jeanpierre

Brees strengthens grip on MVP

Posted by Mike Florio on December 1, 2009 7:23 AM ET

After Brett Favre chalked up a second straight stellar performance for a 10-1 team that swept a trio of home games with a combined score of 98-29, we considered for the first time this year that the 40-year-old Ponce De Lorenzo deserves to be named the league's MVP.

Then came Monday night.

With a perfect passer rating, including five touchdown passes, not against the Lions, Seahawks, or Bears but against the New England Patriots, Drew Brees made his best case for the award in a 38-17 victory.

Depending on the last five weeks, our opinion could change. And we hope that the 50 Associated Press voters (including the guy who picked Keith Rivers for 2008 defensive rookie of the year) will wait until the regular season ends before making up their minds.

In the end, it could be appropriate to have co-MVPs, like 2003 (Peyton Manning and Steve McNair) and 1997 (Favre and Barry Sanders). Or maybe a three-way tie: Favre, Brees, and Manning.

Here's how we currently rank the leading candidates, in a feature that we might roll out on on a weekly basis until the season ends. If we remember.

1. Drew Brees: 11-0, perfect passer rating against the Patriots, and an ability to get the most out of everyone around him.

2. Brett Favre: We still think his helmet needs to be inspected for some type of alien technology that makes whoever wears the thing 15 years younger.

3. Peyton Manning: The quiet constant in the eye of a storm of change. 16-0 is a real possibility, and Manning still has a chance at breaking Dan Marino's single-season passing yardage record.

4. Chris Johnson: The best running back in the NFL, thanks to a knack for breaking long runs and no knack for putting the ball on the ground. Last year, one of the voters picked Johnson; none cast ballots for Brees.

5. Vince Young: He's 5-0. If he finishes 10-0, he deserves a few votes, even if they come at Chris Johnson's expense.

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

jeanpierre

That ought to shut those New York-Connecticut, near-sighted jackhole media types up...

Best thing that could have happend...

By the way fellas, there's only so much room on this jazz bandwagon...

Frankie Boog

I haven't understood why Brees doesn't get more consideration for the MVP. Hell Look at what he has done since he has been here, much less what he has done this year. I truly believe it started with the signing of Drew that turned this franchise around for us. He was a catalyst along with Sean, after that things got rolling. He wills the team to win. He is the center and focal point of everyone that is on the team. The look in his eyes is priceless when he throws a completed pass, or a long bomb, or a touchdown. Thats what an MVP is. He makes everyone around him better. And this year I think he has done more of it. The only one that should get a little consideration is Favre. But I am so sick and tired of hearing about how he is 40 years old and wow he plays so young. Yada Yada. Bring em on in the Dome for the playoffs, we can shut that train down too!