Paul Domowitch: NFL's first half teeming with winners and losers

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THE FIRST HALF of the NFL season in a nutshell:

Offensive MVP

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning gets high marks for first half of season.
Associated Press
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning gets high marks for first half of season.

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. He and the other leading candidate, the Saints' Drew Brees, have put up practically identical numbers. Manning has one less touchdown (16), but two fewer interceptions (five). He's got a slightly higher completion percentage (70.6 to Brees' 68.3), but a slightly lower yards-per-attempt average (8.13 to 8.82). But Manning's impressive play on third down puts him over the top in my mind. His 76.6 third-down completion percentage is the main reason the Colts are first in the league in third-down efficiency (51.0).

Defensive MVP

Saints safety Darren Sharper. Sharper is tied for the league lead in interceptions with seven, including three that he has returned for touchdowns. A close second: Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, who has three forced fumbles and is tied for the league lead with 10 1/2 sacks.

Coach of the half-year

Brad Childress, Vikings. His team had all the parts to be a Super Bowl contender except a quarterback. He put his reputation on the line by hanging with Brett Favre through his spring-summer waffling. Then again, he knew he probably was going to get canned at the end of the season if he had to put Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels behind center. So he really had no choice.

Offensive rookie

Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin. He came with character issues, but so far, so good. He's got 28 receptions and three TD catches. He also has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and is second in the league in kick returns with a 30.7 average. And, oh yeah, he's also rushed for 39 yards on eight carries out of the Wildcat.

Defensive rookie

Bills cornerback Jairus Byrd. The Bills may have screwed up in the first round with Aaron Maybin, but second-rounder Byrd has made an immediate impact. He's tied for the league lead in interceptions with seven. Close second: Texans linebacker Brian Cushing.

Struggling rookies

Don't be fooled by the rookie success of Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan last year. They are the exception rather than the rule. The college-to-pro transition is difficult for a quarterback, as the Jets' Mark Sanchez and the Lions' Matthew Stafford are discovering this season. Both have completion percentages below 54. Both have thrown more interceptions than touchdowns. And both are near the bottom of the league in passer rating.

Free-agent boom

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Posted 07:34 AM, 11/11/2009
Seed
Good overall analysis. Points about fading QB Flacco and Matt Ryan was very interesting. That's why the longevity of a QB is so rear. Opponents adjusts for a new QB and then shuts them down. Only a high level QB can stay productive over long period of time. McNabb is going through rough patch, but everyone knows he will come back; can say the same for only few others QB in last 10 years.
Posted 07:37 AM, 11/11/2009
Seed
Brees is another great QB profile for analysis. Brees is only one year younger than McNabb and came into league two years after McNabb. It look Brees long time to mature and have the right team to win; although he has not won any important playoff game in his 9 year career yet. Good thing about late maturity these days is QB's can play upto age 40 as no one can touch them anymore.
Posted 09:05 AM, 11/11/2009
lonewolf 10
paul,peyton manning has less weapons and is still winning,,the apologist that mention don in the same group of QB's with manning,brady,brees,favre,rivers is a joke.....a rough patch bahahahaha,this is the same ole same ole don,,he's 1-9-1 in forth quarter comebacks in the last two years,,and less that 12 percent for his career in forth quarter comebacks,horrible just horrible,,,,the fans want the kevin kolb era to start ASAP,it's up to big red now..............wolf-out.
Posted 09:44 AM, 11/11/2009
Ryan Howards Left Nostril
It's amazing how many terrible football teams exist in the NFL. And not for lack of talent but for poor management. Does Goodell post on messageboards with only a "SMH"?
Posted 10:18 AM, 11/11/2009
Seed
Blowhole: Good that you blowing Peyton and not Eli anymore :-) Trying to upgrade your lovers are always good :-) Peyton has won less playoff game than McNabb; that does not make him less of a QB, but McNabb has got his team in a better position to team more than Peyton. By the way, Peyton has won just one SB and because of his defense; some of the morons make it sound like he is winning SB every year
Posted 11:40 AM, 11/11/2009
lonewolf 10
sleezy-peyton is a hall of famer,,mcnoheart is a hall of shamer,,how many forth qtr comebacks does mcnoheart have anyway???lolol..
Posted 01:35 PM, 11/11/2009
The Missing Sock
Seed, how many times do we have to put McNabb in that position before he finally comes through and wins the big game? Peyton can win the big game if you get him there. McNabb can't. I agree with Loney on this one.
Posted 03:06 PM, 11/11/2009
Maddy44
the biggest difference between Peyton Manning and Doni McPuke is very simple:...Peyton Manning takes control of the flow of the game and makes things happen his way...while the Puker is clueless,...he has no ability to take control of the game and let things happen to his advantage....his lack of sense of urgency in the 2-minute drill is pathetic and there is no excuse for that coming from an 11 year pro,...oh, and the superbowl ring is a big difference also,....other than that, both guys are pretty much the same, i guess
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