Peyton Manning for MVP?

As more and more Colts' and the NFL's ironically-inclined fans make this argument, DBSF feels it worthy to give heed. The Associated Press award the NFL MVP that everyone cares about however, after a half-dozen google searches it appears the AP doesn't list the criteria based upon which it grants the award. Thus, if the primary criterion is: Who is the best individual player in the NFL during the 2011 regular season? Then it would be hard to pick anyone over Aaron Rodgers. (Note: Quarterbacks are at a substantial advantage to winning the award because they play the most statistically measurable position. Not to mention, they are the only position that get awarded with a touchdown when someone else on their team crosses the goal line.) But, if the criterion is: Who is the most valuable player to his team? Then, the Manning movement deserves consideration.

Sans Brady, Brees, or Rodgers (or Patrick Willis if you're of the type that makes statements solely to incite discord) probably no other player has had nearly the effect on his team as Manning has in 2011. But, without Brady or Rodgers the Pats and Pack are still 5-8 win teams. (Although the Saints without Brees are probably of the Rams/ Vikings ilk, they'd still pull out 3 or 4 because of their home field advantage.) But, prior to this season the Colts win total with Manning playing virtually every offensive down of every game went 10, 14, 12, 13, 12, 14, 12, 12, and 10 from 2010 back to 2002. As we all know without Manning that 9 year average of 12.1 wins (s.d. just shy of 1.5) drops now to zero with 4 games left in the regular season.

Of course, there are omitted factors that might explain the Colts futility besides Manning's absence. The primary one being that the Colts have one of the worst defenses in the NFL. They give up the most points per game, have the fewest interceptions, and pass deflections, the second fewest sacks, played the most defensive plays, and the list goes on. Truly, truly magnificent ineptitude. On the other hand, being up 14-0 in the first quarter or not having to be on the field for 80% of the game because the dynamic duo of Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky haven't learned that only in basketball are bounce-passes eligible probably makes for a more rested and, thus, more capable defense.

The call for Peyton for MVP is obviously horseradish and reserved only for the most indifferent Queens'* bloggers who only write about sports because the music blogging scene is too saturated and competitive, politics and finance is so the 1%, and as for art you actually have to go and be seen at the stupid museum and stare at the painting and figure out someway to uniquely interpret another's most inner-personal expression all the while remembering the last eight or so centuries of other paintings, etc just to know if that visual representation of inner-struggle was really just a rendition of some previous artist's genuine inner-struggle which was likely based on something much more visceral, like continental destitute, world war, terrible sexual violence, and not parents saying they'd be unwilling to cover your rent if you lived in the bad part of town. So yeah, Peyton for MVP seems reasonable.

* The Lower East side jumped the shark a decade ago, and Williamsburg is nothing but bunch of financial analysts that shop at Anthropology-type outlets.