SB Nation's NFL Regular Season Studs and Duds for 2008

by Brad Wells on Dec 31, 2008 4:19 PM PST

The 2008 regular season has come and gone. With it, we've seen some amazing games and some tremendous individual performances. We've also seen some teams and players stink up the league. At the mid-season point, just after the election, we did our annual Mid-Season Studs and Duds awards. To give you an indication of just how fluid an NFL season can be, not one stud player or coach who received a mid-season award was given an overall regular season award. For the duds, only one player (Jets rookie Vernon Gholston) retained his "I Suck" award from the mid-point.

This is what makes the NFL great!

Below are the selections for the awards, voted on by our SB Nation football bloggers. The percentage of the vote they received is next to their name. We also added a new category (Was Once a Dud, Now a Stud) which works as our "Comeback Player of the Year" award. So, without further delay, here our SB Nation's 2008 NFL Regular Season Studs and Duds:

The Studs

NFL MVP (tie): Peyton Manning, Colts (35%) and Chad Pennington, Dolphins (35%)

Best Player on Offense: Drew Brees, Saints (33.3%)

Best Player on Defense: James Harrison, Steelers (41.7%)

Best Rookie: Matt Ryan, Falcons (78%)

Best Coach: Tony Sporano, Dolphins (44%)

The Newly Studly

Was Once a Dud, Now a Stud: Chad Pennington, Dolphins (50%)

The Duds

Regular Season Worst Player: Braylon Edwards, Browns (40%)

Regular Season Worst Rookie: Vernon Gholston, Jets (72%)

Regular Season Worst Coach: Romeo Crennel, Browns (35%) and Rod Marinelli, Lions (35%)

Some notables from the voting:

Mike Smith, head coach for the Falcons, was one vote away from tying Tony Sparano for Stud Coach of the Year.
Vikings RB Adrian Peterson and Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams tied for second behind Drew Brees for Stud Offensive player.
Matt Ryan, who won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award unanimously, won our award with 18 votes. The second place candidate, Broncos LT Ryan Clady, received 2 votes.

Hope you enjoyed this year's Regular Season Studs and Duds. Please check out our NFL Scoreboard hub for news and articles on the playoff games!

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Solid stuff guys......

I might have gone with DeMarcus Ware over Harrison though….but Harrison was outstanding this year.

Great to see some Miami Dolphins love…CP10 really is the leagues true “MVP”…without him the Phins probally win 6 games.

Great stuff and thanks for the most enjoyable football season yet guys…..

"CP10 doesnt sleep....he waits"

by Rzayo24 on Jan 1, 2009 11:31 AM PST reply actions

Thanks

I’m a little peeved Peyton had to tie the MVP with friggin Chad Pennington, but the rest of the picks are very solid.

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by Brad Wells on Jan 1, 2009 3:15 PM PST up reply actions

Great job by all of you

I can’t disagree with any of your voting. As a Phins fan, I am glad to see Miami players getting some love. I am surprised that Clady picked up those votes, but, if not for Ryan’s unbelieveable run as a rookie starting QB, Clady probably would have been it. He’s played great all year.

As for the MVP, I think it ended right. I know Peyton picked up the Colts and carried them by himsefl into the playoffs, but how do you differentiate what he did with what Chad Pennington did in Miami? How can you say that Chad Pennington is not the reason the Dolphins are the AFC East Champions? I think Peyton deserves the honor, but I think Pennington does too. A tie is perfect.

Great job on the blogs by all of you! Happy 2009!

"The dolphin is one of the fastest and smartest creatures of the sea. Dolphins can attack and kill a shark or whale. Sailors say bad luck will come to anyone who harms one of them." - Joe Robbie, Oct 8, 1965 upon announcing the name of the new AFL Miami football team.
****Keeper of the Phinsider Comment Goo-ing Plasma Cannon****

by Kevin Nogle on Jan 1, 2009 7:42 PM PST reply actions