll earlier in the season, he may have surpassed Peyton's 49 TD's to get the "Most Overall Touchdowns in a Season Record" which I just made up to encompass rushing, recieving, and passing TD's. Right now he's at 33 (28 rushing, 3 recieving, 2 passing).

He only had 3 TD's in his first 4 games but ever since he's averaged exactly 3 TD's a week if you include his touchdown passes. If he had started the season off that way, he would have 42 TD's right now and would have a real chance of being the first player to make it to 50.

[JoeJacksonTaylor28]

Because it is being broken too often. What I meant is that it is not that record that makes him amazing..it's just how good he is as a player overall, which is pretty unbelievable...the record is just icing on the cake.
A record, to have any real significance, must be able to last a least a few years..the TD record, since Emmitt Smith broke is a few years back, has already been broken various times in the last 4-5 years (Holmes, Alexander, now LT...)
Agree. It's like the 100 rec milestone. Before Sterling Sharpe only Monk broke it, after Sharpe, dozens of players....

[HAWGZHEAD]

Well since the bandwagon game said my new team should be SD I voted for LT.

[LATrueRedskin]

LT. Not only did he break the TD record, he's broken about 20 other records as well. He breaks a handful of records each game. And more importantly, the Chargers are the #1 seed in the much-more-poweful AFC Conference. LT broke the TD record in 13 games, so there's no "14-game" debate that a lot of people like to use.

[SkinsfaninNJ]

I've been thinking about the Chargers and LT the last few days. I was thinking that for the last month or so, LT has been the only good thing about the Chargers O. Philip Rivers has not played well in a while (so I thought). That would make him irreplaceable or as irreplaceable as Brees in my book.

So I checked the stats.

Rivers has really only had one good game in the last five. See for yourself:

Yds TD INT
97 0 2
279 2 0
160 1 0
133 0 1
222 2 2

[silverspring]

Instead of asking "What would happen if the back-up QB had to play?" which, as Spicy pointed out, is not a very fair comparisson, I think a better example would be to ask:

"What would happen if the Saints still had Aaron Brooks as their QB?"

No one could tell me with a straight face that the Saints would be in the posistion they are in now if Aaron Brooks was still their QB instead of Brees. Even with the same weapons, by changing this one guy there is no chance they are the same team. The Chargers would still be a playoff team without LT because of their QB play and stifling defense. That tells me that Brees is more valuable to his team than LT.

The problem with that question is it could be used all over the league.
What if Aaron Brooks was the colts qb?
What if Aaron Brooks was dallas's qb?
What if Aaron Brooks was new england's qb?
What if Aaron Brooks was new cincinnati's qb?
etc

You have to put things in perspective. The qb position is hard to replace by nature so does that mean we should always choose it as MVP? Maybe so, i don't know.

But lets ask the question a different way. Would the chargers still be rocking without Aaron Brooks as qb? I would say yes because of LT.

[Green-Is-Good]

LOL, you guys are rough on Aaron Brooks. He is no Drew Brees, but he had a few decent years over at NO.
He is playing behind possibly the worst o-line in NFL history at Oakland.

[Meatsnack]

LT is the best single player in the game in my opinion but Brees is the MVP.

[dogfight6]

After further review, my bad I vote L.T. and surrender my timeout.