Peyton Manning = MVP

MJD has a pretty smart take on Peyton Manning being named MVP.

Here's what I think happened. A lot of guys were fantastic this year. There were MVP-caliber performances all over the league. But there wasn't that one guy who stood out clearly above the rest. And it also happened to be that lot of the guys who did have MVP years don't necessarily fall in the "superstar" category. Chad Pennington, James Harrison, and Michael Turner aren't moving a lot of Fatheads, you know?

And since they don't have those big names, it might have taken a little bit of a pair to write their names down on an MVP ballot. Peyton Manning, meanwhile, because his name is Peyton Manning, is very easy to write down. Because not only is he a great player, and not only did he, like a lot of guys, have an MVP caliber year ... but he's Peyton Manning. Everyone knows how great he is. And the familiar name and his history with the award made writing his name on the ballot feel like snuggling up against a warm, comfortable, familiar blanket.

There isn't much that I disagree with there, but I think there is something that MJD missed. Because of Peyton Manning, the Colts can win the Super Bowl or at least make a pretty serious run. I can't see the Falcons making the Super Bowl because of Michael Turner, the Dolphins making it because of Chad Pennington and defensive players get zero love in such balloting. On the other hand Manning battled through early season injuries, revamping on the offensive line, injuries elsewhere on the team and is just now hitting his stride.

As well, so much of this type of voting is based off of how you finished. Manning has completed over 70 percent of his passes in the last six games. He has 10 TDs and three interceptions during the same period of time.

Manning certainly isn't a sexy pick, but it does make sense.