Who the 2012-2013 NFL MVP Is and Why

As always, the 2012-2013 football season has been a great one. Many outstanding performances this year and also some record-breakings. Lots of players could make a case to be the MVP. But there are three main candidates that stand out as the top picks.

First, lets examine who isn’t part of these three candidates…..

Non-MVP Candidates: Aaron Rodgers, Calvin Johnson, Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck, & J.J. Watt

Now lets take and in-depth look on who our main MVP candidates are, and decide who it will be and why…..

MVP Candidates: Adrian Peterson, Tom Brady, & Peyton Manning

Adrian Peterson

Adrian Peterson can be explained in one word: Indescribable. His ability to run the ball is indescribable. A fantastic year for Peterson when you look at his numbers. Its even more impressive knowing that he is coming off ACL surgery on his left knee. He tore his ACL and his MCL on December 24, 2011 against the Washington Redskins.

He is just an outstanding player all around. He can run. He can catch. And best of all, he can break tackles like no one else. In this past season, AP came just 9 yards short of breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record. He finished with 2,097 rushing yards. With that stat in mind, consider this: More than 50% of Peterson’s rushing yards have come after contact was already made.

That in itself is remarkable. And basically, he put the Vikings where they are now, the playoffs. He drove them there, physically & mentally. He is the leader of the Minnesota Vikings. It was quite a year for AP. He is no doubt the Comeback Player of the Year, and is the best player and athlete in the NFL right now. But, ‘best’ does not necessarily mean ‘Most Valuable.’

Tom Brady

Tom Brady is the Carmelo Anthony of football. What do I mean by this? Well if you know who Carmelo Anthony is, you know that he is a great all-around basketball player. But, he never gets the recognition that he deserves to be the NBA MVP. Tom Brady is very similar in this category. Every game that he plays seems like a great game, even though he may throw an interception or two.

When you look at the numbers and the defenses that he faced, he had an MVP-type year. While throwing just 8 interceptions the whole year, he had 34 TD passes. He almost threw for 5,000 yards by having 4,827 on the year. And considering the success that he had against some of the defenses that he faced like Houston, San Fransisco and Baltimore, he should be a legit contender for the MVP this season.

But, like Adrian Peterson, I do not think that Brady will be this years MVP. He won’t get the recognition that he deserves to be the MVP. He is third in this race behind AP and Peyton. He is third because of the comeback stories between Peterson and Manning.

So, that only leaves one player left…..

Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning is my 2012-2013 NFL MVP. Coming off 4 neck surgeries, he had an outstanding year. Many thought that Peyton would never be the same he use to be. They thought that he lost his fire and he would never be the same player and he wouldn’t be succesful. But boy did he prove them wrong.

Peyton threw for 4,659 yards this season. In addition he had 37 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions. He led all QB’s this season with a final QBR of 84.1. Very impressive for a 36-year-old man coming off those surgeries. What a story he has been throughout the year.

But in addition to the great comeback story and the numbers, what really makes him the MVP is his consistency. Starting in week 6 to this point, Peyton and the Broncos have won every game that they have played. They finished the season a top the AFC Conference with a 13-3 record, heading into the playoffs as the No. 1 seed. Unlike Tom Brady, he is and will get the recognition that he deserves. Which is why, he is my 2012-2013 NFL MVP.