Tom Brady has wrapped up the MVP and Tony Romo, who is on pace to throw 43 touchdowns, has a good chance at finishing in the top three in the voting.
But perhaps everyone is overlooking Randy Moss and Terrell Owens as legitimate candidates, even though the Associated Press has never named a receiver MVP. Maybe Brady's and Romo's super seasons are mostly a result of their future Hall of Fame receivers.
When Moss and Owens show up, funny things happen to quarterbacks' number. Consider:
* Randall Cunningham came out of retirement at 35 and threw a career-high 34 TDs in 1998, his one season with Moss.
* A supposedly washed up Jeff George was exiled from Oakland and threw 23 touchdowns in 14 games with Moss as his prime target in '99.
* Daunte Culpepper averaged 2.6 touchdowns per game when he was teammates with Moss in Minnesota. He's thrown .8 TDs per game since the two have been separated.
* Jeff Garcia threw for 4,288 yards in 2000 with Owens in San Francisco. That's the 30th most yards ever by a QB in a season. And he threw 31 TDs in '00 and 32 TDs in '01. He's thrown 34 TDs in the 3 ½ seasons since he left San Francisco.
* Donovan McNabb threw 31 TDs and completed 64 percent of his passes his first season with Owens. His highs without T.O. is 25 touchdowns and a 59.1 completion percentage.
Brady and Romo are also thriving off the Moss and Owens effect.
Although it's considered sacrilege to discuss Brady as anything but God's gift to quarterbacking, even your average supermodel knows the Pats QB has never had a season like this one. He has 38 touchdowns through 10 games, and his career high for a season is 28.
And if you took T.O. out of the equation, there's no telling what kind of QB Romo would be. The Cowboys quarterback has thrown 22 of his 46 career TD passes to Owens.
Moss and Owens help QBs' numbers in so many ways. Moss allows Brady to simply toss it deep and has turned what would be interceptions into spectacular touchdowns. In Sunday night's four-touchdown performance against the Bills, Moss didn't even appear to be running patterns. He was just running downfield and grabbing the ball away from everyone. And Owens' ability to run after the catch has padded Romo's numbers all season, like when he streaked down the sideline for his fourth touchdown against the 'Skins on Sunday.
Not to mention how much extra time in the pocket both QBs get because teams are scared to death to blitz a DB for fear of single-covering Moss and Owens. Brady, in particular, has had more time to throw than any quarterback in recent memory.
And when they're behaving, Moss and T.O. add a swagger to an offense that lifts everyone's game. Brady has always been confident, but now he seems intent on making defenses look bad on every play. And Romo has extra confidence because he knows he has T.O. as a safety valve.
I won't argue against Brady winning the MVP, because he is just about perfect. But maybe we should add an asterisk, to acknowledge Moss' impact on his record-setting season. I'll call Don Shula and ask what he thinks.
Daniella Sarahyba
Tori Praver
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Yenna rascal. Mind it.
rnjbond
San Mateo , CA
Total Comments (4)
I agree, T.O. and Moss are big reasons behind their respective QB's success this season. But that's common knowledge...and lets not forget it makes it even easier for both Romo and Brady (especially Brady) when they have all those other options to throw to. The reason T.O. and Moss get the opportunities that they do is because of the other threats out there.
Cowboysfan4life
Apo, AE
Total Comments (28)
I think their offensive lines play a HUGE role as well. Has Brady's jersey been dirty at all this season? I don't think the guy gets hit. His line is giving him ALL day to throw. As much as I don't like Belichick, he should win Coach of the Year, and that Pats should win out and hoist the Lombardi trophy this year.
If the Pats don't win the Super Bowl...well...it would be amazing to me.
E-Nasty
Bedford, TX
Total Comments (347)
All I can say about that perfomance last night was "Wow!". The Pats are playing at a level I've have never even imagined.
Gen. Malaise
Westborough , MA
Total Comments (3)
I agree-- I think Moss and Brady should be Co-MVP. It isn't an individual thing, neither puts more effort in, it is joint.
And don't go claiming that every TD pass to Moss is a circus catch or he doesn't run routes. He is open, and Brady gets him the ball. There have been 3 jump balls that only Moss can catch, but the rest were legitimate good or great throws from Brady.
I definitely think TO and Moss are the two best receivers in the NFL and they should be respected as such.
Cyguy84
Total Comments (3)
Co-MVPs Brady-Moss
xavyre
Total Comments (15)
Using the above logic could lead one to believe that perhaps Brett Favre should be MVP. With no deep threat like Owens or Moss and the youngest team in the NFL, he has clearly perfected his game in order to lead the Pack to a very strong 9-1. Any love for #4?
MKE V
Milwaukee , WI
Total Comments (1)
BS!!!!! All you poor lemmings, do you really understand what the MVP is for? It's for the guy who can take a team from nothing and lead them to the play-offs. It's for the guy who has not only the football talent, but as importantly the savvy, personality AND leadership to lead a young, inexperienced team to a divison title and beyond. This isn't just about stats, it's about the ability to lift a team above its individual capabilities; to unite it to exceed itself. It's easy to look good when you have a ton of veteran, proven talent around you; where everyone knows you'll do good; it's incredible to do that with the youngest team in the NFL. The MVP is not about who's the biggest show boat, it's about the one guy that humbly goes about guiding his team to victory after victory, staying focused on team work, not individual accolades. The MVP, for the 4th time, belongs to #4, Brett Favre!!! He epitomizes the very essence of what the MOST VALUBLE PLAYER is. The Packers are having a historic year in great part to this year's MVP, Brett Favre.
Packer4Life
Odessa , FL
Total Comments (2)
Wah, Wah, Wah, is Peyton manning explaining he doesn't have any good receivers to throw the ball to. Tom Brady, winner of three (3) RINGS, has never had a star receiver before Moss. Brady was good enough to find the "open" man to make things happen. If Moss isn't on the field. Or even on the team. Brady has three or four other receivers that are perfectly capable of puting up good numbers. Tom Brady deserves to be the MVP this year and a couple of years in the recent past.
The Permit Guy
Tewksbury , MA
Total Comments (3)
ya might not like the boys but ya gotta give ROMO AND T.O. credit
Ya know JJ doesnt mind spending if he is in the hunt for a superbowl
ring. GO BOYS!
illiniev1
Grand Rapids , MI
Total Comments (80)
I have to agree Brett Favre is doing alot more with way less than the Cowboys and extremely less than the Patriots, he is playing in top form and should win MVP, hell he might have to checked for HGH for the way he's playing.
killamansun
Palm Bay , FL
Total Comments (7)
I agree Packer4Life, but if you want to talk about a QB dragging his team from the bottom, maybe Anderson of the browns deserves consideration...
x19drvr
Lynn Haven , FL
Total Comments (17)
Glad to see Moss reclaim his throne as the best WR in the NFL. Alot of haters wrote Moss off, I bet he is enjoying making a fool out of so many.
George Jackson
Minneapolis , MN
Total Comments (40)
Last week your bashing Romo to Owens and the Cowboys. This week your praising them. Hey Perloff your as about as consistent as a politician. Do us all a favor and stop covering the NFL. Try pro wrestling or the WNBA. In those "sports" nobody cares if they win or lose and you can be the inaccurate reporting, inconsistent, egotiscal, self-absorbed windbag that you are!
The Bottom Liner
Kennesaw , GA
Total Comments (6)
Baloney! This is easy. Look at Moss' productivity at Oakland without Brady. Look at Brady's productivity at NE without Moss. Now tell me who needs who! I agree Brady's level of play has been improved because of Moss' presense and defenses having to account for Moss opens up a lot, but Oakland was not a better team because of Moss. NE has ALWAYS been a better team because of Brady.
CrosePatsFan
Total Comments (14)
Baloney! This is easy. Look at Moss' productivity at Oakland without Brady. Look at Brady's productivity at NE without Moss. Now tell me who needs who! I agree Brady's level of play has been improved because of Moss' presense and defenses having to account for Moss opens up a lot, but Oakland was not a better team because of Moss. NE has ALWAYS been a better team because of Brady.
CrosePatsFan
Total Comments (14)
"And if you took T.O. out of the equation, there's no telling what kind of QB Romo would be. " Have you not been watching Romo the last two years??? TO is no doubt great but to say he made Romo the QB he is is a bit of an overstatement. Perloff you are such the typical Eagles fan Cowboy hater. We are going to blow you guys out again in December and I am going to love every second like I did last time. Afterwards you can write about how it was a fluke, the NFC being weak, or any other BS you call journalism. You team and city stinks and always will. You will never win a Super Bowl. Ever. Losers!
jhizzy14
Vista , CA
Total Comments (2)
Packer4Life has stated his case for MVP very eloquently except for one thing. Who deserves the award. How about some kid from the 6th round coming into the line up because the Team's Franchise, first round, pick , went out with an injury sustained in a very hard fought, physical game. Imagine that same unlikely Quarterback leads his new Team to their first Superbowl win that very season. Since then, he has really become the bar for his Team to aspire to, and they have. They go on to win two more Superbowls and be very competitive in the years that they don't go all the way. How about that same Quarterback and the rest of his Team go on to perform in a way this year that is in the stratosphere of NFL History? He has done all this in less time that his more celebrated peer's Manning and Farve, both of whom have won this award. How is it that this Quarterback has never won it before? How could their be any question now?
There is no question, Tom Brady for MVP.
Bikerdude
Belfast , ME
Total Comments (5)
I know the conversation is this year's MVP, but 10 years ago, the Vikings were OK--Moss comes along they went 15-1 (losing by 3 to the Bucs) and choking only like Minnesota can to the Falcons--admitting, not perfect--but close. This year the Patriots w/ Moss maybe the best team assembled in the history of the game.
To steal a line from an average movie, "Moss, you complete us." Now I know people love to hate Moss, but look at what some pretty famous people have said, "Moss is the smartest receiver I have ever played with." Some guy named Tom Brady and a some coach that w/out Spygate is still pretty decent.
The packers are good and Farve is having a damn good season, but perfection has only come once--so far. Yep, he was useless in Oakland, but Oakland (and sorry Raider fans--some of the best fans in the league) is Capital "S" Stupid. England 14-2 without Moss; if they finish perfect, Moss needs to be considered the MVP.
hoacele
Mandan , ND
Total Comments (5)
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