The NFL Honor Awards

As told by the guys at TheFreeLancers.

Most Valuable Player 

Winner: Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers
The quarterback led the Carolina Panthers to a 15-1 record in 2015. Just one blemish. Who would of thought. For a player who was presumably a running quarterback, Newton touted great numbers as a passer. Newton threw for 3,837 yards, threw a career high 35 touchdown passes to just 10 interceptions. These numbers dont stack up too well against the Palmers or Bradys of the world. So what put him over the top? Besides winning a league high 15 games, it was the ground attack. Newton rushed for 636 yards and hit paydirt a total of 10 times, the most since his rookie year when he scored 14 rushing TDs. Taking Newton off this team also takes away this team's heart, swagger, toughness and the majority of the wins as well.

2nd place: Carson Palmer, QB, Arizona Cardinals
3rd place: Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

Offensive Player of the Year

Winner: Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Here are the stats this wideout put up for Pittsburgh in 2015. Brown caught a total of 136 receptions for 1,836 yards and 10 touchdowns. The numbers speak for themselves. This guy is the best offensive weapon the league has to offer. Please let it be known that LANDRY JONES and MICHAEL VICK have started games for the Steelers this year. Brown doesn't just dominate the receiving game, he is also a huge threat returning punts. This 5'10'', former 6th round pick, has become a force in 2015. He wins the 2015 Offensive Player of the Year.

2nd place: Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons
3rd place: Carson Palmer, QB, Arizona Cardinals

Defensive Player of the Year

Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams
The 2015 Defensive Player of the Year award goes to Aaron Donald. Yes, Donald, not J.J. Watt. The fact is, Donald was the best defensive player in the NFL and, for whatever reason, wasn't spoken of outside of St.Louis. Yes J.J. Watt led the league in sacks but winning the sack race doesn't make you the best defensive player. Donald racked up 11.0 sacks and recorded a total of 43 tackles. But to really show his disruptiveness, Donald recorded 43 QB hurries. Watt totaled 56 QB hurries. Whats the big deal right? Well Donald is an interior lineman. For an interior lineman to match up with an edge rusher as far as hurries go is impeccable. He deserves it.

2nd Place: J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
3rd Place: Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers

Rookie of the Year

Winner: Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
There were many great rookies to take the field in 2015, but Jameis was the best of them. Taking on the leading role on a 2-14 team earned him the respect of his teammates even with the frequent interceptions early on in the season. At such a young age, you can see how Winston takes control of the huddle. You can't help but look at Winston and see veteran poise in his eyes. His 2015 stats go as followed. Winston threw for more yards than our MVP. Winston threw for 4,042 yards, 22 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He may not be as efficient or accurate as Mariota, but Tampa Bay has a real franchise QB here.

2nd Place: Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams
3rd Place: Marcus Peters, CB, Kansas City Chiefs

Comeback Player of the Year

Winner: Eric Berry, S, Kansas City
To be quite honest, this vote should not even be a vote. With all due respect to other candidates like Dallas' Sean Lee or San Fran's Navarro Bowman. When ever an NFL player battles Hodgkin's Lymphoma in the offseason, and comes back to not only play! but play at a pro-bowl level, this award and many others need to be given to that individual. That individual was Eric Berry. Enough said.

2nd Place: Carson Palmer, QB, Arizona Cardinals
3rd Place: Navarro Bowman, LB, San Francisco 49ers

Breakout Player of the Year

Winner: Josh Norman, CB, Carolina Panthers
Lets be honest, you didn't know Josh Norman's name this past summer. And if you did, its probably because of his training camp altercation with our MVP Cam Newton. Digging through all the tweets to Dez Bryant, all the bickering with Odell Beckham, and run-ins with other top wideouts in the league, you have an outstanding shut-down corner worthy of the Defensive Player of the Year award. Though he did not earn it here on our site, Norman would settle for the Breakout Player of 2015. Hopefully we do not end up the subject of some Twitter beef with Norman for that.

2nd Place: Allen Robinson, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
3rd Place: Tyrod Taylor, QB, Buffalo Bills