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.