2012 WCG Awards: Most Valuable Player

by Steven Schweickert on Feb 19, 2012 3:19 PM CST in 2012 WCG Awards

And now, the grand finale. On Wednesday, Matt Forte was named the Offensive Player of the Year. On Friday, we had a bit of an impasse as to the Defensive Player of the Year, and thanks to your votes, that debate was solved - Brian Urlacher is named the WCG Defensive Player of the Year.

But there's one final vote to reveal, and that is the MVP race. One last time, hit the jump to see how we voted.

Lester's Pick: Jay Cutler - 7-3 before the thumb, 1-5 after, 'nuff said. Honorable mention Matt Forte.

TJ's Pick: Lance Briggs - After his boffo trade demand had a great season. Only guy I remember consistently making great plays in each game I saw.

Sam's Club--er, Pick: Matt Forte - I was going to say Cutler but I realized two losses are directly attributed to Forte's backup, Barber, and knowing what we do about Forte, it's hard to say he makes those mental errors.

Stephen's Pick: Jay Cutler - We won five straight with him, and lost five straight without him. If that doesn't convince you that he is the key to the whole operation, I don't know what will.

Dane's Pick: Julius Peppers - 11 sacks, and an invaluable number of penalties caused by him simply existing.

Kev's Pick: Jay Cutler - Any other answer is stupid and wrong.

Pete's Pick: Jay Cutler - (Editor's Note: Typed as I received it) Because we basically couldn't win a game without him and getting angelo fired and making mike martz quit. And saying f you martz on air and having a song named after him and rehooking up with a hollywood babe. And salmon colored pants. And making pouting sexy and he knows it. And having the diabeetus but still being awesome.

Steven's Pick: Jay Cutler - I'm not going all crazy like Pete, but losing Jay was a bigger blow to the team than anybody else would possibly be, including Peppers and Urlacher. The Bears went from looking like a back-to-back playoff team entering the easiest part of their schedule to looking like the dregs of the league going through a padded-club gauntlet and getting knocked around like nothing. The time period this started in might just coincide with a certain quarterback in a certain city breaking a certain bone in his certain throwing hand. Given that? Cutler. And that's your MVP, folks.

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DA THUMB!!!

by C-Razzle on Feb 19, 2012 3:40 PM CST reply actions

duh

"I'm too drunk to taste this chicken" - Colonel Sanders

It's all about THE []_[] baby!!!

~"Smile when u being attacked,laugh when they talking boutcha,wave when they hating on u and Pray when they leave u alone Somethings wrong!"~ Deion Sanders

At least FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER before you judge me fool

by suckmyditka on Feb 19, 2012 5:13 PM CST via iPhone app reply actions

Chicago's changing

Finally- some recognition for Cutler’s importance. He not only makes others around him better- he covers for their mistakes- bigtime.

by sdw2is on Feb 19, 2012 5:36 PM CST reply actions

Jay Cutler

His athleticism made our early season success possible. If we had a Drew Bledsoe type of QB back there we would have had a significantly worse season behind this OL.

by MrPants on Feb 19, 2012 6:01 PM CST reply actions

"significantly worse"

bro, a Bledsoe-esque Qb would have had a broken collarbone circa week 5 (<— Lions game)

by BOBdaBEAR on Feb 19, 2012 7:07 PM CST up reply actions

Cutler in a landslide

and I don’t even think it’s very close. He made plays he hasn’t made since being a Bear. He turned me into a believer during the five game winning streak, and was the main reason the offense wasn’t pathetic anymore. All due respect to Forte.

"I'm sore and I'm pissed off. I'm a baller. I want to feel the leather. I love thumb wars. 6-8 weeks? 6. follow me for healing, Jay Cutler does" - Jaysthumb twitter acct

by propheteer on Feb 19, 2012 7:57 PM CST reply actions

+1

Cutler showed us how close he is to making this an elite offense. Now we need to go out and get him a LT and some play-making WRs, so he can get us back to the NFCCG and have a shot at the Super Bowl.

by JimmyMack on Feb 20, 2012 6:12 AM CST up reply actions

I agree with Cutler being the choice by a landslide but I'm not quite onboard with this statement...

Cutler showed us how close he is to making this an elite offense.

I would characterize it more like he showed his ability kept them from really sucking. This offense, with or without Martz, is a long way from being elite and it wouldn’t matter if you had Jay, Tom Brady, or a healthy Peyton Manning at QB.

by BearFan611 on Feb 20, 2012 8:00 AM CST up reply actions

I think we're very close

We were averaging a little over 30 points a game during that five-game stretch before Cutler went down. If we can get two play-makers at WR, a pass-blocking LT and a healthy Carimi on the right side, I think you’ll see some big numbers out of this offense in 2012.

by JimmyMack on Feb 20, 2012 3:14 PM CST up reply actions

Dream scenario

Would be to get Vjax, Bowe, Colston or Johnson in free-agency. Then draft a WR in the first two rounds and a TE within the first three.

Pick up Levi Brown if he’s released.

"I'm sore and I'm pissed off. I'm a baller. I want to feel the leather. I love thumb wars. 6-8 weeks? 6. follow me for healing, Jay Cutler does" - Jaysthumb twitter acct

by propheteer on Feb 20, 2012 3:17 PM CST up reply actions

Levi Brown is God-awful so at this point I'd rather stick with Webb or get a rookie over a definite 1st round bust.

Webb and Brown are nearly identical in awfulness with regards to pass-protection and with Webb being younger he has more upside (though how much is debatable).

by frenchbears113 on Feb 20, 2012 4:07 PM CST up reply actions

You're right

Brown was 60th worst tackle, while Webb was 59th according to PFF’s pass blocking efficiency.

The Bears should go all in on Bell, or try to catch lightning in a bottle with Anthony Collins of the Bengals.

"I'm sore and I'm pissed off. I'm a baller. I want to feel the leather. I love thumb wars. 6-8 weeks? 6. follow me for healing, Jay Cutler does" - Jaysthumb twitter acct

by propheteer on Feb 20, 2012 6:11 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah I'd be down with either/or. Hell I'm kind of hoping Jonathan Martin somehow falls to #19 lol

by frenchbears113 on Feb 20, 2012 8:38 PM CST up reply actions

Oops

I meant 60th and 59th best tackle.

"I'm sore and I'm pissed off. I'm a baller. I want to feel the leather. I love thumb wars. 6-8 weeks? 6. follow me for healing, Jay Cutler does" - Jaysthumb twitter acct

by propheteer on Feb 20, 2012 10:32 PM CST up reply actions

I hope you're right but this team has put me into full "show me" mode....

I’m not convinced that Lovie and his staff are equipped to get the most of their people on either side of the ball so until they actually do the things you’ve suggested (and I do agree with your “if” scenario being a good one), I will remain pessimistic.

by BearFan611 on Feb 20, 2012 3:40 PM CST up reply actions

I can appreciate where you're coming from

And I agree, it seems like there’s always an “if” with Lovie and his staff. And if we pursue WR help with the same approach we took last year (signing someone else’s castoff) then we probably won’t improve significantly. But, the offense was clicking when Cutty was on the field – to the tune of just under 27 points a game in the 10 games when he started.

Once we were left with Hanie, though, everyone knows what happened…

by JimmyMack on Feb 20, 2012 7:28 PM CST up reply actions

First half of the season

Even thinking about it makes you wonder what Cutler would/could have done with a legit #1 receiver ..there would be some extraordinarily large passing game numbers in Chicago that havent been seen in ages. And yes, have to agree with him being the MVP considering the offense all but blew up after he got hurt.

by Pretender85 on Feb 20, 2012 7:58 AM CST reply actions

MVP is Cutler ... his injury made that clear enough.

BTW, I applaud Kev’s reasoning.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Feb 20, 2012 8:10 AM CST reply actions