AP To Re-Vote Defensive Rookie Of The Year
by Brandon on May 11, 2010 1:19 AM CDT
in Green Bay Packers Analysis
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PrintLast Friday it was announced that Texans LB Brian Cushing will be suspended 4 games for violating the NFL's steroid policy. In light of that announcement, AP decided to re-vote for 2009 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and for All-Pro outside linebacker. The writers can still vote for Cushing, but they now can consider his positive test when deciding. I don't like the idea of looking back in hindsight. It was a vote taken right at the end of the 2009 season when it was fresh in their minds. So AP should not re-vote these awards, but since the reality is that the re-vote is happening, I'm looking ahead to the possible outcome on Wednesday.
Fukudometer posted a Fan Post on the subject with a poll to vote for the three rookie runner-ups: FS Jairus Byrd, LB Clay Matthews, and LB Brian Orakpo. Since we're a bunch of Packer fans, Matthews was way ahead the last time I looked. Here are their stats:
| Player | GS | Tackles | Sacks | INTs | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Byrd | 11 | 45 | 0 | 9 | 11 |
| Matthews | 13 | 51 | 10 | 0 | 7 |
| Orakpo | 16 | 50 | 11 | 0 | 2 |
Why did I add pass defenses? 1) It was something to differentiate Matthews from Orakpo, and 2) it makes Matthews look better. Why didn't I add Cushing to the discussion? I can't believe he has any chance at winning though he is still eligible.
Despite my bias for Matthews, I still wouldn't put a safety ahead of pass rusher in general. All 11 defensive players have to play their role, but it's rare that a safety is considered the best player on defense and usually the best defender is also the best pass rusher. It's a more important position. Brian at Buffalo Rumblings says Byrd should win because some of his INTs were "momentum shifters" during big victories. Ironically Matthews biggest plays were in losses such as the fumble recovery at Minnesota and his big game in Pittsburgh. But in every game I noticed his presence and he stood out.
It might be a bitter sweet if Matthews is named the winner because he'll take it from his former USC teammate.
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As much as I like Matthews
Byrd’s stats are much too impressive. Although, I didn’t see any Buffalo games so I don’t know the impact Byrd had on his team.
Yeah I have to go Byrd too. What he did in 11 games is amazing! I think he should have won in the first place!!
I haven't seen any Buffalo games
but from what I heard from fans that have, most of his interceptions were just being in the right place at the right time. It wasn’t jumping any routes or making spectacular plays, it was deflected passes that landed in his hands. Just a thought. Then again, he was in the right place at the right time, even though none of his interceptions were flashy.
"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi
A Good argument I saw is
Matthews really raised the ability of the whole defense with his play compared to the others being great in mediocre defenses.
Matthews certainly helped
But having Woodson, Williams, Pickett, Collins, and Jenkins didn’t hurt. Like with my above statement, I know little to nothing about the Bills so I don’t know how many impact players their defense has, but I would suspect it’s less than the Packers.
by Charlie Kelly on May 11, 2010 7:24 AM CDT up reply actions
actually
the buffalo bills were ranked 2nd in the nfl in pass defense last year, so byrd had a direct effect on that ranking i’m assuming.
Yeah, good point. Byrd deserves it, and should have won it the first time around. I think the Bills had one of the worst run defenses too though.
by packallday555 on May 11, 2010 1:38 PM CDT up reply actions
Tough one
Those 9 INT’s are hard to overlook. Surprised he didn’t win the first time with that!…..But like CK said above, I didn’t watch any Bills games and cannot speak in educated fashion about him. I just know as a Viking fan that Matthews played extremely well for a rookie and certainly deserves serious consideration.
by PurpleJesus on May 11, 2010 7:01 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Byrds problem is
He was inured in the pre season, and didn’t really work his way onto the field till the cleveland game after some other safeties where hurt. Than after playing very,very, well. He got hurt again and missed some more games. So I’m thinking that really hurt his DROY chances the first time around.
The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun
In my opinion that helps his chances
to battle injuries all year and have 9 INT’s in 14 games thats pretty impressive
Yeah
I don’t think that helps Matthews case. The fact Byrd was so dominating in fewer games makes it tougher I think.
The revote...
will still include Cushing. I just learned that today. Its not that he isn’t allowed to win it, they just want to make sure everyone has the knowledge taken into their voting. I think that is a good way to do it.
Way to be, Packer fans!
Nice to see everyone not being swayed by homerism. Matthews had a very good year, and would be a fine RotY candidate, but 9 picks is too much to overlook. Advantage: Byrd.
And “BOO!” to anybody who doesn’t think Cushing should’ve been stripped of his award. There’s every reason to take it away and no good reason that he should keep it. Don Banks tried to argue against a re-vote in his column, and the best he could really do was lame statements about how it “didn’t feel right” or such nonsense. Cushing didn’t earn this award. He cheated. Period. It’s like stripping a gold medal. If the league’s going to be serious about banning PEDs, then they’ve got to make an honest effort to take away ill-gotten achievements like this one. So, all apologies to Don Banks’ “feelings,” this had to be done.
The only real argument I’ve heard (that doesn’t involve feelings) is that this sets a precident, and could lead to a slippery slope. That argument doesn’t suck, but it doesn’t change the fact that, in this case, it’s the right thing to do. It would be an injustice if Cushing kept the award – an injustice to the other rookies who played by the rules and were unfairly outshined by a doper. We can avoid the slippery slope concern by taking these incidents case-by-case. …and, in this case, we know for a fact that this guy cheated. Roll THAT down your slippery slope!
Cushing?
more like CRUSHING
Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08 Coffee Table Debut: 7/17/08 (http://www.wearecubsfans.com)
From an article in Yahoo...
ESPN first reported the banned substance was human chorionic gonadotropin, which is widely taken by steroid users to help restart natural testosterone production. HCG can mitigate the side effects of ending a cycle of drugs. It’s also used to induce ovulation and treat ovarian disorders in women.
HCG
IMO, thats pretty indicting evidence of steroid use!!! I heard you can get elevated HCG by using marijuana as well, but he didn’t test positive for that drug, which kinda limits the other reasons he had elevated levels… I would have to conclude at this point he was on the juice!!!
if the picture and the milk squirting out of his nipples wasn’t enough proof! :-)
by TrevorR on May 12, 2010 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
http://i29.tinypic.com/de6xb9.jpg
Here’s the rest of the picture. Not sure how to imbed the pic (don’t have time fo look it up either). Feel a little bad for the dude in the middle!
http://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/2009/5/20/881185/fittest-athlete-in-the-world
They talked about this pic back in 2009 over in Bmore…check out the comments about half the way down.
The other guy (on the right) is Taylor Mays by the way
Matthews made a difference
The 3-4 came together real well with his help. He played a huge part in our defense and I think he was one of the key components to make our D one of the top units in the league. Kampman went down and everything started to click better…
Then again…I didn’t watch any Buffalo games..
Looks like Matthews and Byrd each picked up about 7 new votes. I had a hunch it might not change just because he won by such an overwhelming number. Its a shame the media got so caught up in “if this is opening up a bag of worms” nonsense instead of seeing it for what it is…a chance to make a wrong, right. I guess cheaters can still prosper. Now we can see if he starts to show a Merriman like drop off in production in year two.
And when a Yankees fan
is calling a steroid user winning an award “a shame”, you know it’s serious.
(just messing with ya Yankees10)
by Archibaldcrane on May 12, 2010 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions
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