The NFL is taking another step in its attempts to completely and totally dominate television ratings as they are putting on a television program to present their annual awards. Later tonight, they will be putting on a show called "NFL Honors" on NBC. The show will air from 9-11pm ET/PT after being taped from 3-5pm PT.
The NFL will hand out awards in an awards show format for the first time, and there will be a host of 49ers in the running for awards. Jim Harbaugh is the most sure-fire lock to win an award. He is a candidate for NFL Coach of the Year, and if he doesn't win, I don't really know what to say. Marvin Lewis and Gary Kubiak could also end up in the running, but can anybody justify not going with the guy who's team went 13-3 in his rookie year coming out of the lockout? I think it should be unanimous, so I am curious to see how many first place votes Coach Harbaugh ends up taking home.
Aldon Smith is in the running for Defensive Rookie of the Year, with guys like Von Miller, Ryan Kerrigan and JJ Watt all strong nominees as well. Miller seems to be the favorite, although I would imagine Aldon will get his share of first place votes. I am curious if Miler gets any juice from Tebowmania. Aside from just playing with Tebow, the counter-argument from some to the Tebow effect is that the Broncos defense deserved as much credit as anybody for their turnaround. Those folks might look at Miller as a key part of that.
Defensive end Justin Smith is a potential candidate for Defensive Player of the Year. He did not put up monster numbers like a Jared Allen (NFL leader with 22 sacks), which will hurt his candidacy for voters that don't bother to pay attention to what he did on such a regular basis for the 49ers. Smith "only" had 7 1/2 sacks and it would be pretty surprising if voters are not sufficiently "dazzled" by Allen's big sack totals. It's a shame, but a fact of life.
Alex Smith could potentially grab the Comeback Player of the Year Award. Barrows thinks Matthew Stafford will pull it out giving his shoulder injuries. Jerry Rice, Deion Sanders and Steve Young will be presenting this award. Both Alex Smith and Matthew Stafford are expected to be in attendance for the event. Head after the jump to view all the awards up for grabs, as well as the players expected to attend.
|
AP Most Valuable Player |
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year |
|
AP Coach of the Year |
AP Comeback Player of the Year |
|
AP Offensive Player of the Year |
AP Defensive Player of the Year |
|
AP Offensive Rookie of the Year |
AP Defensive Rookie of the Year |
|
Pepsi Rookie of the Year |
GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Year |
|
NFL .com Fantasy Player of the Year |
Play of the Year |
|
Madden Most Valuable Protectors Award |
Salute To Service Award |
|
Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award |
|
PLAYERS, COACHES, OWNERS SCHEDULED TO APPEAR INCLUDE:
|
ERIC BERRY, Kansas City Chiefs LeGARRETTE BLOUNT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers NaVORRO BOWMAN, San Francisco 49ers DREW BREES, New Orleans Saints ANTONIO BROWN, Pittsburgh Steelers RANDALL COBB, Green Bay Packers JOSH CRIBBS, Cleveland Browns ANDY DALTON, Cincinnati Bengals VERNON DAVIS, San Francisco 49ers D'BRICKASHAW FERGUSON, New York Jets LARRY FITZGERALD, Arizona Cardinals RYAN FITZPATRICK, Buffalo Bills MATT FORTE, Chicago Bears ARIAN FOSTER, Houston Texans ANTONIO GATES, San Diego Chargers TONY GONZALEZ, Atlanta Falcons A.J. GREEN, Cincinnati Bengals MATT HASSELBECK, Tennessee Titans DEVIN HESTER, Chicago Bears DeSEAN JACKSON, Philadelphia Eagles D'QWELL JACKSON, Cleveland Browns STEVEN JACKSON, St. Louis Rams STEVIE JOHNSON, Buffalo Bills MAURICE JONES-DREW, Jacksonville Jaguars RYAN KERRIGAN, Washington Redskins RAY LEWIS, Baltimore Ravens CHRIS LONG, St. Louis Rams MARSHAWN LYNCH, Seattle Seahawks PEYTON MANNING, Indianapolis Colts BRANDON MARSHALL, Miami Dolphins LeSEAN McCOY, Philadelphia Eagles VON MILLER, Denver Broncos DeMARCO MURRAY, Dallas Cowboys CAM NEWTON, Carolina Panthers PATRICK PETERSON, Arizona Cardinals CHRISTIAN PONDER, Minnesota Vikings RAY RICE, Baltimore Ravens AARON RODGERS, Green Bay Packers JEFF SATURDAY, Indianapolis Colts JEROME SIMPSON, Cincinnati Bengals |
ALDON SMITH, San Francisco 49ers ALEX SMITH, San Francisco 49ers MATTHEW STAFFORD, Detroit Lions TERRELL SUGGS, Baltimore Ravens TIM TEBOW, Denver Broncos DeMARCUS WARE, Dallas Cowboys REGGIE WAYNE, Indianapolis Colts PATRICK WILLIS, San Francisco 49ers JASON WITTEN, Dallas Cowboys
CONNIE, JARRETT & BRITTNEY PAYTON
BUD ADAMS TROY AIKMAN BRIAN BILLICK BOOMER ESIASON MARSHALL FAULK MICHAEL IRVIN JIM KELLY ARCHIE MANNING STEVE MARIUCCI GEORGE MARTIN MIKE MAYOCK JOE MONTANA ANTHONY MUNOZ SEAN PAYTON ANDRE REED JERRY RICE REX RYAN BARRY SANDERS DEION SANDERS WARREN SAPP SHANNON SHARPE DON SHULA PHIL SIMMS KURT WARNER STEVE YOUNG
|