RamView's NFL MVP ballot

If I got one, that is, it'd look like this:

1. Peyton Manning
2. Chris Johnson
3. Drew Brees
4. Philip Rivers
5. Darrelle Revis
6. Brett Favre
7. Kurt Warner
8. Aaron Rodgers
9. Darren Sharper
10. Miles Austin

Austin's emergence at WR turned the Cowboys' season around. Sharper tied for the league lead in INTs and that big-play Saint defense was the key to their early domination. Rodgers carried the Packers into the playoffs and would have been higher if not for the early-season sack troubles. Warner's the foremost reason the Big Dead have won back-to-back NFC West titles. Favre has had an amazing season, the best of his career, and is the guy who put one of the league's 3 best teams over the top. But his late-season dustup with his head coach was followed by a bad season-ending run. Revis is the NFL's dominant defensive player right now and on a team riding its defense into the playoffs. Rivers' Chargers have won 11 straight and he has had a quietly excellent season. Brees completed over 70% of his passes and is the linchpin to the league's latest imitation of the Greatest Show on Earth. Johnson's 2,006 rushing yards were over 500 yards ahead of the NFL's #2 rusher, Steven Jackson.

Peyton Manning wins it, though. 2nd in the league in yardage (4500), 2nd in TDs (33). His team's undefeated this season when he plays a full game. He's the league's best QB and he leads the league's best team. Hell, since he calls his own plays, he probably ought to be up for the Coach of the Year. And, hype or not, I can't remember another player who makes everyone around him better as much as Manning does.

Most of the guys I left off - Steven Jackson, Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Schaub & Andre Johnson - were left off because their team wasn't in the playoffs. Tom Brady's numbers are better than Rivers' but his 2007 season has me spoiled. Makes his 2009 look run-of-the-mill. Plus the Pats won 11 in 2008 without him anyway. Jared Allen was on my original list but would have to have been the NFL sack leader to stay on it.

Unlike the folks who do the actual balloting in the various sports, I'm a firm believer that postseason performance should be part of what's weighed in determining that season's MVP, so my ballot could change, but I don't suspect it will by very much.