Mike Chappell, the Indianapolis Star's veteran Colts beat writer, conducted another poll of the 50 individuals who vote for the Associated Press' NFL MVP voting. Here's the link to his story this morning.
Manning pulling away from an elite crowd
Another poll of MVP voters by the Indianapolis Star shows Colts QB is the heavy favorite, while Favre has dropped to a distant fifth after two nationally-televised clunkers in the past three weeks.
December 24, 2009 at 5:01PM
Mike wanted our top three picks after last week's games. Here were my top three: 1, Peyton Manning. 2, Drew Brees. 3, Philip Rivers.
Mike got 23 of the 50 voters to respond. He weighted each person's top three, giving five points for first, four for second and three for third.
Manning led with 114 points, followed by Brees (88), Rivers (51), Chris Johnson (17) and Favre (15).
Mike ran his first MVP poll story back on the morning of Dec. 6. That was when the Vikings were 10-1 and getting ready to play the Cardinals later that day. At that point, 35 of the 50 voters responded with their top five. Using a weighted formula, Manning led with 137 points, followed by Brees (126), Favre (111) and Johnson (49).
In other words, the Vikings' two nationally-televised clunkers in three weeks took Favre out of the running.
I asked Rich Gannon the other day who he'd pick. I listened intently because, after all, here's a guy who actually won the award in 2002.
"I think if ever there was a case for co-MVPs, this is the year," he said. "I can't separate Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Brett Favre. I think you could give it to any one of them."
I'm not a big fan of co-MVPs. I'd rather a tough decision be made and pick only one. After all, it's not Most Valuable Players.
Jets outspoken coach Rex Reed said Manning is a no-brainer. Of course, the Jets play the Colts this week. But Rex has proven to be a pretty straight shooter.
"He's still the same guy that destroys everybody," Ryan was quoted as saying in the Indianapolis Star. "I always tell people, 'I hate going against him. I don't like him when I play him.' But I know one thing: I respect him more than any player in the National Football League. He's the best. He's going to go down as maybe the best quarterback of all time.
"Shoot, if (the Colts) want to get rid of him, we'll go ahead and take him."
Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.
