Presenting the first annual WarpathInsider awards. These
awards from WPI are affectionately known as “The Whippies.”
Team MVP—Whenever the Skins needed a big play,
Santana Moss was there. One of the best seasons a Redskins receiver has ever
had was built on moments like the last five minutes in Dallas, the 78-yard
streak with the bubble screen in Kansas City, a hat trick against the Giants,
and a lot more clutch grabs in between.
Offensive MVP—When the Redskins traded for Clinton Portis, a lot of people said that he wasn’t a Joe Gibbs kind of back. They were
right—at the time. In the past two years, Portis has transformed himself from a
back who preferred to scoot outside the tackles to one who was screaming at his
head coach to run “Gut and Power” during a December playoff push. When the team
needed him to take the offense on his shoulders, he reeled off five 100-yard
efforts to help get the Redskins into the postseason.
Defensive MVP—Marcus Washington was all over the
place every game. If he wasn’t sticking his helmet in the quarterback’s chest
after coming on a blitz, he was chasing down runners from sideline to sideline.
His interception against Dallas essentially ended the game at FedEx just before
halftime and his pick in Tampa Bay wrapped up the Wild Card playoff win. The
guy plays with unrestrained joy, making him fun to watch and to talk to.
Special Teams MVP--Many were surprised to see the
name Ade Jimoh on the final 53-man roster, but Joe Gibbs and Danny Smith knew
what they were doing when they kept the third-year cornerback around. It seemed
like every time an opposing punt returner was zeroing in on the ball, Jimoh was
about to take his head off.
Comeback Player of the Year--If you need any explanation
as to why Mark Brunell takes home The Whippie here you haven’t been paying attention
for the past 18 months.
Rookie of the Year—Carlos Rogers missed some time
with various injuries, but he displayed everything that a star cornerback needs
in the NFL—the ability to make the spectacular interception, a short memory,
and solid run support ability.
Courage Award--NFL players take the field with
injuries that would have many of us bedridden all the time, but Joe Salave’a
played for several weeks with a foot injury that often kept him up nights. The
guy was in terrible pain when he wasn’t even standing up; imagine what it was
like when he ran on the foot.
Game of the Year—The second game against Dallas
proved that the first win over the Cowboys wasn’t a fluke and the 35-7 score
represented the biggest margin of victory ever for the Skins over the Cowboys. And
oh, by the way, it established them as legit playoff contenders.
Play of the Year—In nine stunning seconds, Redskins
fans went from despair to hope. With 2:44 left to play in Dallas on September
19, it looked like more of the same old stuff, different season. After Santana
Moss crossed the goal line at the 2:35 mark after hauling in Brunell’s 70-yard the
Redskins had a deep threat, they had a legitimate NFL quarterback, Joe Gibbs,
offensive genius, was back, and Washington had finally beaten Dallas in a
meaningful game. The birds were chirping, the grass was greener, and those
wearing Burgundy and Gold regained some of the long-lost spring in their steps.
