WASHINGTON —
Adrian Peterson should be the NFL MVP, and the vote shouldn’t be close. When the 2012 MVP award is announced later this month, Peterson will likely come up short to Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, because the award usually goes to Manning if it’s close. Manning has won four MVP’s in his career, and may be the best regular-season quarterback of all time. If Manning beats out Peterson with the voters, it will be a travesty.
By now you have heard about Peterson’s assault on Eric Dickerson’s 28-year record for single season rushing yards. Peterson fell nine yards short of the record in Sunday’s 37-34 victory against Green Bay, finishing with 2,097 yards. Manning had a great first year in Denver following a 2011 season when he didn’t play at all in Indianapolis due to a serious neck in jury. Manning completed 68 percent of his passes with 4,659 yards, 37 touchdowns and 11interceptions. Both men had fantastic seasons, but to give Manning the award is simply being lazy and not realizing how great of a season we just witnessed from Peterson.
Yes, Manning led the Broncos to the No. 1 seed and home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, but it’s not like the Denver was a bottom feeder last season. You may remember, the Broncos upset of Pittsburgh in the wild card round last January with quarterback Tim Tebow. If Tebow was able to lead Denver to the AFC divisional round a year ago, how bare could the cupboard have been?
Peterson, on the other hand had one of the greatest seasons for any player in NFL history. When Peterson tore his ACL on Christmas Eve 2011, many medical experts didn’t think he’d be ready for the start of this season, yet there he was. He not only started all 16 games, but he was better than he was in his first five seasons. In his last 10 games, Peterson eclipsed 150 yards seven times. In the first six games of the season, he eclipsed 100 yards only once.
Minnesota won only three games last season, and much of the season second-year quarterback Christian Ponder struggled with consistency all year. Ponder completed 62 percent of his passes for only 2,935 yards, with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Ponder’s inconsistencies meant Peterson would face eight and nine man fronts nearly every time he carried the ball, especially down the stretch when Minnesota was fighting for the final NFC playoff spot.
In the final four weeks of the season, Minnesota defeated Chicago, St. Louis, Houston and Green Bay, all wins they had to have to get into the playoffs. In that four game stretch, Peterson ran for 651 yards and four touchdowns. He had 199 or more twice, and 154 in the win against Chicago. In the most important time of the year, Peterson was at his best, which is exactly what MVP’s are supposed to do.
Without Peterson, the Vikings are a five-win team at best, and with him they won 10 games and earned a playoff berth. Peterson is the best player in a quarterback dominated league, and he’s the MVP.
It’s not even close.
Local Sports
Peterson the clear choice for MVP
Glade's Games
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Madison, WC and 1993
While everyone in Indiana certainly knows the story of the Zeller brothers and the impact they have had on Washington, several sets of brothers once dominated the basketball landscape in Daviess County.
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Freedom win first game of summer
Trevor Claridge went the distance to give the Washington Freedom its first win of the season in a 10-5 win over Sullivan. After Claridge surrendered one run in each of the first two innings, Washington broke out with a five-run rally in the top of the third. Sullivan crept closer at 5-3 with a run in the bottom of the inning, and Washington added two more runs to extend the lead to 7-3 and put the game out of reach.
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Like enjoys summer Freedom
What a difference a year makes.
A year ago, former Pike Central catcher Brady Like was spending the summer honing his baseball skills in hopes of having a standout senior season, which could allow him to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level.
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Edmiston swings away
Tyler Edmiston has been through a lot in the past four years, but that has only made him a stronger person and even better baseball player.
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The Heat need more from LeBron
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Freedom falls to 0-4
The Washington Freedom is still trying to find a rhythm, but it’s not getting easier with each passing game.
Washington Post 120/121 lost to Princeton Post 25 18-3 Monday night at the Sports Complex to drop to 0-4 on the season. -
Alan Lemon races into retirement
It really wasn’t all that long ago that Alan Lemon enjoyed racing his 1955 Chevrolet at regional drag strips.
He now may have time to try his hand at a race or two in the future.
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WHS season ends Thursday at Country Oaks
Thursday’s golf regional at Country Oaks Golf Club didn’t end with the results the Washington Hatchets were seeking.
The Hatchets placed 14th in a field of 18 teams while shooting a team score of 338.
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LeBron continues to amaze us
The NBA Finals are about stars, and boy do we have a star-studded matchup for this year’s championship round. The Miami Heat will be in for another long series when they meet the San Antonio Spurs — a team going for its fifth title since 1999.
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WHS falls at Regional
Washington’s first doubles team of Rachel Chattin and Audra Stallman were defeated by Evansville Mater Dei’s Emily McAtee and Jenna Smith, 6-4, 6-2, in the opening round of the doubles regional tournament at Bedford North Lawrence Saturday.
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