Will Aaron Rodgers Win the 2014 NFL MVP Award?

There are a lot of factors that go into determining the MVP of the National Football League.  Yards, touchdowns, ratings, wins, and sometimes even popularity figure in to the award.  And while the MVP title is rather pointless in such a team sport as football, it does still carry a lot of merit and often helps label who the most impressive player has been in the league.  And while we still have a ways to go before anointing a true NFL MVP, my early vote (as well as my long term assumption) is for Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers to claim the award.

Rodgers has long been among the elite players and quarterbacks in professional football, and has already won the award in 2011.  That season he threw 45 touchdown passes and led the Packers to a 14-1 record before sitting out the finale.  This year he is playing at that same level.

His current QB rating of 119.3 is tops in the NFL, and so is his yards per attempt statistic at 8.65.  That value is often a reflection of just how potent a passer is.  His 30 touchdown passes are second in the league behind Peyton Manning.  The only areas of concern would be his 7^th ranked completion percentage and total yards ranking.  Some would argue that makes him the 7^th best quarterback in the NFL, hardly worthy of the MVP.

But such insight is terribly misguided.  Rodgers ranks just 16^th in the league in passing attempts!  Again looking at his remarkable touchdown and yards/attempt figures paints the more accurate picture.  He is doing more with fewer throws.  In fact, his 342 pass attempts is exactly 100 fewer than Manning.  The reason for this anomaly has been that the Packers have been winning a lot of their games early, and with blowouts.  Against the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings (first game), Chicago Bears, and Philadelphia Eagles, Rodgers tore apart defenses and had the win wrapped up by halftime.  By the 3^rd quarter he’d largely be handing the ball off to Eddie Lacy and by the 4^th quarter backup Matt Flynn would be in.  His incredible play has actually put the Packers so far ahead that Rodgers hardly has to play.

Additionally, in tighter games Aaron Rodgers has been exceptional as well.  His memorable drive to win late in the game against the Miami Dolphins was exactly the type of stuff that MVP’s produce.  There is really no stopping this guy.  And while he has benefitted from an improved run game and a stronger defense in recent weeks, it just goes to show how strong a player Rodgers is when his team is clicking.

Lastly, I feel that the statistic that ends all the MVP discussion is his 3 interceptions.  This is by far the lowest of any starting QB and is the main reason his rating is so high.  To get a clear picture of the significance of this mark, Tom Brady has 6 and Peyton Manning has 9.  The only player who manages games close to Rodgers’ level is Alex Smith, who has just 4 interceptions.  But while that number is very solid, his 13 TD’s pale in comparison to the 30 thrown by Rodgers.

And so if the season ended today, I would fully expect the MVP to be awarded to Aaron Rodgers.  And based on how he and the Packers typically finish seasons, I would anticipate those great numbers to continue.  The only player who really has a good shot of beating him would be DeMarco Murray of the Dallas Cowboys, a running back.  But this is where the name factor comes into play and would largely lean in Rodgers’ favor.  It’s also worth noting that 6 of the last 7 MVP awards have been handed to quarterbacks.  But if Murray breaks 2,000 rushing yards he may take the award.  However, I think that Rodgers’ season has been more impressive and is likely to capture the 2014 NFL MVP!

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What a Way to Kick Off the 2014 NFL Season: Packers vs. Seahawks

American sports fans fear not!  After months of inactivity, endless baseball highlights, and pointless preseason games, football is finally set to return with the cool, fall weather that awaits us.  Up first is Thursday’s heavyweight NFC encounter between the Green Bay Packers and the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.  Filled with great players, powerful teams, and a nice bit of historical controversy this game should warm the palates of football fans everywhere and bring a delightful return to the competitive regular season.

But first to the game, and what a game it shapes up to be!  Both teams have playmakers all over the field.  For Seattle, it’s all about their hard-hitting defense led by cornerback Richard Sherman and safety Earl Thomas, both of whom pack a serious punch.  The Packers defense also features stars, but in the form of pass rushers Clay Matthews and the incoming free agent Julius Peppers.  With such impressive guys on the defensive sides of both teams, we can expect a physical fight in which moving the chains could become problematic.

However, both teams also feature great running backs.  Eddie Lacy of Green Bay played admirably last season, especially after Aaron Rodgers’ injury.  Meanwhile, Marshawn Lynch is as tough as they come.  Both backs are strong and push the pile, which will exhaust the defenses and create time for both quarterbacks.

At the quarterback position both teams will feel confident.  Russell Wilson is still young but proved himself in leading his team to a Super Bowl title.  He has great poise and makes plays with his feet as well as his arm.  Rodgers is a former MVP that can torch any defense on his day.  He also has the better receiving options.

But defensively the Seahawks certainly have the edge, and that’s why they won the Super Bowl last year.  In all logic, Seattle should come out and win this home game at CenturyLink Field with its legendary 12^th man (loud fans).  But after a trip down memory lane, I believe the Packers will have the edge in this game.

2 seasons ago the Packers played the Seahawks early in the season under the watchful eyes of the NFL’s replacement refs, hired after a referee lockout that dragged into the regular season.  In one of professional football’s most embarrassing moments, Seattle won the game on a ridiculous Hail Mary catch that was actually intercepted by a Packers’ player. In what is now known as the “Fail Mary” game, Green Bay was robbed of a win and the NFL’s referee dispute was ended overnight as they quickly agreed to terms with the usual (top caliber) officials.  No doubt the end of that game will still be burning for many of the players on the Packers team (and perhaps some lingering guilt still remains deep within Seahawks players).

This game is all about revenge for the Green Bay Packers, and they have the qualities to actually beat the Seattle Seahawks, even in front of their home fans and with their menacing defense.  Additionally, the new emphasis on penalizing over zealous defensive backs (like Sherman) should further aid Green Bay in their cause.  Yes, Seattle will be in a celebratory mood after a well-earned Super Bowl victory, but I think the Packers steal this game late in the 4^th quarter, 27-24.

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Is It All Over for the 2013 Green Bay Packers?

2013 has been a trying year for the Green Bay Packers.  Expected to be a legitimate contender for Super Bowl XLVIII when the season began, injuries have plagued this team since the week 1, and now star quarterback Aaron Rodgers has gone down.  For any team to lose their quarterback is like trying to win a fight without arms.  Basically, such a team is at an extreme competitive disadvantage.  But with an uncertain timetable for Rodgers’ return, the question becomes will the Packers still have a shot at making the playoffs?

The fortunate thing for the Packers in 2013 is that they built a solid 5-2 record before the major injury.  Even though they have lost their last 2 games and now sit at 5-4, there is still hope that they could potentially get Rodgers back in several weeks and be able to make a late-season run.  However, the clock is surely ticking.  With backup quarterback Seneca Wallace’s early injury this week against the Philadelphia Eagles, even those faint hopes are getting dim.

It really has been a sad sight to witness.  The question coming into the season revolved around whether the Packers’ strong passing game could persist without the departing Greg Jennings and Donald Driver.  With Randall Cobb, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, and Jermichael Finley, the team was confident.  Unfortunately, Cobb suffered a fractured fibula and has missed most of the year.  Finley took a nasty hit several weeks ago and may have to retire due to a spinal injury.  Jones has also missed some time, meaning that Nelson has had to share the catches with players like Myles White and Jarett Boykin, formerly of the practice squad.  Rodgers was able to push the team ahead even in the circumstances, but now that he is hurt it is all falling apart.

The defense has been with their pains as well.  Both outside pass rushers, Nick Perry and Clay Matthews have missed time, and performed poorly in their returns that seem to have been rushed.  The secondary has largely played abysmal, though without a legitimate pass rush such play is understandable.  And since Rodgers’ injury, the team’s rushing defense has been gouged, resulting in little possession to make comebacks late in the game.  The team is playing without their leader and seemingly without any heart.

The only aspect of the team that is clicking is the run game, led by outstanding rookie running back Eddie Lacy, whose angry style of play has given the offense a jolt.  For the hopes of the season to fall upon any rookie is asking quite a lot, but such is the dire situation that the organization finds themselves in.  Scott Tolzien is now the starting quarterback for the Packers.  He has spent most of his career on the practice squad.  This team is literally falling apart.

Any hope for the Packers rests on two things: a soft schedule, and an optimistic outlook on Rodgers’ injury.  The remaining schedule for the team features the New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Chicago Bears.  Their divisional games will be tough, but this is otherwise a very soft end to the season.  Even without Rodgers at the helm, this team could potentially win a game or two.

Based on the timetable of his return, the Packers desperately need 1 or 2 wins without their star quarterback.  It is certainly a tall ask but not totally impossible given the caliber of their opponents.  However, the status of Aaron Rodgers is key here.  If he could return in 3 weeks for the Thanksgiving game at Detroit, the Packers have hope.  However, if he doesn’t return for 5 or 6 weeks, the season could be completely lost by that point.

So for Packers’ fans, all they can do is wait and pray.  Perhaps the team will beat someone without their hero, but what is most important is that Rodgers comes back to play as soon as possible and that the defense starts to play football again.  This team is certainly at a major low point of the season, but if they can get it together perhaps a late season surge isn’t entirely out of the question.

The Green Bay Packers is one of the most successful teams in the NFL and have great a history.  Packers fans have been visiting AAA Sports Memorabilia for their collecting needs since 2006.  We have a great collection of Packers memorabilia including autographs and officially licensed collectibles.  If you can't find what you are looking for on our site, please let us know, as we have even more stock off-line and we probably have the item you are looking for.

Are the Denver Broncos the Best Team in NFL History?

Through 5 games, the Denver Broncos look to be the best team ever in the NFL.  The numbers speak for themselves:  Their 46 points per game is a full 16 points higher than the Dallas Cowboys, who are in 2^nd place this year.  They are averaging nearly 500 yards per game.  Quarterback Peyton Manning has already thrown 20 touchdown passes to just 1 interception.  That’s more than twice the touchdown passes by Aaron Rodgers, Matt Schaub, Andrew Luck, and Tom Brady.  So while the Broncos are clearly playing head and shoulders above everyone else today (particularly on offense), is this team the greatest we’ve ever seen?  And should we now put our entire life saving’s on this sure bet to win Super Bowl XLVIII?

At 5-0, the Broncos have been perfect, but we all know this is a long season, and those ’72 Miami Dolphins are the lone team to sustain it throughout an entire year.  Recent seasons have seen similar early displays of dominance.  The 2007 Patriots actually went 16-0 during the regular season and put up most of the NFL records that the Broncos will be chasing.  The 2011 Green Bay Packers started 13-0, and Aaron Rodgers went on to break the single season quarterback rating with 122.5 (Manning’s 2013 rating is currently 136.4).  It is worth pointing out though that neither of those tremendous teams won the Super Bowl that year.

The problem with blazing hot starts to an NFL season is that you risk running out of steam.  The Super Bowl champion is usually the team that clicks towards the end of the season, not the start.  Passing becomes more difficult as the temperatures drop, so the games begin to revolve around clock management and rushing attacks.  Knowshon Moreno is off to a decent start this year, but it may have a lot to do with opposing defense’s current pre-occupation in defending Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas, and Eric Decker.  Also, the Broncos may have a fumbling problem with 6 fumble losses on the year (only the New York Giants have more with 7).

Another common trait among Super Bowl champions is a strong defense.  The jury is still out on the Broncos’ defense.  Although they rank 29^th in yards allowed, their 8^th rank in points allowed resembles an ability to hold down the fort. Also, remember that superstar linebacker Von Miller hasn’t played a single snap this year.  After recording 18 sacks last season, Miller could vastly boost this defense and help terrorize opponents.

Therefore, I think we should optimistic about the Broncos’ Super Bowl chances, but we need to exercise some patience.  Yes, this team is on pace to shatter quite a few records, but when temperatures drop and the team faces some real adversity, we will get a stronger sense of their true capabilities.  It’s also worth mentioning that the Broncos have had a fairly soft schedule up to this point, with their opponents combining to a 9-16 record (excluding games against Denver it is 9-11).  Looking ahead, there are really only 4 tough games on the schedule (2 against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs, 1 against the Patriots, and 1 mouth-watering date with Manning’s former team, the Indianapolis Colts).  We will probably have to wait until the NFL playoffs to determine how special this Denver Broncos team really is, and should wait until they actually win the Super Bowl before we start declaring them the best team ever.

Denver Broncos fans can find an enormous selection of collectibles for their favorite team at AAA Sports Memorabilia.  We carry officially licensed sports collectibles and authentic autographed sports memorabilia.  Our collectibles are officially licensed by the NFL and our autographs are guaranteed for life to be authentic as they are obtained through paid private signings with the athletes.  To get your next Denver Broncos sports collectible, visit us today at www.AAASportsMemorabilia.com!

AAA Sports Memorabilia Will Turn You into a True Football Fan

The NFL season is just around the corner and that means football fans are looking to outfit their dens or man caves for upcoming football parties with the latest and greatest sports memorabilia. Any football fan sports the colors of their team every Sunday, but a true fan has all the bragging rights. A true fan likely has a signed photograph of MVP Aaron Rodgers during Super Bowl XLV above their 72” flat screen. A true fan would probably also be sporting a hand signed Barry Sanders jersey to commemorate a legend and remember a time when it was not as difficult to be a Lions fan, but you are better than the bandwagon -a true Detroit fan.

Stay true to your colors. Whether it has been awhile since your team has even seen hope of the playoffs or they recently made it all the way, a true football fan sticks by his team. Don’t be a glory hunter, constantly switching which team you support or only picking teams predicted to be in the Super Bowl. Don’t wear cheap looking replica jerseys or flimsy looking bargain basement hats. You are representing your hometown team. Show some pride. Don’t you dare drop off half way through the season when things might start to look doomed. You stand by your team through and through in your Braylon Edwards autographed jersey. And if you are from New York pick a side already, Giants or Jets.  

When preseason starts Sunday are you going to be ready? In addition to your amazing memorabilia you are going to need a way to watch every game, every Sunday, to keep up with all the guys on your fantasy teams. The best option for watching the game in Dallas all the way from Miami, Hall of Fame weekend, is DirecTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket.  Check it out at www.getdirettv.org. NFL Sunday Ticket allows a true fan to keep an eye on the competition and there is never a bye week when the whole league is at your fingertips. You can even setup your fantasy roster with NFL Sunday Ticket, so big play alerts and updates in real time show up right on your TV screen.

Between your recently purchased Derrick Ward signed mini helmet and your new subscription to DirecTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket you are ready to be a true fan. All that is left to be done is heat up the nacho cheese and tap the keg, because friends are going to want to see what a true fan looks like on Sunday.    

Author Bio: Blake Meredith is a sports and entertainment blogger for www.getdirecttv.org. She currently resides in Chicago, IL despite staying true to being a Detroit Lions, Redwings, and Tigers fan. When not writing about sports, Blake enjoys cult classic and sci-fi films.

Quarterback Controversy - Tony Romo vs Joe Flacco

Tony Romo Autographed Dallas Cowboys Photo

NFL fans all know the huge contracts that Tony Romo and Joe Flacco received this year. Flacco got a big contract after his team won the Super Bowl and he was named the Super Bowl MVP. However, some NFL fans are wondering why Tony Romo got a huge contract when the Dallas Cowboys have not done much with him at the helm.

 

So the Dallas Cowboys gave Tony Romo a six-year contract worth $108 million with $55 million of that guaranteed. This is just slightly below the Baltimore Ravens contract with Joe Flacco who is also getting a six-year contract but it's worth is $120.6 million and $52 million is guaranteed. So even though Flacco's is more overall, Romo comes out ahead with the guaranteed money.

 

Let's compare the two and see how they rate neck to neck since 2008 when Flacco came into the league (and winning the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year Award). Here are the numbers:

 

Tony Romo (Since 2008)

 

Passing Yards: 18,623
Passing Touchdowns: 122
Pass Completions: 1,542
Pass Attempts: 2,383

Completion Percentage: 64.7%
Passes Intercepted: 59
Passes Over 20 Yards: 240
Times Sacked: 133

 

Joe Flacco (Since 2008 Rookie Year)

 

Passing Yards: 17,633
Passing Touchdowns: 102
Pass Completions: 1,507
Pass Attempts: 2,489

Completion Percentage: 60.5%
Passes Intercepted: 56
Passes Over 20 Yards: 225
Times Sacked: 44

So, based on these numbers, is Tony Romo's new contract really out of line. Why is it that he is the guy that everyone loves to hate. He has been sacked 3x's more than Flacco, so is it the Cowboy's offensive line that is at fault, or does Romo not throw it quickly enough? Either way, their numbers are very comparable.

 

Now the question is this, what will quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers going to receive since he is a much better quarterback then both Flacco and Romo. The Green Bay Packers will be paying huge when his contract is up in a couple of years.

 

No matter which quarterback or NFL team you root for, AAA Sports Memorabilia has an autographed collectible waiting for you. We have collectibles for all NFL team and all of your favorite athletes. Visit us regularly as new items are added daily.