SEASON 17 AWARDS

[Talon]

Please feel free to share your opinions on who should be nominated or voted on for the annual awards!

AWARDS ON THE BALLOT  --

Most Valuable Player

Offensive Player of the Year

Defensive Player of the Year

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Head Coach of the Year

Executive of the Year (GM)

Comeback Player of the Year



As always -- please PM me your votes (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place) for all awards categories.

Send the PM on the boards with the subject "SEASON 17 AWARDS"


Here is a link to all of the S17 Stats - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1W6VcVIIO8Os29SRQrLDLZgAUf5joGLWDJerZ1lVgMZM/edit#gid=0

[GM Wayne]

Here's some thoughts from me.

AWARDS ON THE BALLOT  --

Most Valuable Player

From what I can tell there are three prime candidates for MVP. Tommy Mazza, Bruce Wilkinson and Jaylon Winston. I personally was leaning toward Mazza until he stumbled along the way. The interceptions in the last two weeks of the season got rid what I felt was the strongest case for him in that he had been "perfect" through 14 games. Winston has had an impressive season setting the yards record and tying the touchdowns record, but the interceptions I think knock him out.

Stastically Bruce had the greatest season in history. Most tackles in the league, most sacks and most tackles for loss. I imagine one or two of those are probably records for a season too but I'm not sure. But I think Bruce is the clear favorite.

Offensive Player of the Year

I think Winston is a better fit in this category, along with guys like Knowledge Action Carter who almost had 2000 yards receiving, and guys like Anthony Smith, Kevin Farrington and Colt Williamson who all had over 100 pancakes without allowing a single sack and fewer than 5 missed blocks. Sort of a pick your poison I think but I'd probably lean toward Winston personally.

Defensive Player of the Year

Bruce again. Honorable mentions to Ricky Tarr Jr at DT and maybe Clay Carrington at CB for his 9 interceptions. How you go against 40+sacks and tfl's though I don't think it's possible.

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Gonna list a couple guys and their stats that stand out to me.

Kevin Farrington - 127 pancakes, 0 sacks, 3 missed blocks.
Jeremy Lewis - 117 Catches, 1158 yards, 12 touchdowns, 6 drops.
Kansas Black - 2449 passing yards, 21 passing touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 789 rushing yards, 8 touchdowns
Saul Bennett - 1275 rushing yards, 8 tds, 4.6 ypc, 2 fumbles lost.

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Gonna do the same thing for the defensive ROTY as offensive ROTY.

Amos Archie - 110 tackles, 12 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 6 PD
Zion Moss - 43 tackles, 19 sacks, 11 TFL, 18 KD's, 12 hurries, 1FF
Doomsday Miles - 73 tackles, 19 sacks, 17 TFL's, 23 KD's, 15 hurries, 3FF
Sean Pope - 67 tackles, 17 sacks, 13 TFL, 23 KD's, 26 hurries, 4FF

Head Coach of the Year

Ricky Tarr (Oakland) - Team was dead to rights halfway through the year and fought back to win the division with some crazy offensive and defensive performances.

Burton Tibbetts (BAMA) - Same sort of situation as Ricky Tarr Jr was in. Most thought the Nighthawks were done and they nearly won the division and still made the playoffs after being written off.

Sean Saint (DC) - Took an uproven 3 star QB to the top of the Eastern Conference.

Larry Wright (think that's his name, from WIN) - Historically terrifying defense + offense that still was like top 3 in points scored.

Executive of the Year (GM)

GM Gooch - 2nd worst team in the league last season to division champ this year.

GM Cory - Built the team that has the best defense historically plus still such a great offense.

GM Stark - Traded for David Allen-Slinger and quite literally saved his season.

GM Eli - Worst team in the league last season to division champ this year.

GM Rinaldi - For being my new son in the North East.

Comeback Player of the Year

A.J. Campanelli - Not his best season but the dude literally exploded his leg last season. To even be playing at all deserves heavy consideration for comeback player.

Tommy Mazza - Came back from the PFL and had a fucking crazy ass season. I wish he'd have gone perfect because I'd vote him for every award he could be nominated for but it just wasn't to be.

Jamie Ortega - Am I misremembering that Jamie was hurt a good bit last year? And was banged up some this year but still ended up like top 10 in rushing and pretty decent as a passer too? Gotta give him a nod.



That's all I've got off the top of my head. Throw some other names out there for us to consider though.

[GM Thad]

My considerations..

MVP, probably Winston, Mazza, or Patty...but I'm leaning Winston because Myrtle Beach had negative point differential so Winston basically dragged MB to the promise land, while Patty had a historically great defense making his job easy, and Seattle didn't capture the division and Seattle's offense was league average.

OPoY - Between Solis, Mazza, Sora, (plus Winston but if I vote him MVP won't vote him here). I probably won't vote Solis for kayfabe reasons, but has there ever been another QB who punched so far above their weight as Solis did? Mazza was close to perfect and 41/2 is nothing to laugh at when only some historically great QBs threw more TDs...but way more INTs. Sora dragged that Lincoln team to the playoffs in a really tough division and I think deserves a lot of credit. I also like KAC because Oakland was the 2nd best scoring offense this year, and Mantai Fatu for the same reason.

DPoY - It's Bruce, sorry. Ricky Tarr Jr was absent most of the season, no one else comes close for me. I would have loved to have representation from Winnipeg but their defense appears to be about coaching more than any standout players. They had solid players but no one who leaps off the page as a star.

ORoY - Farrington, Jett, Lockett. Farrington might have had one of the best rookie campaigns at Tackle, 100+ pancakes and no sacks. I'm putting Jett up as the best rookie receiver in that his production was near the other good rookie receiver Lewis, but Jett had 1/3 the targets and half the catches to finish 15 yards behind Lewis. Lewis also coughed up the ball 5 times. Finally I was between Bennett and Lockett, but Lockett had more scores, better YPC, and played on a higher scoring offense, and was short 100 yards on 90 less attempts. I'll probably vote Jett for kayfabe reasons but I think Farrington and Lockett had strong campaigns.

DPoY - Doomsday is really the only player I think I am considering. There doesn't seem to be a standout at any other position, and Doomsday was the best rookie at his position.

HCotY - Larry Wright, historically great defense, great offense, 15-1. Yeah.

EotY - This award to me is about the GM that does the most impressive things, so even though someone like Cory has a great team it's been great for years and he didn't have to do much to maintain. Because of kayfabe I won't vote for him but Justin took scrubs at key positions to 12-4. Eli went from worst to first, and even though that was by design he still executed it. GM Wayne took a Eastern Conference best winning streak to close out the season with no one I would consider a star on his team and I'm unsure why he lost the tiebreaker to DC if I'm honest.

Comeback player - AJ and Ortega both came back from career threatening injuries. I think AJ deserves some votes but Ortega led an improbable comeback to the playoffs.

[GM Thad]

Making a correction, the big Ortega injury was two years ago maybe? JD Corrales had a season ending injury last season so I'm gonna add him to my ballot instead.

[GM Justin]

I'm unsure why he lost the tiebreaker to DC if I'm honest.

Because DC beat Cleveland in a game.

[GM Dazz]

My considerations..

MVP, probably Winston, Mazza, or Patty...but I'm leaning Winston because Myrtle Beach had negative point differential so Winston basically dragged MB to the promise land, while Patty had a historically great defense making his job easy, and Seattle didn't capture the division and Seattle's offense was league average.

What have Seattle got to do with it? Mazza won the division with Vancouver on a team scoring over 500 points on the season.

[GM Thad]

All you GMs look the same

[GM Kirk]

Who is the player on Oakland with the max contract for an award? I'm voting for him.

[GM Kirk]

Tarr Jr. Supermax for MVP and Max for DPOTY. Not entirely underserved because he's been brilliant when he's played.

Bruce for the award we don't give Tarr.
KAC or Mazza for OPOTY
ORookie- Farrington sounds right to me.
DRookie - Doomsday

[GM C4]

Bruce Wilkinson is clearly the MVP. Don't be a casual and force the narrative that it has to be a QB award. Wilkinson led the entire league in pretty much every stat a DLineman could possible rack up. Mazza had a great year, Patrick Owen had a great year, but Bruce Wilkinson had an all-time year. Mazza and Owen can battle it out for Offensive Player of the Year.

Kevin Farrington also a heavy favorite for me for OROTY. Might not be sexy to give it to an offensive tackle, but he was a tier above any other rookie.

Doomsday Miles for DROTY

I've nominated GM Black Death for Executive of the Year. 99% because I think it'd be a great gesture from the league to honor our fallen brother, 1% because I want to finish with the most wins, highest win percentage, most playoff wins, most Impact Bowls, and now the greatest defense statistically of all time and never win this award. Until Owners start adding zeros for this, you guys can keep it. GM Eli and GM Gooch also had one hell of a year.

Larry Wright or Jackson Rhodes for COTY. Either give it to the record breaking coach or the best improvement.

[GM Kirk]

You forgot to say most modest as well. Try crying about it again when you don't have that -1 in your record.

[GM Pancho]

I've nominated GM Black Death for Executive of the Year. 99% because I think it'd be a great gesture from the league to honor our fallen brother, 1% because I want to finish with the most wins, highest win percentage, most playoff wins, most Impact Bowls, and now the greatest defense statistically of all time and never win this award. Until Owners start adding zeros for this, you guys can keep it. GM Eli and GM Gooch also had one hell of a year.

It's a really nice sentiment and I miss BD too but this award should go to Cory.

Too often we just reward the rehab project of the season or the out of nowhere improvement. It is much more difficult to manage a winning franchise and then manage it through multiple seasons. Not a bad contract. No misuse of bonus to go cheap on coaching staff. Drafting, trading and improving on a team season after season after season.

This TEAM is an ALL TIME great and we're brushing it off like it's nothing. Let's not take Cory, Winnipeg or the difficulty of this task for granted.

[GM Pancho]

Also Bruce for MVP. I can't believe it's even a debate.

[GM Wayne]

I've nominated GM Black Death for Executive of the Year. 99% because I think it'd be a great gesture from the league to honor our fallen brother, 1% because I want to finish with the most wins, highest win percentage, most playoff wins, most Impact Bowls, and now the greatest defense statistically of all time and never win this award. Until Owners start adding zeros for this, you guys can keep it. GM Eli and GM Gooch also had one hell of a year.

I was going to vote for BD myself but then it was pointed out a day or two ago in the chat that we've also named a separate award for him. I'm all for honoring him and would have no problem with this award going to him, but I think we should use this award as is intended and give it to whoever the GM collective agrees was the GM of the year based on whatever standard of performance/improvement the individual uses to make that call.

[GM C4]

I've nominated GM Black Death for Executive of the Year. 99% because I think it'd be a great gesture from the league to honor our fallen brother, 1% because I want to finish with the most wins, highest win percentage, most playoff wins, most Impact Bowls, and now the greatest defense statistically of all time and never win this award. Until Owners start adding zeros for this, you guys can keep it. GM Eli and GM Gooch also had one hell of a year.

I was going to vote for BD myself but then it was pointed out a day or two ago in the chat that we've also named a separate award for him. I'm all for honoring him and would have no problem with this award going to him, but I think we should use this award as is intended and give it to whoever the GM collective agrees was the GM of the year based on whatever standard of performance/improvement the individual uses to make that call.

Fair enough if this is kinda the consensus vibe I'll re-send my ballot.

[GM Storm]

I'm working on my ballot and was struggling with the comeback player of the year award so I went back to last seasons news to see if there were any other major injuries other than AJ. Here's some other options to vote for, along with AJ's stats also.

QB AJ Campanelli - 324/483, 3511 yards passing, 23 touchdowns, 18 interceptions - came back from a nasty leg injury that was career threatening.
QB JD Corrales - 272/409, 3644 yards passing, 31 touchdowns, 10 interceptions - came back from a torn rotator cuff
DE Jeffrey Harlow - 45 tackles, 7 sacks, 18 TFL, 15 knockdowns, 17 hurries, 3 forced fumbles - came back from

[GM Storm]

I'm working on my ballot and was struggling with the comeback player of the year award so I went back to last seasons news to see if there were any other major injuries other than AJ. Here's some other options to vote for, along with AJ's stats also.

QB AJ Campanelli - 324/483, 3511 yards passing, 23 touchdowns, 18 interceptions - came back from a nasty leg injury that was career threatening.
QB JD Corrales - 272/409, 3644 yards passing, 31 touchdowns, 10 interceptions - came back from a torn rotator cuff
DE Jeffrey Harlow - 45 tackles, 7 sacks, 18 TFL, 15 knockdowns, 17 hurries, 3 forced fumbles - came back from

Harlow came back from a torn rotator cuff.

[GM Eli]

While I appreciate the consideration for the GM of the Year award,  I've already won it during my 15-1 season and it seems crazy to not give the same credit to Cory for a team that I think is objectively light years better. How could Larry Wright be given credit as the coach of the team, but not give the same credit to the GM who built it?

[GM Adam Wrong]

110 Tackles for Amos Archie surely should be having him with a shout for DROTY

OROTY is more clear cut with Farrington I believe

[GM Pancho]

While I appreciate the consideration for the GM of the Year award,  I've already won it during my 15-1 season and it seems crazy to not give the same credit to Cory for a team that I think is objectively light years better. How could Larry Wright be given credit as the coach of the team, but not give the same credit to the GM who built it?

A THOUSAND PERCENT THIS! 

[GM Pancho]

I also didn't think I had to make the case for Bruce as MVP but better to speak up than assume.  The award has exclusively gone to QB's and RB's. If this defensive performance doesn't get rewarded at what point is it even possible for that to happen?

Here are the categories Bruce leads everyone on Defense.  The only thing he didn't lead in was Pass Deflections, Defensive Touchdowns and Hurries [Rafiki Ngozi had 46, Bruce was 3rd in the category at 30.]

Tackles - 181
2nd place - 178 LB Leland Creamer

Sacks - 48
2nd place - 30 DT Ricky Tarr Jr.

Knockdowns - 36
2nd place - 34 DE Gordon Haynes

Forced Fumbles - 10
2nd place - 9 LB Elvis Edward

Tackles for Loss - 43
2nd place - 36 DE Adrian Hagan

[GM Lucas]

AWARDS ON THE BALLOT  --

FOR ME THIS AWARD IS THE WARD TO THE PLAYERT THAT IF THEY WEREN'T ON THEIR TEAM THEIR TEAM WOULDN'T HAVE HAD ANYWHERE NEAR THE SUCCESS IT HAD, NO PLAYER MEANT MORE TO THE SUCCESS OF THEIR TEAM THAN
Most Valuable Player - JAYLON WINSTON

FOE ME THIS GOES TO THE GUY WHO DID THE ABSOLUTE MOST, CAN'T ARGUE WITH 39 TD'S AND 7 INTERCEPTIONS WITH A 108 QBR, OH AND LETS ADD OVER A 1000 YARDS RUSHING TO BOOT
Offensive Player of the Year-JUSTIN FIELDS

WHY DOES THIS EXIST WHILE BRUCE WILKINSON IS PLAYING
Defensive Player of the Year- BRUCE WILKINSON

THE FACT THAT OLINE HARDLY EVER GET THIS I WONT WAIST MY PICK ON FARRINGTON, BUT A ROOKIE WHO CAN PRODUCE 29 TD'S IS THE CANIDATE IN MY BOOK
Offensive Rookie of the Year-KANSAS BLACK

I LOVE DEFENDERS WHO FILL UP EVERY CATERGORY OF THE STAT SHEETS AND NO ROOKIE DID IT BETTER THAN DOMMSDAY MILES
Defensive Rookie of the Year- DOOMSDAY MILES

SO, NOT TAKING ANYTHING AWAY FROM WHAT CORY HAS DONE. HE HAS HAD STEADY SUCCESS WITH WHAT HE HAS DONE AND HOW HE HAS DONE IT WITH AN ABSOLUTELY BEAST OF A TEAM, BUT FOR THIS AWARD I LOOK AT THE COACH ON A TEAM THAT SUPRISED THE MOST, A CAOCH WHO AHD A TEAM WITH THE MOST QUESTIONS MAKRS WHO CAME OUT OF NOWHERE. HAVING NEVER HAD A WINNING SEASON IN WHAT WAS ONE OF THE STRONGEST DIVISIONS FOR SO MANY YEARS HE TOOK A CANCIN TEAM TO 11 WINS GOING 6-2 IN HIS DIVISION
Head Coach of the Year-JACKSON RHODES


(LET ME SAY THIS COULD HAVE WENT TO A FEW GUYS ALSO LET TME SAY THAT THOUGH THE SENTIMENT FOR BD IS GREAT AND BD WAS MY BOY. TALON CREATED SOME GREAT THINGS TO HONOR HIM FOR THE FUTURE OF HIFL THAT WILL LAST IN HIFL UNTIL THE DOORS SHUT. I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM A GM THAT REALLY WORKED HARD ESPECAILLY WHEN IT CAN MEAN HOW THE GAME WORKS WITH HIM IN THE FUTURE AS FAR AS HIM ASKING FOR A CONTRACT EXTENSTION, PLAYERS AND CAOCHES WANTING TO PLAY FOR HIM, HOW THE OWNER PERCEIVES HIM, ETC. THERE ARE SOME IMPLICATIONS FOR A GUY GETTING THIS AWARD I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM)

I HATE SOMETIMES SUCCESS IF PUNISHED IN THIS CATERGORY OR AT LEAST FEELS LIKE IT WHEN SOMEONE DOES SO GOOD FOR SO LONG THEY GET OVERLOOKED FOR THE SHINEY NEW THING BUT WITH THAT SAID, CORY BUILT HIS TEAM ABOUT 4 SEASONS AGO, WON TWO TITLES AND CONTINUES TO ADD ON EACH YEAR AND THE 2 YEARS HE WON THE TITLE WE GAVE THE GM AWARD TO REBEL AND ELI WHICH WAS WELL DESERVED. SO STAYING WITH THE TREND I HAVE TO GIVE IT TO THE GM THAT DID THE MOST WITH THE LEAST. THIS COULD HAVE WENT TO TWO OTHER GM'S BUT THIS GM MADE A HUGE MOVE THAT SAVED HIS SEASON AND POSSIBLY SET HIM UP FOR FUTURE SUCCESS LONG TERM. HE ONLY HAS ONE PLAYER IN ANY AWARD TALKS WHO WON'T WIN IT BECAUSE OF BRUCE WILKINSON AND I BELEIVE NO ONE SAW THE MOVE OR HIS TEAM COMING AND SHOCKED THE HELL OUT OF ME....
Executive of the Year (GM) STARK OF THE SEATTLE LUMBERJACKS.

THIS AWARD GOES TO THE GUY THAT DID NOT ONLY COME BACK FROM TORN ROTATOR, BUT CAME BACK WITH STASTICALLY THE BEST YEAR HE HAS EVER HAD AND FROM EXPEARIENCE, HE DIDN'T HAVE THE YARDS BUT HE HAD THE TD TO INT RATION THROWING 31 TD'S AND ONLY 10 INT'S WITH THE HIGHEST QBR OF HIS CAREER AT 109.7...
Comeback Player of the Year- J.D CORRALES